Scratch-built thirty years ago: Exlar M-70

[lunde]

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

 

[lunde]

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]

Wow, great job!

 

[jedimaster]

Looks good , now lets Id those kit parts.

 

[lunde]

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]

Here are some better photos:

 

[lunde]

Four more photos:

 

[Ray22]

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

 

[lunde]

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

 

[lunde]

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]

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

 

[robn1]

Great work, I like it.

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

 

[lunde]

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

 

[DaddyfromNaboo]

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

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

 

[lunde]

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

 

[Maelstrom]

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

 

[yuumi2891103]

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

 

[lunde]

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.