Here is the differences I have found between SW action figures I have in
my collection (and some from my brothers). In most cases I have only had two
figures to compare and so I don't know whether the differences are only 
localised to my figures or if it occurred in general.
Were figures made in Taiwan available in the US? What countries were figures
made in (aside from Taiwan and Hong Kong)?
In some places I may have been too picky. There is also a difference between
the Rebel Hoth soldier, but I'll add that when I figure out how to describe
it (I had a hard enough time trying to explain the differences in the Darth
Vader figures! :-)
I think that's all.
Any questions, suggestions, flames etc etc can be emailed to me.

            Anthony...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Notes: a) refers to figure 1 and b) refers to figure 2
               If a space is left blank for either right or left leg then
               that leg had nothing written on it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Bossk:
====== 
a) Right Leg:  (c) 1980 LFL
   Left Leg:   Made in Hong Kong
   Orange uniform 
   Light brown lower arms and legs.

b) Right Leg: 
   Left Leg : (c) 1980 LFL 
              Hong Kong
   Yellow uniform 
   Dark brown lower arms and legs

Notes: Personnaly I cannot see the difference in the uniform colour, but I'm
      told it is there (I'm colour blind, so both uniforms look the same
      to me). I'm also told that the head colours are subtly different and
      I found this to be the case with a lot of figures so I won't bother
      listing those types of differences.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke Skywalker Jedi Knight:
===========================
a) Right Leg: Made in Taiwan
   Left Leg : (c) LFL 1983

b) Right Leg: Hong Kong
   Left Leg : (c) LFL 1983

Notes: Light saber colour may not be dependent on where it was made.
       We all know the difference for this one! :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R2-D2:
======
a) (c) GMFGI 1977 Made in Taiwan
   Stripes on legs are light blue

b) (c) GMFGI 1977 Made in Hong Kong
   Stripes on legs are a darker blue (maybe purple).

Notes: There is also a slight difference in the sticker detail. In one of
      the small boxes near the base the internal detail is one colour,
      in the same boxes on the other figure this detail is only dots (bit
      like a newspaper).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Death Star Commander:
=====================
a) Rank insignia: light blue on top, dark maroon (sp?) on bottom
b) Rank insignia: Dark blue on top, light maroon on bottom

Notes: Both figures had the same copyright markings. It is unknown whether
       the colour differences are due to wear (in this case).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FX-7:
=====
a) (c) 1980 LFL Made in Hong Kong
   Lights on top of head are orange.
   The head extends up about 1.25cm (may be broken - don't know).
   Black rectangles around rim of head are narrow and centred. Similarly
   with the rectangles around the upper torso just below the neck. These
   rectangles have four sides.

b) (c) 1980 LFL Hong Kong
   Lights on top of head are red.
   Black rectangles around the rim of the head extend to edges of the rim.
   Black rectangles just below the neck have no upper fourth side. 
   (ie rectangles are larger than in (a))
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chewbacca:
==========
a) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI 1977 Hong Kong

b) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI 1977 Made in Taiwan

Notes: There does not seem to be any real colour difference in the two
       figures but the pouch on the one made in Taiwan looks to be darker.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Han Solo (Bespin):
==================
a) Orange piping on legs
   White neck (as if extending from shirt).
   Mustard colour legs.

b) Yellow piping on legs.
   Flesh colour neck.
   Brown coloured legs.

Notes: There is some argument about the piping colour, to me they are
       glaringly different but to the person giving me the colour details
       said they were virtually the same (make up your own mind :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Princess Leia Organa (Hoth):
============================
a) Rank insignia smooth

b) Rank insignia has 4 very small "buttons".

Notes: I may be getting picky here :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke Skywalker (Original clothing):
===================================
a) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI 1977 Hong Kong
   Hair colour : brown
   Leg colour  : mustard (not the same colour mustard as for Han above)

b) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI 1977 Taiwan
   Hair colour : yellow
   Leg colour  : fawn
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lando Calrissian (Bespin):
==========================
a) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) 1980 LFL Hong Kong
   NO white eyes or teeth

b) Right leg: (c) 1980 LFL 
   Left leg : Made in Hong Kong
   HAS white teeth and eyes.
   Neck seems to be a darker brown than the face.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bespin Security Guard (white):
==============================
a) Right leg: (c) 1980 LFL
   Left leg : Made in Hong Kong
   Moustache does not bend at right angles at corners of the mouth.
   Pinkish wrist bands.

b) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) 1980 LFL Hong Kong
   Moustache bends at right angles at corners of the mouth.
   Red wrist bands.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stormtrooper (original type):
=============================
a) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI
              Hong Kong
                  1977 

b) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI 1977
                Hong Kong

Notes: There does not seem to be any other major difference between the two.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hoth Stormtrooper:
==================
a) Right leg:
   Left leg (on the boot) : (c) 1980 LFL
                            Hong Kong

b) Right leg: (c) 1980 
              LFL
   Left leg : Made in Hong Kong

Notes: There does not seem to be any other major differences between the two.
       I had heard that there was one with grey arms and legs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2-1B:
=====
a) Main body, legs and head colour is green-blue

b) Main body, legs and head colour is green

Notes: They are easily distinguishable in colour difference.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben Kenobi:
===========
a) Light grey hair

b) White hair
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ugnaught:
=========
Right leg: Made in Hong Kong
Left leg : (c) 1980 LFL

a) Hair colour: light grey
   Right leg "Made in Hong Kong" was more towards the inner leg.

b) Hair colour: dark grey
   Right leg "Made in Hong Kong" was centred on the back of the leg

Notes: I don't know how the molding of the figures is done but I assume
       that the copyright info would appear in the same place for all 
       figures from the same mold. If not then disregard the above.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darth Vader: 
============

a) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI 1977 Taiwan  
   Thin, flimsy, black cape. Matt on the outside and a slight sheen on the
   inside.
   Chest plate: The vertical ridges at the edges are thin.
                The three horizontal bars that go to about 2/3 of way down the
                chest plate are also thin and extend to about the length of 2.5
                boxes that are below it.
                To the right hand side of the 3 horizontal bars are two 
                circle/buttons arranged vertically (one under the other).
   Light saber is thin with a narrow/thin point.
   Belt buckle is thin with a small circle/button.
   Face plate grill over mouth has three vertical bars.
   

b) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI 1977 Hong Kong
   Cape is black plastic, feels smooth and has a sheen on both sides. The cape 
   is also slightly thicker than (a) above.
   The chest plate's vertical ridges at the edges are thicker.
   The horizontal bars are thicker and are a fraction shorter than (a) above.
   To the right hand side of the 3 horizontal bars are two square buttons
   (not circles as in (a)) and are also arranged vertically one under the 
   other.
   The belt buckle is thicker and has a larger button.
   The face plate grill over the mouth has 5 vertical bars.

c) Right leg:
   Left leg : (c) GMFGI 1977 Taiwan
   The cape is like the Hong Hong one in thickness and sheen but it has a very
   very light pattern over it as if a woodworm has been over it.
   The body is like the Taiwan one.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's all for now. More if I find them.

-- 
"Nervous? I'm not nervous...just poised for || Anthony Woolley
 action, that's all."                       || Computer Science (Uni. Tasmania)
         Vila Restal (Blake's 7: Space Fall)|| GPO Box 252C
email: awoolley@postoffice.utas.edu.au      || Hobart TAS 7001