Thanks. Clothing-wise, it appeared to me like the older figures had a visibly finer, thicker material for the shirt section, versus the very thin, rough-weave cotton look on mine.
It also seems like the armor shoulderpads are attached with much longer lengths of string, so they dangle a ways down instead of hanging close to the top portion.
I think it's reasonable that the material changed. It would be extremely difficult to find the same material used from three years ago.
You're probably right on the string, mine is more or less fixed in place, there is no extra length, but again, not a deal-breaker. It's hard to say what's a normal variance between individual pieces made on the production line versus someone being sloppy. But looking at that paintwork on the armor, I'd lean towards 'sloppy'.
But overall though, with the model of base body changing, as well as the material changing, they should've taken all new photos, it looks like the product has changed substantially in this revised version.
You'll have to weigh your options. It's a pretty cool figure overall, probably at the top of the list of Sideshow's 'original designs', so it would suck to pass on it because the string is longer on the revised version, or the tunic fabric is not the same as the first version. You'll have to disregard what the first version looks like and judge what you have on its own merits. Again, it is to be expected that the product would change between batches, or versions. That is fairly standard to keep the 'integrity' of each edition. Though Sideshow is sort of in uncharted territory by keeping the figure for sale in perpetuity and just making new batches, and not outright labeling it as such.
Maybe just accept a partial refund of $20-$30 and use that towards a more poseable body.
Or just return it, call it a wash, and wait for the inevitable Hot Toys version for show, which will be the 'canon' design of the character.
