Andyww 1,278 Posted April 14, 2020 Report Share Posted April 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Paul Coleman said: The original poster was rightly stating that some of the shots were of a model but then somebody else misread what he wrote and interpreted it as though he was saying it was all done with models Well that was me as you probably know, and the argument started out, not from the poster but the link which he posted which stated: "Today’s clip from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977) features one of 007’s most iconic cars – the Lotus Esprit S1 affectionately known as “Wet Nellie”. For the underwater sequences, a miniature Lotus was guided through the clear waters of the Bahamas on ultra-thin wires." It was that which prompted me to post my original comment on that thread. The sub was not mentioned at all. I cant really understand why everyone else does not see anything wrong with the statement. Its as if the sub never existed. OK the engineer in me maybe causes me to be pedantic about accuracy but I make no apology for that. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lotusfab 3,192 Posted April 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 Well I'm glad we sorted all that and got lots of great pictures I have never seen before! Right now who said the ski racks were Balsa wood! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post LOTUSMAN33 1,458 Posted April 15, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 You have to admire the model making which makes these movies classics like the cars we love, this is why you can’t beat the original three Star Wars motion pictures. Modern CGI is really impressive and almost perfect these days allowing the imagination to run wild but the green screen work for the actors can’t be half as much fun not being on location. Dave 4 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to post Share on other sites
James.007 14 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 Yes, it was good to see all the posts. Balsa wood is used as a sandwich or core material in laminates, so possibly. But your racks are very nice and an excellent piece of workmanship. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LOTUSMAN33 1,458 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 Some more great underwater shots Dave 2 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to post Share on other sites
Lotusfab 3,192 Posted April 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 Where did tou get the pics? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM cweeden 172 Posted April 15, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 And what idiot opened the doors underwater??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LOTUSMAN33 1,458 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 I found them online when searching for the article about finding the prop wet Nellie in the Bahamas painted red covered in fairy lights. I remember reading it years ago how they negotiated the sale from a restaurant/bar owner. Dave 1 1 Quote Do or do not, there is no try! Link to post Share on other sites
RichardJGC 372 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 Loving all these photos! Am curious about the black strips under each side. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fridge 955 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 5 minutes ago, RichardJGC said: Loving all these photos! Am curious about the black strips under each side. Yes, I'd not noticed those before. They'll be skids I assume. The divers struggled to manoeuvre the mini-sub, and I suppose it had to be made to be able to rest on the seabed at time whilst shots were set up etc. Not all of the wet-subs had them of course, as the dummy used to drop the mine was smooth underneath of course. To reiterate to the point of obsession, there really was more than one of these props made, but only one 2-man wet sub version as I understand it. The museum and Bond in Motion displays you see are mainly all copies. With varying degrees of accuracy. Even compared to the film prop, not the Esprit. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andyww 1,278 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 37 minutes ago, Fridge said: The museum and Bond in Motion displays you see are mainly all copies. With varying degrees of accuracy. Even compared to the film prop, not the Esprit. Indeed, in fact its clear they are fake as they are too good! The sub after movie use is pictured as looking really knackered. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fridge 955 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 Just now, Andyww said: Indeed, in fact its clear they are fake as they are too good! The sub after movie use is pictured as looking really knackered. Yes, and in fact, apart from miniatures which are almost always highly detailed and not exactly miniature - most are pretty big, as otherwise they do look like models, full-sized props are often quite makeshift. Like film sets. Just facades really. They have a very limited lifespan and are often destroyed after film production ceases. Such as the vehicles used in Bladerunner for instance. Which is why it amuses me when car enthusiasts complain about details. Especially films made before the wide scale use of home video, when scenes were seconds long, and not seen again. It would not surprise me if the ski racks on the Bond ET were simple balsawood cored mock-ups with boot laces or whatever. They were never meant to be anything more than a prop, and not for practical use. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andyww 1,278 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 As a huge Gerry Anderson fan, One of the best examples of that are the 2 cars used in UFO. They looked great but were only just driveable for short distances apparently in a straight line otherwise they fell apart. The gull-wing doors had no struts and had to be opened by the crew and held open out of shot. Ed Strakers car was found in a garden as an empty shell, someone bought it but dont think it was ever restored. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fridge 955 Posted April 15, 2020 Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 This was one of our miniatures. Created to composite into a scene with CGI elements. It's often found that mixing miniatures and live action with CGI elements works best. As there is an added realness to scenes. Compared to purely animated scenes. Titanic is a good comparison, which used a mix of purely CGI which now looks dated, and live action, on huge film sets based in Spain. 1 minute ago, Andyww said: As a huge Gerry Anderson fan, One of the best examples of that are the 2 cars used in UFO. They looked great but were only just driveable for short distances apparently in a straight line otherwise they fell apart. The gull-wing doors had no struts and had to be opened by the crew and held open out of shot. Ed Strakers car was found in a garden as an empty shell, someone bought it but dont think it was ever restored. It was used to create a mold of the body shell. Though as you say, I'm not sure if it was ever completed. The fella got a lot of flak from purests, who've probably never took a car apart before. I actually saw that car when it was on a tour of Ford dealerships in the 1970s. It was quite basic even for then. With switches made from bottle tops etc. Still cool. And more importantly, worked as it was intended, as a prop. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lotusfab 3,192 Posted April 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 14 minutes ago, Fridge said: Yes, and in fact, apart from miniatures which are almost always highly detailed and not exactly miniature - most are pretty big, as otherwise they do look like models, full-sized props are often quite makeshift. Like film sets. Just facades really. They have a very limited lifespan and are often destroyed after film production ceases. Such as the vehicles used in Bladerunner for instance. Which is why it amuses me when car enthusiasts complain about details. Especially films made before the wide scale use of home video, when scenes were seconds long, and not seen again. It would not surprise me if the ski racks on the Bond ET were simple balsawood cored mock-ups with boot laces or whatever. They were never meant to be anything more than a prop, and not for practical use. Don't even go there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Advantage 910 Posted April 16, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 Meant to post this up the other day (it was buried deep inside the harddrive of a very dusty pc) and is a photo of a photo from some publicity bumf. If you hold your hands over your eyes you can't see the wires... 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Andyww 1,278 Posted April 16, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 Looking at the footage for the 93rd time, the final underwater shot is interesting. The door seems to have come slightly open and there is an extra fin on the RH door. This is not on the left side. The waistline trim has come off at the front. Common issue! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lotusfab 3,192 Posted April 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 (edited) Amazing what still pictures show. When I watched it I totally missed the trim! Edited April 16, 2020 by Bibs 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fridge 955 Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 I am genuinely surprised that you guys who are fixated on the Esprit in Bond films and such like have not spotted these things previously. I mentioned the door thing above, or in the Facebook comments. I assume it is a safety device, like a diver latch to release the door. As I suspect the Wilmott-Breedon door handles were deemed inadequate for marine use, from a safety point of view. I cannot see it being a vane or strake for trim purposes. That door opening has always been visible, even when I was a kid watching this. Have you noticed the screw holes in the headlining above the driver's door if the Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger? The sun visors being removed to aid the exterior shots of the actor in the driving scenes no doubt. Similar mistakes are present in Skyfall. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Choppa 214 Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 7 hours ago, Andyww said: I've spent the last couple of minutes trying to get this video to play Quote Normally Aspirated - and lovin' it! Link to post Share on other sites
Lotusfab 3,192 Posted April 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 59 minutes ago, Choppa said: I've spent the last couple of minutes trying to get this video to play Think its a screenshot Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Choppa 214 Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 30 minutes ago, Lotusfab said: Think its a screenshot You don't say !! 1 Quote Normally Aspirated - and lovin' it! Link to post Share on other sites
williamtherebel 415 Posted April 16, 2020 Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Choppa said: I've spent the last couple of minutes trying to get this video to play Me too!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lotusfab 3,192 Posted April 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2020 For the S1 owner currently in lockdown! https://www.jumbliesmodels.com/radio-controlled-c36/cars-c38/james-bond-lotus-esprit-s1-the-spy-who-loved-me-mi6-r-c-p5209 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gold FFM jep 853 Posted April 29, 2020 Gold FFM Report Share Posted April 29, 2020 https://www.lotuscars.com/build-esprit-s1/?fbclid=IwAR2xZegelDnRXKCyeNxfwRORTt8dATZKnqBsjm9iSYOj-RBOmPfbE3mTvNo Wet Nellie 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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