Definitive Variants?

[SteveD]

Actually (checks spreadsheet) - both are in foreign or bi-lingual card backs, so they will be later version skeletron Mail away.

[SteveD]

Actually - I'll correct myself!

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Not sure if it's my spreadsheet of what I have is incorrect, or if this is an old figure I no longer have, but here he is ready for MayDay in Space, on a nice quaint English cardback!

[Coosbay_pirate]

Thanks Steve, so the tassel or no tassel isn't related to certain card backs. Thanks for looking that up and sharing

[Hopper]

Interesting.
So, does this mean that the bells and sticks versions are early or late? I have always assumed them to be early, the extra paint being no longer applied with the second part of the Action Force Series 2 rollout. This presents a way of solving this issue.
I am a little out of my knowledge zone when it comes to card backs.

[SteveD]

Well Hopper - the mystery deepens. I have three - pics to come. They're not the very early alternate layout Commander mail away versions (I don't actually know if any Space Force came in this configuration - all I have seen so far have been SAS and Z Force suggesting it was the first runs of Series 2, but the earliest one does have the BAF flash point on.

I'm explaining it badly, pics will help.....

[SteveD]

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[SteveD]

Now, they're not the early versions - note the laser gun, rather than the silver SLK, but they are Commander Mail Away!!!

[Hopper]

but the earliest one does have the BAF flash point on.

Indeed.
But it is not the black star with "Free Action Force Comic inside Battle, Tiger, and Eagle During July and August." on it.
This would imply, as you have said, that it was released as the second phase of Series 2, after the initial wave of Z Force and SAS.
(I have a list of phases/waves/series that each have a number - it makes talking about this a lot easier. I'll post it in another thread.)
Using the new terminology, the Space Force Patrollers/Security Troopers both 'Morris Dancer' (Type 2) and 'Plain Legs' (Type 1) are from Phase 2b (2a being the initial SAS/Z Force release)

The fact that they are released together, same time, same phase, is interesting.
They are different, and it is not a factory error. So why two types?
Is this more evidence of two factories?

[Hopper]

Getting back to the original thread, from which we seem to have strayed somewhat, I much prefer the original soft plastic of the earlier figures to the 'Second Wave' harder plastic.

[Chopper]

I like Action Force.