Grishnak Models Catalog

[Bubba Pearson]

Recently, I found some photographs and descriptions of some beautiful resin models, very similar to the GW Adepta Sororitas miniatures, on several well-known blogs covering our hobby. After a bit of online detective work and verifying the company (Grishnak Models) was for real by talking to folks having actually completed orders with them, I contacted grishnak.order@gmail.com to inquire about model availability. In response, I received a PDF catalog of their miniatures, which includes: 1) 5 different versions of their bolter-armed War Maidens, making up a squad of 4 troops and a sergeant/officer with a sword as well ($26.50 US, or 4 squads for $95.00); 2) a heavy bolter sprue, with a heavy bolter, a beautiful belt feed (connecting to), a special backpack, 2 arms and shoulder pads ($2.50 each, or 4 for $8.00); 3) a heavy melta sprue, with nice-looking hoses and electronic feeds, a special backpack (with a burning crucible on top), 2 extra arms and shoulder pads (also $2.50 each, or 4 for $8.00); and 4) a special weapons sprue, containing a flamer, multi-melta, an extra head, some pistols and other odds & ends ($2.50). So far, this is the entire product line.

 

At $26.50, the squads are a good deal cheaper than those from GW, which are priced at $35.00 for 5 Battle Sisters, and the basic GW squad is made up of 5 troops only, with no sergeant/officer model, such as the GM squad includes. 4 of the figures are standing, and a very nice touch is one of the figures kneeling in a weapon-firing pose. The sculpts are as good or better than the minis from GW, and they compare favorably with both the GW and Wargame Exclusive models (also from Russia) in appearance -- all are instantly recognizable as Adepta Sororitas figures, although the WE resin models are the most costly by far, being considerably more expensive than those from GW (IIRC, around $40-50.00 for 5). The price differential is even worse for the GW Retributor (heavy weapons) Squad, which sells for about $100 for 10 models, or approximately $50.00 for five, although GW doesn't sell 5-model Retributor Squads. So, the prices are even better for the Grishnak Models with the discounted heavy weapon sprues: those are 4 sprues for $8.00, so 26.50 + $8.00 = $34.50, which still is .50 less than the GW basic 5-trooper squad! Such a deal.

 

The basic models appear to be very well-done, with fine details such as a single finger in the trigger guard of the bolters, and similar to the models from other companies, tiny fleur-de-lys here and there on the armor, making their Adepta Sororitas affiliation crystal clear. The basic backpacks are almost identical to those from GW, down to the tiny spikes on the large round exhausts. Another nice touch: these models are warriors, with no partial nudity on display, which I like very much. Naked flesh wouldn't hold up too well in the sci- fi battles of the far future, so armor everywhere is crucial, and these ladies have it covered. The troops are wearing closed helmets, also very much like those on the GW minis, while the sergeant/officer is bare-headed, although the special weapons sprue has an extra helmeted head, if that's how you want all of them to look.

 

Last night, I sent GM an email asking for 15 War Maidens, 5 each of their beautiful heavy bolter and melta sprues, and one special weapons sprue. There was a bit of confusion regarding shipping costs (I discovered shipping is free only w/10 or more squads of 5 War Maidens (>= 50 models)), but we quickly got it straightened out. Following their verification of exactly what I wanted, which I thought was pretty cool, I received a PayPal invoice in my email, which I paid in the wee hours of this morning. When the package arrives, I will take some photographs of the unpacking and post them here for the enjoyment of all. In the meantime, google Grishnak Models if you are interested, and hopefully you will find the photos of their models from the catalog (which I couldn't figure out how to upload here, unfortunately).

 

Finally, it should be noted that it looks to me like the optional sprues and models will take some moderately difficult modifications (replacing arms and shoulder pads, for example) to exchange the basic bolters with the optional heavy weapons. The belt feeds and hoses connecting the heavy weaponry to the backpacks will require heating and reshaping as well, so beginning hobbyists might want to stick with the basic squads only. At least moderate modeling skills will be necessary to modify the models to incorporate the goodies from the optional sprues, although it may end up being easier than I think. I won't know until the new models arrive.

 

Stay tuned for updates...