Blood for the Baron!

As the thread in the 'toy' section went off the rails (in an amusing way) as usual, I wanted to bring these to attention again.

http://www.character-online.com/product ... ed-Forces/

I've bought a few and REALLY want this line to succeed. After all, this is how ACTION FORCE was born wasn't it? Emerging from the ranks of a 'military tribute' line.

For the price, the quality of these figures is pretty good, and makes them the closest thing to 'Action Man' since that line ended. As the range already includes an "Enemy Mercenary" figure (which is an excelent figure in itself and vaguely 'Cobra Trooper-ish') I can easily envisage HM Armed forces expanding to include a more organised enemy force if it succeeds.

Of course, I say "If" the line succeeds... There are many obstacles in the way. Apathetic kids, liberal media condemning 'war toys', the line not have a movie or cartoon out... etc.

I'll certainly be supporting these toys: Worthy subject, excellent quality and Character Options are British. Hope other people feel the same...

I do agree with you on alot of points and my 7 year old thinks they are cool. I agree the quality is there but he did not want to part with £15 for one of these guys. I think around the £7.99 would be a fairer price. Maybe they should have also looked at doing uniform packs like we used to buy for action men. If the pack included a weapon say for around £4.99 I think this would take off. OK they maybe used to dress the 90s Action Man that flood the car boots but it would promote the range as well.
I think that the launch date was a complete cock up. Why launch a new toy so far away from Christmas?
We are already starting to see them discounted and I am afraid that I think this will continue more and more.
I don't think that the games consoles can be totally blamed for lack of sales. Nothing on a screen can compete with the imagination of a child and from spending time with my child I believe that although Star Wars Battlefront is great to play he prefers to act it out with the toys.

I like the line a lot, but my local Asda is selling 'em off @ half price already..to be honest the full retail price does seem very high, the build qaulity on mine isn't as high as say Hasbro's re-launched Actionman. The £7.99 I paid feels a lot more reasonable than the £14.99 r.r.p. for what you get.

Thundershot wrote:I like the line a lot, but my local Asda is selling 'em off @ half price already..to be honest the full retail price does seem very high, the build qaulity on mine isn't as high as say Hasbro's re-launched Actionman. The £7.99 I paid feels a lot more reasonable than the £14.99 r.r.p. for what you get.

3665887392_500d1ba005.jpg

But to be fair you can pay 7.99 for a much smaller scaled (albeit in most cases licensed) action figure such as WWE or Power Rangers... I think 14.99 is fair for the scale, accs. and build quality which doesnt seem too bad...

I know what you mean about the price range for smaller scale lines, makes you wonder how much of a percentage is royalties doesn't it?
Every time I comment on this line it sounds like I don't like it, but I do..
Price wise with toys, I think I'm still stuck in that frame of mind I had as as kid, back when a bigger or Star Wars play set would cost £14, a lot of pocket money back when I only got 50p every two weeks, My adult mind knows about inflation..the childlike part of my mind still thinks in old pocket money terms

i'm sorry, but i think they're a bit crap really. too expensive. the accessories don't seem that hot and i can't believe they launched the line with a generic infantryman, an anti-armour guy and a Marine and didn't use a Para and an SAS commando. Navy diver and Falcons parachutist should've been saved for like wave 3 or something.

i would like to see a quality British action figure line, but i think 3 3/4in or 6in figures would be better, especially since that would allow a wider scope for vehicles (Typhoon, Red Arrows Hawk, Tornado, Harrier, Sea King, Apache, tank, land rover, etc.

Well, if the line succeeds then it may branch out into a smaller scale in the same way ACTION MAN begat ACTION FORCE. Character Options already produce some amazing 6" DR WHO figures (I only collect the 'Classics'), so they have experience in that area.

Don't forget that, at the end of the day, these are toys. My sister collects 12" Blue Box & Hot Toys figures, and when she first saw the H.M. A.F. line she said "they're a bit crap compared to my stuff". But, when I pointed out the price she did acknowledge they were good action figures 'for kids'.

And to be fair, were the original ACTION FORCE figures we all fell in love with so different? Limited articulation, bendy plastic, variable paint apps, some dubious accessories? Despite all that they captured our imagination at the time and we went mad for them - I just hope this line can do the same (although there's that pesky word again: "Imagination"!!!)

As for the price... I'm expecting to pay £8 - £10 per GI JOE ROC figures when they arrive here, so I don't think £15 for a 'basic' 10" is too bad at all. As the line is smaller, there won't be as many to buy either.

No disrespect but you are looking at it from an adult collectors view point. For it to succeed it needs the kids to want it. At the moment even at 7 years old my son realises that he can get alot more for £14.99 then what HM Armed Forces are offering. I am sorry to say but this line will flounder, unless there is a rethink.

I mentioned my feeling on these before, i think they actually fall between the two markets - not enough kiddy appeal/ play value and not detailed enough for adult collectors.

Although it was the fastest growing toy property in May growing from 271 to 29th, I don't think this has had the response retailers were hoping for. If this turns out to be a peak for the launch, this will bomb within a few months sadly.

Gotta say on the poseabillity side the clothes are just too tight on my marine, if you try to put the figure in a kneeling position, his combats ride down to reveal his "builders crack", try the arms & the sleaves rides half way up his arms.
Also the hands pop off really easy, the ankle joints are a little weak & he dosen't stand up for long...I don't know if it's just my sample, but I can't imagine it standing up to a lot of hard playware from children, just too flimsy.