HMAF TOYS

RAF Winchman, Fast Jet Pilot & Falcon

Digital sculpts were taken of several serving HM Armed Forces personnel.

The picture above shows real life RAF Winchman Sergeant Ed Griffiths holding his action figure counterpart. Ed is more usually found swinging from a rope below a Sea King helicopter operating from his base in RAF Valley in Wales (C Flight 22 Squadron).

The HMAF Fast Jet Pilot is modelled on the real RAF Fast Jet Pilot Zane Zennet. The figure in the picture is held by Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Smith, Tornado F3 pilot from 43 Squadron, RAF Leuchars.

And the RAF Falcon figure is of the real life RAF Falcons instructor Tony Brookes. Pictured above, the Falcon figure is held by serving RAF Falcon Flight Lieutenant Louise Buxton, Team Leader of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team.

In the world of military action figures you can’t get much more real than that!

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The whole concept of the new range of HM Armed Forces toys was summed up by Brigadier Mark van der Lande at the HMAF launch yesterday “To promote the image, ethos and reputation of our service personnel”.

Contrary to inaccurate weekend press reports there are of course action figures in the line that reflect the diversity of serving members of HM Armed Forces. And many others are planned.

Snapped on display yesterday at the HMAF Press Launch at RAF Northolt were the three figures pictured in this post.

Only thing missing now is a picture of certain national newspaper editors chowing down to a plate of humble pie…

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HMAF Female Army Medic

Some of the mainstream media were reporting last week that there were no women figures in Character’s HMAF line up.

Thats not the case at all. There’s a female figure on the way and at least one other in the design stage.

The MoD are stressing that they want to see the range reflecting the diversity of serving service men and women in terms of both gender and ethnicity.

Therefore (drumroll) the first female action figure in the HM Armed Forces range will be … an Army Medic wearing desert camouflage. The Medic will be out in time for Xmas 2009.

One footnote, the head sculpt for the medic is in fact based on an employee at Designworks, the Windsor UK based company that designs HM Armed Forces figures for Character Options.

There are already plans for a second female figure. This could be (not confirmed) a frontline Army figure, but will feature the digital head sculpt of Olivia Smales of IMG, a licensing agency to the MoD.

Olivia Smales - HMAF's GI Jane

So whilst the Army Medic will be available over the counter by Xmas we may have to hold out till 2010 for Olivia’s frontline reinforcements.

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HMAF Launch Event at RAF Northolt

Today at RAF Northolt the Ministry of Defence and Character Group held the spectacular Press Launch for HM Armed Forces toys.

Behind an ultra tight security cordon deep inside the base Character unveiled a hanger stockpiled with every HMAF release we can expect this year, as well as some that are timed for release next year…

On hand were serving members of HM Armed Forces and senior military commanders as well as the top brass from Character Options.

Brigadier van der Lande & Character MD Jon Diver

The best news came from Character Group MD Jon Diver who stated, “This brand is long term - there’s going to be many opportunities to replicate other elements of the services”.

All of which should translate into many more HMAF figures and toys in the months and years to come.

HM Armed Forces Action Figures & Service Personnel

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