Another American manufacturer of metal wargaming figures moving into the first rank is Grenadier Models Inc. They claim the "most complete" line of figures in America. I don't know about that, but from some samples they recently sent me I'd say the quality of their figures is in the same class with Minifigs, Ral Partha and Heritage.

Unfortunately the figures sent me are not identified individually, only be period. Of the 25mm fantasy figures, one that I take to be a "Fire Demon" (set W28, Monsters #1, 1 Fire Demon and 3 Wraiths, $2.95) was undoubtedly inspired by Tolkien's Balrog. He's not nearly so large and imposing as Ral Partha's Balrog, but he's a much more cleanly molded, finely detailed figure. His face is sort of a cross between a gorilla and a goat, with fangs, pointed ears, shaggy hair and two long horns. His wings are less bat-like than Ral Partha's - more rounded - and smaller. His legs are furry, and he has cloven hooves. His right hand is holding aloft a long sword with a wavy blade and his left holds a four-pronged whip across his body. A long mane of hair runs down his back from his head, between his wings, to the ground. He stands 35mm high, not counting his horns. Another figure is either a Northern Barbarian or a Berserker (6 swordsmen & axemen, $2.29). He's about 27mm tall, not counting his conical, horned helmet, a brawny Viking type very reminiscent of Frazetta's Snow Giants. His right hand is holding up a large, double-bladed battle-axe. Another barbarian-looking figure, wearing only fur boots and fur breech clouts, holds a medium-short sword aloft in his right hand and a dagger at his waist with his left. He's almost 29mm tall! About 27mm tall is a shapely Fighting woman in a chainmail bikini and turned down boots leaning on a spear (W11, Female Characters, Fighting Women, sword, spear, bow, 2 sorceresses & thief).

A unique and interesting figure is an animate skeleton (W51, 6 Skeleton Warriors, Swordsmen, $2.29). He's 26mm tall, holding a broad-bladed sword aloft in his right hand. A scabbard is suspended by a belt over his right shoulder. He wears a hemispherical helmet with a crest like an iguana and carries an odd-shaped shield with an eye and crossed bones emblem. Finally, I have a figure that's obviously "High Priest holding up heart and knife", from Set 7 , the Temple (2 Priests, statues, 2 temple braziers, $4.98). His style of dress is Aztec or Maya, and he's 26mm tall, not counting his very elaborate headdress. All these figures are very cleanly molded and well designed with very nice detail. Their only flaw is being a bit large for 25mm scale, but most fantasy figures are.

Another Grenadier line is their 15mm American Civil War figures. The samples I have are a true 15mm scale. They are quite compatible with Minifigs 15mm ACW figures though a bit less stocky. Two figures I have wear slouch hats, medium-length jackets and blanket rolls. One is standing firing and the other walking the his rifle at port arms. Both have fixed bayonets. These are probably either CC10 and CC11, Confederate Inf. Firing and Charging, or CC13 and CC14, Confederate Volunteers Firing and Charging. However, many Union regiments wore the same outfit, especially those from the states west of the Appalachians. Another appears to be a Union infantry officer, wearing a kepi, a private's jacket with officer's shoulder straps and sash, advancing with sword help upright. No doubt he comes from CC12, Confederate Command Pack, is a drummer in Kepi, blanket roll and Union style jacket, standing, drumming. The last figure I have is obviously from CC17, Dismounted Cavalry Skirmish Pack. He wears the cavalry-style shell jacket, kepi, knee boots and sword. He is standing firing a carbine. All together there are 38 sets in this line: infantry, cavalry, artillery and terrain accessories. Infantry come 20 figures to the set for $2.98, cavalry 8 for $2.98 and artillery and ordanance 3 or 4 figures for $1.98 to 2.98.

Grenadier figures should be available from most happy shops that carry wargaming figures. Or write to Grenadier Models, Inc., P.O. Box 305, Springfield, PA 19064, for a complete catalog.

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