James Bond Lotus Esprit - Submarine Version

[Sky Seeker]

This is a simple model from paperdiorama (originally papercrafts.it) from the 1977 movie "The Spy Who Loved Me".

Lotus Esprit from 1977 James Bond Film The Spy Who Loved Me - Paperdiorama - Donwload Free Paper Model

www.paperdiorama.com

A clip from the Spy Who Loved Me with the "car" underwater.

Some shots of the sub in the movie:

Thought I'd include this shot as the car / sub is NOT typically shown with it's doors open underwater

After having a bit of a hiatus from modeling I thought I'd start out slow, by doing something relatively "simple".
Templates - side control surfaces and hood. Note the lines see below

The lines are used to line up scoring for the folds.

Scored sections - note how the line up with the marks on the top and bottom.

Most template pieces cut out

Back support areas for the vertical stabilizers

Rear portion assembled

That's it for now.

Sky Seeker

 

[Sky Seeker]

Test fit - horizontal control surfaces. Just wanted to make sure that the cut outs in the side of the vehicle had enough clearance for the horizontal control surfaces.

Both horizontal control surfaces positioned and glued in place.

Top view

When test fitting the bottom plate - there was a wee bit problem discovered. The plate was too short and the back edges curved inwards too much!

The solution - reprint another bottom piece cut off the rear portion that curved inwards too much and attach a longer straight portion onto the main bottom piece. The piece to the right is the correct size piece (see below).

Bottom piece glued in place

That's it for now.

Sky Seeker

 

[mijob]

This is a nice model you have made.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

It looks like you are off to a great start!!!

 

[Sky Seeker]

It looks like you are off to a great start!!!

Thanks Rhaven and MiJob! There's still more to do such as the front launchers, rear thrusters, and some other minor details here and there.

 

[micahrogers]

I always loved that car. Great model.

 

[spaceagent-9]

Love this!!!

 

[Sky Seeker]

Ok here are some new pics.

Various greebling bits

Thrusters - in looking at the original design (see below and look at the rear) I noticed that they were just a bunch of cylinders glued together

This is what the movie version looked like

Needless to say I thought a "few" changes needed to be made

individual pods - the sections in black are the pods for receiving the propellers. You can see the stock propellers below. In the picture you can see the outline of the propellers pretty clearly, but in real life they are difficult to cut accurately. The white strip on the left will be used for a support for the propellers.

The back side of one of the pods colored in black marker.

All the pods colored. One of the tabs have been left on, but per Zathros' past instruction on the matter all tabs for cylinders are cut off before and re-glued on prior to final assembly.

All pods assembled.

After the pods are assembled, they are pushed together and lined up with a ruler. In one of the pods you can see how the tabs are positioned internally. This gives a smooth outer surface on the pods.

Next they are glued. While it looks like it will be sloppy, the glue dries transparent.

The struts are cut from the strip of white cardstock mentioned earlier. The height is roughly the diameter of the pods. One for each pod.

The struts with gluing of the underside of the pods.

At this point you can see that the efforts for cutting the provided propellers were kind of fruitless (see the middle circular parts). At this point it was decided to find a picture of an actual marine propeller, scale it down for the desired use, print and cut as needed. Yes these propellers on the lower level are scaled real life propellers.
Looking at the strut on the furthest right side, a rolled up piece of excess cardstock was cut and rolled between the fingers to create a prop shaft. It was originally intended to be able to rotate, but it worked out that it just stuck in place.

Close up look at the strut and the shaft prior to gluing. The center was cut with an exacto knife then a punch was used to widen the hole. A small nail could be used as well.

That's it for now.

Sky Seeker

 

[Sky Seeker]

More pics

The remaining struts have been punched while the right hand most strut has been glued in place. In retrospect it sort of is resembling a tie fighter (that's just sheer coincidence). Note that one of the propellers has been cut. I thought it was a definite improvement over the older propellers.

The struts are now fully assembled with their respective shafts. It looks like I might be have another movie on the mind. Please feel free to guess which one! Actually, any resemblance is purely by chance and just an accident.

The propellers have all been cut out with the edges colored in black marker. The top of the pods seemed to have air holes formed when the glue was drying so another layer of glue was added to removed gaps.

The ends of the shafts were cut and split to receive the propellers. The propellers might look cut up in the pics, please keep in mind the scale. In real life they look fine and you can't see the cuts.

The struts colored with a black marker.

The propellers assembled on to the struts. Please keep in mind the scale at which this detail is being done these struts are roughly 3/8" - t-i-n-y. All ready to be inserted into the pods.

While I was waiting for the struts / propeller assemblies to dry, the front missile launcher was placed on the vehicle. In real life you can barely read the lotus insignia on the vehicle. If you use glasses you definitely will need them to read it.

That's it for now.

Sky Seeker

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

I really like the work and detailed greebling that you are putting into this project!!!

 

[micahrogers]

Great work on this little gem.

 

[Sky Seeker]

I really like the work and detailed greebling that you are putting into this project!!!

Thanks appreciate it. I feel like the more research that is done on this project the more that the movie "magic" is being ruined, but then again I'm getting a greater appreciation for the art they have created along the way.

Thanks for stopping on by.

 

[Sky Seeker]

Great work on this little gem.

Thanks. Emphasis on little. Jeweler's loops required.

 

[mijob]

Its not a simple model any more with all the effort and greeblings that you put on this model. I like the way you chare your thoughts with us.

 

[Sky Seeker]

Here's the finished product done last night.

For anybody that wants the new template for the propellers here it is to proper scale:

Here's another link for the Sotheby's auction with more pics of the car.

1977 Lotus Esprit S1 'Wet Nellie' | London 2013 | RM Sotheby's

1977 Lotus Esprit S1 'Wet Nellie' for sale at RM Sotheby's London

rmsothebys.com

Next up the horizontal and vertical rudders near the propeller assembly.

Sky Seeker

 

[Sky Seeker]

Its not a simple model any more with all the effort and greeblings that you put on this model. I like the way you chare your thoughts with us.

I get detailed with how things are done so that if others want to do this they can. When making the complex you just do a whole lot of simple steps. One builds on the other.

There's still more detailing that needs to be done. Here's the laundry list:

Horizontal and vertical rudders for the propeller assembly
Rear tail lights and license plate
Front bumper
Front rear and side window louvers
Diorama stand (this came with the model - will tweak accordingly)

That's all I can think of, but if you have any more ideas I'll see what can be done.

Sky Seeker

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

You are doing a great job on this project! I am looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

 

[Sky Seeker]

Thanks Rhaven!

 

[Sky Seeker]

Another history link

James Bond's Lotus Esprit S1

James Bond's Lotus Esprit S1, in the film The Spy Who Love Me, from 1977.

www.lotusespritturbo.com

Enjoy!

 

[micahrogers]

Looks like your doin a bang up job on this, and thank you for sharing the link, I nabbed this to try later.