Nautilus-Disney<br/>

NAUTILUS

From the 1954 Walt Disney production of Jules Verne’s classic science fiction noel ‘20000 Leagues Under the Sea’. Diected by Richard Fleisher

This film was one of Walt Dineys’ biggest gambles, and one of the most beloved and most respected . It is still highly regarded nearly 70 years after it was made.

The Nautilus is featured throughout the film, and is as much a star as Kirk Douglas and James Mason. The ship is a triumph of design and quite a departure from what Verne described in his novel. But is is perfect. Every depiction of the Nautilus since, as well as virtually any film depicting futurism in the Victorain era, stands in the shadow of this tremendous design. Harper Goff was the man responsible. He was also extensively involved with the designs for Disneyland!

The ship is depicted on screen as a full size waterline mock-up for scenes with the actors as well as numerous interior sets that all support the functionality and design ethos of the ship. An 11foot long miniature, made from brass was used for the very realistic and dramatic underwater scenes. This Nautilus is sometimes referred to as the ‘Goff Nautilus’.

The submarine is 212 feet in length, so a 1/144th scale model kit would come in at just under 18” in length. A good size to captue the shape and details. The rudder and propeller would be movable as well as the embedded diving planes eitehr side of the bay windows.

Evidently there were plans for Airfix to do a kit of this Nautilus, but this never amounted to anything.

I imagine this in black plastic or possibly the brown plastic used for some of the military vehicles such as the ‘Russian T34’.

There are several garage kits of this ship now available. But I saw the film in the cinema as a UK Re-Release in 1978 and would have LOVED to have had a kit of the Nautilus back then!