Recommended music: Seven Mary Three – Cumbersome
For this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still in Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. From The Vintage Collection, it’s NOT Hoth Rebel Trooper, it’s Cal Alder!
After Han sets back out on tauntaun to search for Luke, there are no signs of life outside the base reported by either man or droid, when this unnamed Rebel Lieutenant reports in to his Major:
“Sir, all the patrols are in. Still no…still no contact from Skywalker or Solo.”
So, the reason I’m calling this figure “Cal Alder”, and not the one that others have labeled as Cal from the 2022 Hoth Echo Base Soldier Troop Builder 4-Pack, is because actor Jack McKenzie’s face is actually shown on the cardback of this 2011 release.
The figure is labeled as “Hoth Rebel Trooper (Echo Base Battle Gear)” for two reasons. First, the vintage figure in the outfit was labeled the same way. To confuse matters further, the vintage ESB cardback incorrectly shows a different character in different gear. Secondly, the character was credited only as “Deck Lieutenant” in the film, and didn’t receive the name “Cal Alder” until being included in an expansion set of the Star Wars Customizable Card Game in 1996.
This Cal is a pretty simple figure with good paint applications, a blaster, and removable goggles. Hasbro later used this figure as a base for their army builder 4-pack. While those figures feature removable hats, the hats look oversized compared to Cal’s sculpted head. Also, even with 11 years to correct their mistake, they still copied over the gray on the gloves (these should be all white, even the vintage figure got it right), and the black on the boots (these should be gray with white straps)😛…
“Your Highness, there’s nothing more we can do tonight. The shield doors must be closed.” – Bren Derlin
[Leia nods]
“Close the doors.” – Derlin
“Yes, sir.” – Cal Alder
#EmpireStrikesBack45
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