writes:Today, let's open the Grenadier Company boxed set (GBX170), which came out as part of the D-Day: German wave of releases for Battlefront's Flames of War game.
This box replaces Grenadier Company (GBX81), which contained the same sprues (but no Unit Cards), and was marked Medium or Late War – the new box is marked Late War, but does not have the D-Day logo on the box. The new box cover actually shows what the unit looks like when painted and based; the old box just had artwork on the cover.
The information on the back of the box has also changed. The old set listed the number of sprues, and showed pictures of the sprues; the new box lists the number of teams and Unit Cards, and more prominently states that the contents are 'all plastic'.
Inside the thin cardboard box, you find a bag of plastic sprues, a bag of plastic bases, and a taped plastic envelope with Unit Cards.
There are four infantry sprues (BM 022, PzGren Platoon, 2013) and four command sprues (BM 032, German Grenadier HQ, 2014). This is two more command sprues than the old box. Note that these are not the same sprues which come with the current starter set, Hit the Beach (FWBX09).
The infantry sprue usefully marks each figure with an abbreviation: ten R, six MG, two N, four PF, one PK, one O. All figures are hard plastic.
The command and weapons sprue has six figures, which the online instructions identify as two officers, an NCO, a radioman, and Panzerschreck loader and gunner.
There are also twelve assorted four-indent medium bases, four three-indent small bases, and four assorted two-indent small bases. The bases are brown plastic and textured, so you could just plug the figures in (after you've painted them!) and apply some flock. The online directions specify which figures go on which bases.
Since the box is not marked as a D-Day release, you might be surprised at the Unit Cards: double-size D-Day German Force Card, Beach Defence Grenadier Platoon (two of these), and Beach Defence Grenadier Company HQ.
This is a basic set for any WWII German player. The figures look to have a lot of character.