This kit is a faithful reproduction of the transforming Lotus Esprit from James Bond's The Spy Who Loved Me.
Watch a video overview of this new kit by clicking on this link.
Want to see what kind of model it can build into? Check out my build summary here.
All parts are 3D printed in high definition, high strength commecial resin for exceptional strength and rigidity. The upper and lower hull also include alignment pin holes for perfect access to the interior. The entire kit is composed of only 15 pieces, making assembly exceptionally easy.
RC Conversion:This kit is a perfect candidate for conversion to RC operation as it does not require a ballast system. A traditional cylinder is not suitable for use with this model due to the shape of body, however a waterproof enclosure such as the S3 waterproof box is an ideal housing for electronics and batteries.
We hope to have a functional model of this boat finished soon, with a complete step by step instructional video very soon.
Parts list:
- Upper Body
- Lower Body
- Rudders x4
- Propellers x4 (2 clockwise and 2 counter-clockwise)
- Antenna
- Forward Dive Planes x2
- Rear Dive Planes x2
Hull overall length: 22.5" (57cm)
James Bond's Lotus Submarine from "The Spy Who Loved Me"
"Wet Nellie" is the behind-the-scenes name given to a custom-built submarine, created for the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me in the shape of a Lotus Esprit S1 sports car. The Esprit was chosen to give James Bond a glamorous car to drive. "Wet Nellie" is named in reference to Little Nellie, an autogyro featured in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice, which was itself named after actress and comedian Nellie Wallace.
The history of the car in the film was that it was developed by Q-Branch of MI6, and its blueprints were stolen by KGB agent Anya Amasova (after Bond asked Amasova "How did you know about that?" Amasova replied, "I stole the blueprints of this car two years ago").
In filming, six Esprits were used (registration "PPW 306R"), though only one was an actual submarine. Three of the Esprits were just empty bodyshells which were used to show each phase of the car-to-submarine transformation. Two unpowered dummy cars fitted with wheels were used to show the Esprit entering and emerging from the sea; the first was designed to be fired from an air cannon off the end of the pier, the second was towed by a rope buried under the beach with a sweeping brush fitted to the underside to cover the rope up as the car was tugged out. When an additional road car was needed for the chase sequences the producers borrowed Lotus chairman Colin Chapman's personal vehicle.