Agent X-20's submarine from Stingray - from a Mach 2 Bell X-5 kit

[Galligraphics]

I was out with an old mate at the weekend and we got talking about old tv shows - as you do... We were both big fans of the old Gerry Anderson puppet shows and the various craft that appeared. I casually mentioned that, a few years ago, I'd built a model of the submarine used by Agent X-20 (Exx two zero...), the Peter Lorre-soundalike baddie that popped up in several episodes of Stingray. He hasn't seen it (the model, that is. He's seen Stingray. Hundreds of times....), so I promised I'd send him a few photos. 

And, seeing as I've taken said photos, I thought I might as well share them here. 

The original studio model was apparently based on Revell's 1/48(?) kit of the Bell X-5 swing wing experimental aircraft, with wings removed (and the roots covered with tubular mouldings which could be drop tanks) and suitable fins added, which appear to be cut from the original kit wings. Here are some photos of the original model.

   

Nowadays it is difficult to obtain one of the old Revell kits and, in any event, in 1/48 scale it would be too big for my shelves especially when sitting alongside some of my other Gerry Anderson models. However, I discovered that Mach2 made a 1/72 version... perfect! (Perfect for my purposes - please do NOT take that as a comment on the quality of the Mach2 kit...).

So that was my start point. It was everything you would expect from a Mach2 kit.... Luckily, I wasn't trying to make a model of a Bell X-5... 

So here's my completed model - fins made from the discarded wings of the kit, the two side pods (which cover the wing roots) made from bits of old ballpoint pens...

   

And here's a rather cruel close-up:

Best viewed at the bottom of a deep, dark ocean...

 

Although, because I added it to a display base, it is the ONLY one of my models tolerated by Mrs G in its position atop a shelf unit in the living room...

 

Nige

 

 

[Carts]

So you can make a brilliant model from a Mach2 kit after all 😃Well they did say that "Anything can happen in the next half hour"

[whitestar12chris]

Very nicely done NIge, this is one i keep toying with doing with the revell 1/48 kit, when i get one cheap enough, (still cheaper than the Warp kit). Well done, love it.

 

All the best Chris

[Galligraphics]

7 hours ago, whitestar12chris said:

still cheaper than the Warp kit

Indeed - £80-odd?  no thanks...

[Yg Models]

nice fish 😁

 

i also painted fish camo before, it is quite interesting pattern.