Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70

lunde · 12-01-2011, 10:01 AM

I scratch-built this when I was 15 years old (1981), and called it the Exlar M-70:

lunde · 12-01-2011, 10:04 AM

According to the inscriptions on the inside of the battery compartment, I started working on this on 09/14/1980, and finished on 01/29/1981. I did the lighting and electrical system on my own. There are two red reactor lights, visible from the front, and a white engine light, visible from the rear. It once had a fairly large cannon on the right of the cockpit, which somehow managed to get lost. Given that it is over 30 years since I made it, it is in surprisingly good shape. The electrical system still works, as evidenced by these crappy cell phone photos.

Solochaser · 12-01-2011, 10:31 AM

Wow, great job!

jedimaster · 12-01-2011, 10:45 AM

Looks good , now lets Id those kit parts.

lunde · 12-01-2011, 10:49 AM

I'll try to take some better photos today using my Nikon D300.

In terms of identifying kit parts, I was heavily into Tamiya tank models at the time. The main piece that is visible on the top-rear in the fourth photo is the stand from a Star Wars model kit, if memory serves, perhaps from the Darth Vader TIE Fighter.

lunde · 12-01-2011, 12:03 PM

Here are some better photos:

lunde · 12-01-2011, 12:04 PM

Four more photos:

Ray22 · 12-01-2011, 12:21 PM

If you did this at 15 I would like to see what your doing now, awesome stuff can I borrow that $20? Lol.

lunde · 12-01-2011, 12:25 PM

Of course, the $20 bill was included in one of the photos for scale.

lunde · 12-01-2011, 12:29 PM

Some memory is coming back in terms of where some of the parts came from. A few panel-like parts came from the interior of an original Flying Sub model kit. I also used some parts from a V8 engine model kit. I also built an accompanying spaceship of the same basic size, but sadly it did not survive. While this one (the Exlar M-70) was a freighter-style spaceship, the other one was more of an attack-style one. I drew, from memory, a side and top schematic of the ship a few years ago. I will try to dig it up.

lunde · 12-01-2011, 12:36 PM

I found the schematics of the attack-style spaceship that didn't survive:

robn1 · 12-01-2011, 03:04 PM

Great work, I like it.

The Vader TIE stand was a clear dome. This one looks like the Cylon Raider stand.

lunde · 12-01-2011, 03:38 PM

Thanks, Rob, for jogging my memory. I did have a Cylon Raider kit, so it makes sense that I used the stand.

DaddyfromNaboo · 12-01-2011, 10:14 PM

I think I can see parts from a B-29 in there

One of those twin "below the belly" gun pods and those distinct WW II bomber wheels bring back a lot of memories...

lunde · 12-01-2011, 10:20 PM

Hmm. I don't recall ever buying a B-29 model kit. I should have kept notes…

Maelstrom · 12-01-2011, 11:26 PM

Pretty hardcore build for a fifteen yr old! Very nice! Love to see some of the stuff you do now.

yuumi2891103 · 12-01-2011, 11:34 PM

This is the great build. Even for now, I can feel the enthusiasm for what you have built.
Thanks for sharing.

lunde · 12-02-2011, 12:07 PM

This certainly brings back a lot of memories. I would buy 1/8th or 1/16th inch sheet styrene plastic for building these models. I would even make my own glue, by using thinner to melt leftover plastic struts.

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12-01-2011, 10:01 AM	#1
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 I scratch-built this when I was 15 years old (1981), and called it the Exlar M-70:

12-01-2011, 10:04 AM	#2
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 According to the inscriptions on the inside of the battery compartment, I started working on this on 09/14/1980, and finished on 01/29/1981. I did the lighting and electrical system on my own. There are two red reactor lights, visible from the front, and a white engine light, visible from the rear. It once had a fairly large cannon on the right of the cockpit, which somehow managed to get lost. Given that it is over 30 years since I made it, it is in surprisingly good shape. The electrical system still works, as evidenced by these crappy cell phone photos.

12-01-2011, 10:31 AM	#3
Solochaser Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 175	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Wow, great job!

12-01-2011, 10:45 AM	#4
jedimaster Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Planet Perth Posts: 1,786	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Looks good , now lets Id those kit parts.

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12-01-2011, 10:49 AM	#5
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 I'll try to take some better photos today using my Nikon D300. In terms of identifying kit parts, I was heavily into Tamiya tank models at the time. The main piece that is visible on the top-rear in the fourth photo is the stand from a Star Wars model kit, if memory serves, perhaps from the Darth Vader TIE Fighter.

12-01-2011, 12:03 PM	#6
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Here are some better photos:

12-01-2011, 12:04 PM	#7
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Four more photos:

12-01-2011, 12:21 PM	#8
Ray22 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bronx, New York Posts: 615	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 If you did this at 15 I would like to see what your doing now, awesome stuff can I borrow that $20? Lol.

12-01-2011, 12:25 PM	#9
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Of course, the $20 bill was included in one of the photos for scale.

12-01-2011, 12:29 PM	#10
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Some memory is coming back in terms of where some of the parts came from. A few panel-like parts came from the interior of an original Flying Sub model kit. I also used some parts from a V8 engine model kit. I also built an accompanying spaceship of the same basic size, but sadly it did not survive. While this one (the Exlar M-70) was a freighter-style spaceship, the other one was more of an attack-style one. I drew, from memory, a side and top schematic of the ship a few years ago. I will try to dig it up.

12-01-2011, 12:36 PM	#11
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 I found the schematics of the attack-style spaceship that didn't survive:

12-01-2011, 03:04 PM	#12
robn1 Shat happens Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Snow Camp, NC Posts: 1,846	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Great work, I like it. The Vader TIE stand was a clear dome. This one looks like the Cylon Raider stand.

12-01-2011, 03:38 PM	#13
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Thanks, Rob, for jogging my memory. I did have a Cylon Raider kit, so it makes sense that I used the stand.

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12-01-2011, 10:14 PM	#14
DaddyfromNaboo RPF Staff - Formerly ManfromNaboo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Germany Posts: 9,045	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 I think I can see parts from a B-29 in there One of those twin "below the belly" gun pods and those distinct WW II bomber wheels bring back a lot of memories...

12-01-2011, 10:20 PM	#15
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Hmm. I don't recall ever buying a B-29 model kit. I should have kept notes…

12-01-2011, 11:26 PM	#16
Maelstrom Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 692	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 Pretty hardcore build for a fifteen yr old! Very nice! Love to see some of the stuff you do now.

12-01-2011, 11:34 PM	#17
yuumi2891103 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Small local town near Narita airport Posts: 385	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 This is the great build. Even for now, I can feel the enthusiasm for what you have built. Thanks for sharing.

12-02-2011, 12:07 PM	#18
lunde Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA, USA, Earth Posts: 20	Re: Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70 This certainly brings back a lot of memories. I would buy 1/8th or 1/16th inch sheet styrene plastic for building these models. I would even make my own glue, by using thinner to melt leftover plastic struts.