Hi all – any grizzled old gamers out there remember growing up in the 70’s/80’s when you had comics, Atari, and TSR Hobbies to help keep you entertained? I especially remember a company called Grenadier Models, Inc. They were a miniatures company that produced lead figures (initially historical soldiers, hence the name, “Grenadier”) that were used in a variety of role playing games, such as TSR’s Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu, Steve Jackson’s Ogre, and a host of others.

I was a huge fan of their products. I used to look forward to all of their upcoming figure lines for AD&D, as well as their special lines such as their “Dragon of the Month” boxed sets, “Giants Club” sets, and “Undead Legion” series (their skeletal war mammoth, complete with skeletal riders, and their skeletal war chariot riders come immediately to mind). The quality of their work with regards to detail and animation was amazing, from their president and head sculptor Andrew Chernak to such sculpturing greats as John Dennett and Julie Guthrie. Ray Rubin, their VP and head artist, did most of the artwork on the box covers. Talk about sparking the imagination! Their company even produced a magazine that discussed their products, and offered stories, jokes, games, answered customer’s questions, contests galore, and special mail-only products (anyone remember the undead pizza delivery man figure?). I still have the original run of 18 issues before it was replaced with a bolder, color version from their UK division. I don’t even recall how I got on their mailing list for the bulletin – I think I may have just written to the company with a question about their products, but I was glad I did! My figure collection was eventually passed on to my nephews but the “Grenadier Bulletin” as it was called, stayed with me. I remember entering many of their contests, and writing to them frequently. Grenadier was even nice enough to replace damaged figures that came in some of their sets I had purchased at various hobby stores for free.

Going through some old books and folders, I came across my bulletin issues, safely stored away in sleeves of plastic, and a wave of nostalgia overtook me. I recall the company had folded back in the 90’s, and I immediately began to wonder what had become of their head honchos.

Well, I was able to find Andrew Chernak and was happy to hear he was still actively sculpting! I sent him a quick missive just to say thanks for all the great work he had produced and launched with Grenadier. To my surprise, he responded back, mentioning he remembered me from back in the day, and was appreciative of the compliments and the reach out. For the president of a company to recall a customer (and a young teenage one back in the day at that) from an enterprise that was no longer around was quite the nice gesture, and deeply appreciated! Those guys helped outline a lot of my imagination back then, and were one of the many seeds that inspired me.

So a big Thank You, Mr. Chernak, for your artistry, products, and for Grenadier Models, Inc.! I’ll be needing figures for Forging of a Knight soon enough…!