Grenadier/West End Star Wars miniatures
Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 10:59AM
It's surprisingly (and annoyingly) hard to find a good web site dedicated to Grenadier Models' Star Wars miniatures. These lead and pewter models were produced between 1988 and 1990 to accompany West End Games' Star Wars roleplaying and miniature battles games. I've got a nearly complete collection of these models in my basement (excluding only the Zero-G Assault Troopers box set, which I have never bought because it's dumb).
These miniatures were very well sculpted--some of the best miniatures on the market at the time in any category. For some reason they were a little small: the standard at the time was 25 mm, and increasingly 28 mm, yet the Star Wars models were more like 22 mm, making them slightly harder to paint.
Originally the miniatures came in boxed sets of ten. These boxed sets were, for the most part, extremely well done. Ten terrific figures, well-chosen, well-sculpted, and attractively presented. Later the miniatures were released in blister packs, usually of three.
I loved these things! They were such a joy to paint. If I had any spare time I'd paint them again now. I am amazed that no contemporary miniatures company has bought the licence to make new SW 28 mm miniatures. If you'd like to pick up the old ones, there are usually some available on eBay.
Below are what few links I have found to these old miniatures.
The Stuff of Legends: Grenadier/West End Star Wars miniatures
Jake's Tabletop: Star Wars miniatures