bear & brit in battle gear

For toy collectors like me, the biggest battle is trying to resist all the other designer toys out there.

I, myself, have surrendered. Apart from wonderfully-designed Bearbricks, I also collect Hot Toys military action figures from Hong Kong. These are incredibly-detailed 12-inch models of men in uniform.

Right now, retailers are pre-selling Hot Toys' British Army Tank Commander (featured below), coming out in late September. Doesn't it look real from afar?

But what's even more amazing is the fact that it's the spitting image of HRH Prince William of Britain (who once trained with the Royal Army) – down to the receding hairline! Okay, perhaps a slightly more mature version. (Note the trendy keffiyeh scarf!)

When it comes to workmanship, these collectible military figures are 5-star. Those unnamed Chinese toy sculptors deserve medals.

(Check out the Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer Air Force look-alikes at the Hot Toys website. You'll be amazed.)

(Top) The military-themed 'Born To Kill' Bearbrick was created by Medicom for Montage, the Japanese fashion brand with shops in Tokyo, Fukuoka and Sendai. It also comes in yellow, but I prefer the original olive version which I won at a bidding on eBay.

Pic of Hot Toys British Army Tank Commander 12" Action Figure from ABC Express on eBay. / Prince William pic from The Evil Beet / Missile test background pic of Montage Bearbrick from www.naitazi.com