First announced back in January last year, Corgi’s 60th anniversary Stingray model is In stock and available to order direct from the die cast model makers or The Gerry Anderson Store. There’s been a bit of comment from some fans of the show about some elements of the design, but in general, the release seems to have been well received.
Created by the Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, Stingray was the first ever British TV programme to be filmed entirely in colour, making its debut in October 1964.
Set in the 2060s, W.A.S.P (the World Aquanaut Security Patrol) patrol Earth’s Oceans from their HQ base Marineville. Led by Commander Shore, W.A.S.P agents battle against evil with the fearless and heroic Troy Tempest as captain of super submarine Stingray at the vanguard of protecting mankind.
Together with hydrophone operator George ‘Phones’ Sheridan and the amphibious and beautiful Marina, Troy battles against underwater enemies the Aquaphibians the Terror Fish and the persuasive power of Titan the undersea Lord.
As with Supercar and Fireball XL5, the series had its own stunning comic strip in the weekly TV Century 21 comic, originally written by Alan Fennell with fantastic art by Ron Embleton. Later contributors included Dennis Hooper, Gerry Embleton, and Michael Strand. Some Stingray adventures were reprinted in Polystyle Publications’ Countdown in the years 1971–1972, alongside new stories drawn by artists such as Brian Lewis.
A short-lived Stingray comic, running for 24 issues, was published by Egmont in the 1990s, prompted by a revival screening of the series on the BBC, featuring art by creators such as Andrew Skilleter and Graham Bleathman.
The new model is aimed at collectors, costing nearly £40 (instalment payments available!) and Corgi acknowledges that while the design is not exactly as seen on screen, responding to some fan comments online, it is intended as the die cast model toy that was never produced in the 1960s. This means it accommodates working torpedo tubes, for example, elements akin to original Gerry Anderson die cast toys of the 1960s like the FAB One Rolls Royce from Thunderbirds and the SPV from Captain Scarlet.
The Corgi release page offers plenty of fictional background on the super sub, evoking memories of the tie-in Stingray annuals and the 1990s revival Stingray comic, which included fantastic cutaways created by Graham Bleathman. Many were reprinted in Inside the World of Gerry Anderson, published by Egmont, copies available with a hefty price tag.
The flagship of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP), Stingray is a renowned combat submarine piloted by Captain Troy Tempest and his hydrophone operator Lieutenant George Lee Sheridan, also known as ‘Phones’.
The vessel was considered the most advanced submarine of the 2060s and was central to the WASP’s discovery of many advanced undersea civilisations, including the city of Titanica, ruled by the despotic King Titan and his warrior followers, the Aquaphibians.
Measuring 85ft (30m) long, Stingray’s nuclear reactor powers a Dual Drumman Hydrojets Ratemaster Turbine that gives the vessel a surface speed of 400 knots and a submerged speed of 600 knots. This raw power also enables the ship to breach the surface and ‘jump’ out of the water for a short distance, a useful way to evade enemies.
Stingray can safely submerge to a maximum depth of 40,000ft, comfortably above the deepest known point of the world’s oceans. A pair of landing skis can deploy from the underside of the hull to enable the submarine to safely land on the ocean floor.
The submarine is armed with a complement of sixteen Sting missiles and carries several other small vehicles onboard for maximum operational flexibility while deployed. Most noticeable of these are a pair of Aqua Sprites, small submersibles located on the exterior hull of Stingray to port and starboard.
The Aqua Sprites feature dry interiors for the pilot, detaching from the main hull and allowing for closer docking with other vessels underwater. In the event of an emergency underwater, the Aqua Sprites are also the primary means of evacuating Stingray.
If the crew leaves the vessel in underwater equipment, they invariably use handheld Sea Bugs to enable speedier propulsion and movement while underwater. Above the surface, compact single-seat hovercraft called Monocopters are available on board to provide much quicker and safer movement over the invariable rough terrain.
• Order the Corgi Stingray hee direct from Corgi | The Gerry Anderson Store.
• Check out the Stingray DVD box set on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Includes: Stills Gallery, Character Biographies, Gerry Anderson Commentary “Stand by for Action” and Gerry Anderson Commentary “Stingray”
• Inside the World of Gerry Anderson on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Get ready to see inside the secret world of Gerry Anderson’s 21st century vehicles, machinery and settings. This complete definitive collection of Graham Bleathman’s cutaways includes detailed images from Thunderbirds, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90, plus less well known craft and locations seen only in the comic strips. The perfect book for Gerry Anderson collectors, fans of his shows and comic fans alike.
• Gerry Anderson Art Prints by Andrew Skilleter
Andrew Skilleter contributed extensively to the Gerry Anderson comics, Thunderbirds, Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Joe 90, in the early 1990s, including The Complete Thunderbirds Story.
He later returned to the theme in the early 2000s and more recently for Eaglemoss. Most of the prints available are from the original artwork for the covers reproduced in stunning quality.
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Merchandise, Other Worlds, Science Fiction, Television
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