Toy soldiers under fire: The all-male and all-white MoD heroes

Daily Mail ^ | 3rd May 2009 | Matthew Hickley

[naturalman1975]

They were supposed to be realistic toy versions of our brave soldiers, complete with authentic replica uniforms and scale model weapons and equipment.

But it turns out they are, apparently, a little less representative than had been hoped.

A range of action figures launched by the Ministry of Defence has come under fire for being too white and too male.

All of the 25 images included in publicity material showed white men, despite 9 per cent of Armed Forces personnel being women and 6 per cent being from ethnic minorities.

Senior commanders hoped that the 'HM Armed Forces' range would fill the gap left by Action Man and boost the military's popularity - but they have faced a barrage of complaints.

[sinanju]

If you knew your G.I. Joe history, you’d know that the 70’s Joes had built-in blue briefs.

Then again, that kung-fu grip technology could have had other uses...

[antiunion person]

Don’t you think that’s a little overkill?? excuse the expression.

[naturalman1975]

Royal Marine.

[knarf]

My guess is ... third from the right

Or ... second from the left .... errr ... fifth from the left?
Maybe the one on the right? .. the left?
Fourth from right?

[tet68]

but I am pretty sure the one on the right is gay.

Of course, he’s the one huffing nitrous.

[Oztrich Boy]

Yeah, Sorry. I read "soldiers" too narrowly

"'Er Majesty's Jolly -- soldier an' sailor too!"

[JRandomFreeper]

Her house, her rules.

She shot expert and scored expert with grenades. Her and hubby served their tours in the sandbox. Out of respect, I'm not going to go against her wishes (besides it being dangerous).

On the up-side, I can buy and custom refit a Ruger 10-22 for the kid. He'll have a dozen hand crafted shoulder and fore-stocks before he's 8.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

Ease up on the zoomies. :)

/johnny

[Politicalmom]

What if it’s one of the new “Totally Tattooed” Barbies? Can “Bizarrely Pierced” Barbie be far behind? :p

[Politicalmom]

Can’t she just cut their fingers off? :)

[NavyCanDo]

These are way too realistic to have much fun with. Those cheap bag-o-soldiers we use to play with in the 1960s offered a young boy a world of possibilities, when inventing battles.
Ones with broken off limbs were used as casualties. The useless ones, like the guys with the mine detectors would often get killed by a flame thrower, really me with lit match.
These realistic ones are way too expensive to even think about burning or chewing off a bent limb. What fun is that?

[NavyCanDo]

In the early 1970’s my younger brother had a Japanese soldier GI Joe, and he was so jealous of me having the American soldier. He got his revenge a few years ago when he showed me that his version of the Japanese soldier was going on Ebay for up to $600, where my Joe was going for around $40. To bad both of them disappeared when we got into our early teens. Never could figure out where all those toys went. They just disappeared. Now with a kid of my own, I know. It was Mom.

[JillValentine]

I made soldiers out of my Barbie dolls. Presto! Instant female warriors.

[Eagles6]

So statistically one of these figures should have been a black, muslim, Jewish, one legged, lesbian dwarf in transition.

[RobinOfKingston]

Now with a kid of my own, I know. It was Mom.

Moms account for a lot of mysteries.

[Caipirabob]

I have been collecting the "Ultimate Soldiers" series for year. I have many of the 1st series tanks, soldiers and aircraft all in new condition, boxed.

Anyone interested? I could take inventory.

I was going to give them to my son to play with and I have, but I kept on collecting them.

A lot of good they do in AC storage...

Anyway, these are awesome toys and even if I just get to look at them they are VERY COOL...

[Caipirabob]

21st Century Toys - Ultimate Solider

[Jack Hammer]

You did VERY well.