Scale ladder
The usual ladder runs 1/12 (about 6 inches), 1/10 (about 8), 1/6 (about 12), 1/5 (17 to 25) and 1/4 to 1/3 for the heritage pieces. Which makers sit on which rung for Voltron is not catalogued here yet, so this is the ladder rather than a buying guide. Plan shelf depth before scale.
EX vs. RG variants
Tweeterhead pieces ship from Sideshow as an Exclusive (EX) edition or a Regular (RG) edition. EX adds a swap-out portrait or accessory. Edition sizes are not always disclosed up front. EX sells out in pre-order; RG lingers on shelves and is what you can still buy a year later.
Polystone vs. resin vs. PVC
Polystone is the high-end norm: heavy, opaque, holds detail under paint. Resin (1/10 Iron Studios) is lighter and easier to ship. PVC (Icon Heroes stactions) is action-figure-grade plastic with a static pose. Cost tracks the material.
Secondary market
Pop Culture Shock pieces and early Sideshow originals are only available on the secondary market now. eBay sold-listings is the truth source. Avoid unboxed pieces unless the seller has photos of every angle of every limb; freight damage is the silent killer.
Knockoffs
Tweeterhead and Iron Studios are the most-copied lines. Tells: missing edition plates, paint that pools at the seams, wrong base sculpt. Only buy from Sideshow direct, Iron Studios direct, BBTS, or EE for new pieces. Reputable secondary dealers will guarantee authenticity in writing.
Display
UV-filtered acrylic case if it sits in a window. Pair statues that share a base aesthetic (Tweeterhead Snake Mountain pieces all interlock; Iron Studios BDS pieces all sit on a continuous Snake Mountain plinth). Mixing scales on one shelf is fine if you stagger depth.