MOD Approved Action Toys

[Warmtoast]

I was ar RAF Northolt today for the launch by Character Options of a range of military inspired action figures and toys. The action figures include three figures from each of the services - Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Plus the range will feature vehicles used by the services and realistic kit replica toys. In total there are 32 toys in the range.

The R.A.F. toys include a Fast Jet Pilot figure in full flight gear including white leather flying gloves, ‘bone dome’ flying helmet with oxygen mask and survival-issue service pistol for use behind enemy lines.
There is also a model Harrier and an action figures of an R.A.F. Falcons display team Parachutist.
This range of toys have the full backing of the MOD.

Input from the RAF included the following personnel.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/SgtEdGriffitthsFltLtSmithFltLtLouis.jpg

Sgt Ed Griffiths, Winchman, 22 Sqn, R.A.F. Valley. Flt. Lt. Jonathan Smith, 43 Sqn, R.A.F. Leuchars, off shortly to an exchange posting with the USAF flying the F-22 Raptor and Flt. Lt. Louise Buxton, 1PTS, R.A.F. Brize Norton Leader of the R.A.F. Falcons Parachute Display Team.


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/SgtjOBrienLouiseBuxton_1065x800.jpg
Sgt Jimmy O’Brien, 1 PTS, R.A.F. Brize Norton, Member of the R.A.F. Falcons Parachute Display Team and Flt. Lt. Louise Buxton, Leader of the R.A.F. Falcons Parachute Display Team.

Some of the toys launched:
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Harrier_993x800.jpg





http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/NVGoggles2_859x800.jpg



http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/WalkieTalkies_998x800.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAFFalconParachutist_396x800.jpg

R.A.F. Falcons display team Parachutist that comes with a parachute, Throw him in the air and he floats down.



This is a much better range of MOD approved items than some of the earlier "approved" items that were not very well received when mentioned in PPuNe a couple of months or so ago.

My grandchildren are already pestering for a set of Night Vision Goggles!

ADDENDUM

The toys are designed and marketed under licence by the Character Group plc with a share of all profits going to the Ministry of Defence to be reinvested in other public relations activities, although the primary aim is to raise the profile of the Armed Forces. Character first broached the idea for the military figure range at a meeting with the MoD in February 2008.

[XV277]

My son will love them! Although, my action man broke his arm in a para landing 30 odd years ago, so they don't always float!!

[NutLoose]

The one in the plastic Harrier looks more realistic

[November4]

Now if only all PTIs looked like the Flt Lt - I bet there would be no problem with getting people to pass their fitness test!

[Pontius Navigator]

They certainly searched high an dlow to find the fat ugly ones. :}

"Now Flt. Lt. Jonathan Smith, we are looking for a tall, smart, rugged pilot-type to launch our new action man pilot."

Well count me out, Sir.

"BTW Smith, congratulations on your selection for your exchange posting, with the USAF flying the F-22 Raptor, wasn't it?"

Er, yes Sir, when did you say the launch was Sir, I am looking forward to it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seriously, they do seem to have something right at last, provided the price is right. I can see a fair number of sales to service personnel as well. We managd to find a Typhoon last year, about 1:24 scale, with extremely realistic R/T calls. A great hit with the 3-year old grandson. The pilot went everywhere and the aircraft simply wore out. They only cost a tenner.

[Spam_UK]

Do you order accessories, wait 3 years to recieve them, have to pay extra for them, find they don't work as expected, and then find them cheaper off the shelf in US? :}

[The Helpful Stacker]

Apparently they have an SAC(W) Pers Admin wallah model that comes with legs that are fitted upside down and a back made from a non-deployable, glass-like substance for extra realism.

[diginagain]

......they're planning one in a brown coat, with a string which, when pulled emits the following;

"Stores is for storing, if they were for issuing they'd be called issues".:}

[flipster]

How about an RAF Senior Staff Officer with a brown nose, long tongue and backbone of jelly?

Of course to continue the militaristic theme, the Staff Officer comes armed with a sharpened pencil, vitriolic memo pad and raft of cuts that protect his own job at the expense of the front-line!?

They will also cost twice as much as the front-line action figure varieties and do nothing of any use because the Staff Officer is both deaf and blind.

We could call him 'Inaction Man'?

:ok::ok::ok::E:E:E

[TheInquisitor]

..or "Plan-of-Action Man"....always found with his faithful sidekicks "Miss Mission Statement" and "LEAN boy"...

:E

[gilderoy lockhart]

What about an RAF Policemen interacting with his dog!

[Guzlin Adnams]

That's it, I'm taking up parachuting....:ok:

[Wader2]

and a 100kg Nav/WSO(N)

[Kerosene Kraut]

So the RAF is looking for Boys that loved to play with Barbie dolls?

[Wader2]

So the RAF is looking for Boys that loved to play with Barbie dolls?

[b]MOD Approved Action Toys[/q]

What ran through my mind was:

Run rabbit
Run rabbit
Run rabbit run

Like the Duracell advert:}

[scarecrow450]

My para action man smashed his head on next door neighbours car about 35 yrs ago when his chute failed, head soon recovered but blamed someone else for car !
It did not look like that young lady !!:ok:

[Grabbers]

British 904 Expeditionary Air Wing (TacATC) - One Sixth Warrior Forum (http://www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?p=621203&highlight=tacATC#post621203)

[Lima Juliet]

Funny that Terry Taleban released their own this week as well...

"Dirka! Dirka! Mohammed Jihad!"
http://www.moviecitynews.com/arrays/media/images/2004/team_america.jpg

[Pontius Navigator]

Ah, 'tis olde blue eyes :}

[glad rag]

Is it me, or do all the persons illustrated in the original post look, slightly embarrassed and out of place?

Hmm, bless them all, the young and short and tall...:zzz:

[Trumpet_trousers]

Oohh! the 'huggie/fluffies' will go apoplectic over allowing kids to play with 'warry-like' things... which brings me neatly to this:
This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a portion of National Public Radio (NPR) interview between a female broadcaster and US Marine Corps General, General Reinwald, who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military installation.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: So, General Reinwald, what things are you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?

GENERAL REINWALD: We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery, and shooting.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?

GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the rifle range.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?

GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you're equipping them to become violent killers.

GENERAL REINWALD: Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?

The radio went silent and the interview ended...

One of my favourites! :ok:

[Lima Juliet]

The radio went silent ... One of my favourites!

Very much thread drift but this is my favourite radio falling into silence...

Iranian Air Defense Radar: “Unknown aircraft, you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.”

Pilot: “This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.”

Air Defense Radar: “You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!”

Pilot: “This is a United States Marine Corps F/A-18 fighter. Send ’em up, I’ll wait!”

Air Defense Radar: (no response . . . total silence)


They even made a dolly in honour of him :E

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:7Kd0CpH2YJhowM:http://fertigmodelle.ch/gallery/standmodelle/bbi/bbi-34287_f-18-hornet-pilot-cougar/34287_1.jpg http://fertigmodelle.ch/standmodelle-kunststoff/flugzeuge/bbi/34287_4_90.jpg

PS. There you go Sitigeltfel - a smaller picture...:ok:

[diginagain]

If you're planning on buying an RAF 'action' figure today, best be quick - it's POETSday, and they'll be flying out the door by lunchtime.

BTW, highly detailed, that doll, complete with three left hands, but I'm wondering what the chain of clear plastic beads would be used for?

[West Coast]

Louise...Louise...Louise

Is she representative of her majesties females in arms...or do they mostly look like Susan Boyle?

[Pontius Navigator]

Glad Rag, no, I think you're right.

Could have been in a similar situation. "Do you want publicity? Yes/No - no pressure like."

"No."

"If you say No then you won't go on the New Zealand trip."

B*st*rds get you every way.

[sitigeltfel]

A Tory MP has complained that the the current figures are all male and white. An MOD spokesman said there were plans for a Gurkha, but buyers would have to send it back to Nepal.

[Rigger1]

What about an RAF Policemen interacting with his dog.

You owe me a new keyboard!

[sitigeltfel]

Can the hierarchy please resize Leons picture post?

Thanks.

[Gaz ED]

Quote:
What about an RAF Policemen interacting with his dog.
You owe me a new keyboard!


Aircraft Electrician, surely!!!!

[Rigger1]

Certainly not .... I spat my brew all over it!

[Beatriz Fontana]

The money is going back in to PR activities? Surely if they sell enough we'll be able to afford a few JSFs....

[aseanaero]

Do they have a voice box ?

Do they say things like "Bo##ocks" when you push the button ?

[AR1]

Think the Harrier is a little short of range in that configuration. Johnny won't be able to fly it out of the garden.

[Lima Juliet]

Think the Harrier is a little short of range in that configuration. Johnny won't be able to fly it out of the garden.

It also has to ditch a 500lber if it wants to land on the kitchen table in the Summer...:E

[Pontius Navigator]

I see the sales really hit the ground running.

Google - every newspaper link going.

Toy sites? Not a trace.

PR Gurus hit success right off again.

[desk wizard]

you could always try them direct

HM Armed Forces (http://www.character-online.com/products/HM-Armed-Forces/)

Harrier is out of stock though.

[Lima Juliet]

http://www.bushyoga.com/40_box.jpg

I wonder if there will be a "Scottish One-eyed Idiot" version of this? :E

[Chris Griffin]

Well done Leon. Here we go....:rolleyes:

[RS30]

Is that a pair of BL755 cluster bombs on the the action-man size Harrier? I thought they were banned recently. Can't wait for the headlines "MOD sponsors war-crime toys!":hmm:

[Lima Juliet]

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:XdZTJUfGbK0kmM:http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/images/kgr7taxybl755.jpg

The Convention on Cluster Munitions, CCM, prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of Cluster Munitions. Separate articles in the Convention concern assistance to victims, clearance of contaminated areas and destruction of stockpiles.

The Convention was adopted in Dublin by 107 states on 30 May 2008 and signed on 3 December the same year. The Convention enters into force six months after the 30th state has submitted its instrument of ratification, and is open for ratifications and signature at the United Nations headquarters in New York

Bugger!!!

[Laarbruch72]

You owe me a new keyboard!

Possibly the least original comment since the Internet was invented.

Ratio of "You ruined my keyboard!" comments to actual ruined keyboards: 9,000,000 to 1.

Be honest, did you really, really spit coffee over your keyboard? If that's the case, it's probably best if you stop drinking bevarages around electronic media. You're not proficient with either. :=

[Lima Juliet]

http://www.failfunnies.com/27/images/smokers-keyboard-fail.jpg

This picture taken at RAF Benson MT Control shows that it takes more than a spit of coffee to kill a keyboard...:ok:

[NutLoose]

They could take a leaf out of the cabbage patch dolls idea and their adoption certificates by printing a PVR application form on the back of the box :)

[November4]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01397/Attack-plane-pilot_1397704i.jpg

Wonder which aircraft will have the better serviceability rate?

[Pontius Navigator]

oK, they have a Harrier, a pilot, etc etc but where can you actually buy them? How much?

I bet the Harrier is the wrong side of £20.

The Typhoon cost £9.99. I have seen an A10, F18 and F14 at our local C&C for about £14.99.

So, bets on prices?

[Dan Gerous]

Saw the figures in Asda today, £19 and change each. Don't know whether to buy one for the nephew, or buy a box of matches and a gallon of petrol, and show him some neat tricks :E

Some one should tell the maufacturers that the Harrier has a vane to show wind direction, so the pilot doesn't have to open the canopy and hold up a licked finger to see which way the wind blows.

[LateArmLive]

Wonder which aircraft will have the better serviceability rate?

Well I can guarantee that neither of those in the photo will ever fly!

[diginagain]

Looks like some scally's nicking the radio out of your ride while you're playing with your dolls, mister.

[Pontius Navigator]

I thought I saw a post saying that Amazon sold them. Anyone got a link?

[Double Zero]

Since when did a Harrier canopy hinge at the aft end ?

+ if that's a flap it's too small, and the starboard wing seems to be missing the sidewinder pylon ahead of the outrigger; seems a bodged up AV-8B model.

[Pontius Navigator]

Doublle Zero, the starboard sidewinder is there but a head-on view rather than the side view of the port one.

The mount is th esame as the Typhoon model and the sidewinders on the Typhoon do fire and the drop tanks drop. I expect the Harrier will be the same.

[BEagle]

Disturbing level of knowledge there, PN!

Been hanging around toyshops in your grubby raincoat with pockets full of sweeties again :p ?

[Pontius Navigator]

BEagle, 3 yr old grandson going on 4 next month.

The Typhoon is actually a pretty good toy. Apart from the winders firing and takns dropping the wheels retract and the burners work. The R/T is also 100% authentic. At £9.99 we should have bought 2, one as an in-service reserve :).

The US models are probably from the same company in China and IIRC one even had a remote control.

[TheWizard]

Full details of the range can be found here
HM Armed Forces Toys & Action Figures (http://www.hmarmedforces.com/)

and can be bought at Argos (http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001501&langId=-1&searchTerms=HM+ARMED+FORCES) or Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hm+armed+forces&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=3113579029&ref=pd_sl_6hln9q67fa_b)

Saw this comment on the BBC News article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7978848.stm)
In the interests of accuracy surely the figures should come without appropriate equipment such as body armour, armoured vehicles etc?

[Pontius Navigator]

TheWizard,

They don't make it easy. The link to sales is:

HM Armed Forces (http://www.character-online.com/products/HM-Armed-Forces/?trurl=awco)

[XV277]

Local Tesco had them yesterday - Winchman & Combat Infantryman (complete with .5 HMG) and Desert soldier

[NutLoose]

:} What's those big black things between their legs?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01397/Union-jack_1397712i.jpg

[Pontius Navigator]

It's a GOSH device.

[NutLoose]

Good to see the Winchweight is also a fully qualified Pilot with a full set of wings :)

http://www.character-online.com/thumbnailgenerator.ashx?id=313208&width=467&height=467&method=LimitCentred&background=FFFFFFFF&corners=0&cornerradius=0&type=Jpeg&quality=80&h=DA104BA4ABD6227D66F845D157636BB2&units=Pixel

[BEagle]

Hmmm....

Ah, PN, I remember being 4 - my first rocket firing sortie with a Hunter across the Shrubbery Hotel ballroom floor in Ilminster. The springs fired the rockets a surprising distance and they were a bug.ger to find and reload!

As a lad, I vaguely remember a set of lead soldiers from Harrods when I was very small (probably be worth a mint now...), then some Airfix soldiers to dive bomb with aircraft various some years later. Although quite a few got eaten by Labradors.... But the generation of which I was a part took a very dim view of 'dolls for boys', such as Action Man and thought them a bit too girly. As most certainly did our Dads! We constructed and demolished things; my brother had a 'German officer' model, but that rightly met its maker at the end of BSA Meteor .22 air rifle slug which I loosed off across the garden some years later! Eat lead, Fritz!

Favourite toy of the time was an Airfix Lancaster - I modified it with a spring clip liberated from some Christmas tree decoration (another Labrador casualty..) and inserted it into the 'stand' slot - it was just the right size to hold a bomb which could be stuffed with caps (normally used in toy guns - probably banned these days). When released from the Lanc, the bomb would hit the flagstone floor with a very satisfying crack!

I guess the bombs from these InAction Man toy aeroplanes just go 'poof' when they hit the ground?

[Pontius Navigator]

Possibly the least original comment since the Internet was invented.

Ratio of "You ruined my keyboard!" comments to actual ruined keyboards: 9,000,000 to 1.

Be honest, did you really, really spit coffee over your keyboard? If that's the case, it's probably best if you stop drinking bevarages around electronic media. You're not proficient with either. :=

Quite right. However it was only through good luck that my wine missed the keyboard.

[ZH875]

These figures are so real, you cannot remove them from their gro-bags.:E

[GPMG]

I have a terrible secret to admit.

I bought one from Amazon last night. :uhoh:

I'm not sure if my daughter will be allowed near it though. :O

[BEagle]

Surely they're not that real......:eek:

[Wensleydale]

Prices will probably fluctuate somewhat as they did in the early 1970s when I saw this advert about an Action Man spi-off toy in a shop window......


$6,000,000 Dollar Man.
Now only £3.49

[GPMG]

Well, it turned up today. I have not removed it from it's packaging yet.

I note that the RM Commando is an Officer, not because he wears any rank, but because the cap badge has a seperated crown.

[Brewers Droop]

A little girl is in line to see Santa. When it's her turn, she climbs up on Santa's lap.

Santa asks, "What would you like Santa to bring you for Christmas?"

The little girl replies, "I want a Barbie and an RAF Action Man." Santa looks at the little girl for a moment and says, "I thought Barbie comes with Ken."
"No," said the little girl. "She comes with Action Man, she fakes it with Ken."

a'thankyou........

[Warmtoast]

RAF Falcons, presumably minus H. M. Armed Forces Toys, are featured in Blue Peter this afternoon on BBC1.