The Q-boat (serial F-COM/09), also dubbed Q's Fishing Boat, is a fictional Q Branch-designed experimental speedboat. The vessel appeared in the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough along with its 2000 video game adaption.
History[]
When oil tycoon Sir Robert King is killed by an explosion inside MI6 headquarters in London, James Bond gives chase to the assassin using an experimental armed speedboat. The chase leads along the Thames to the Millennium Dome, where she attempts to escape via hot air balloon. Bond offers her protection, but she refuses, then causes the balloon to explode, killing herself.
Behind the Scenes[]
Initially conceived by The World Is Not Enough production designer Peter Lamont as a low-profile 'jet boat', 15 custom-built Q Boat shells were constructed for filming by Riddle Marine of Idaho, USA. The shells were shipped to the UK and detailed at the workshops of Pinewood studios. Four of the boats were functioning and operational, powered by enormous 5.7L V8 engines. The rest were designed for specific purposes, including the barrel roll, underwater filming as well as SFX cannon shots. Only nine of the boats remain today, and can usually only be found in museums and touring exhibitions.[4]
In London outdoor footage was shot of the SIS Building and Vauxhall Cross with several weeks filming the boat chase on the River Thames eastwards towards the Millennium Dome, Greenwich.[5] The canal footage of the chase where Bond soaks the parking wardens was filmed at Wapping and the boat stunts in Millwall Dock and under Glengall Bridge were filmed at the Isle of Dogs. Chatham Dockyard was also used for part of the boat chase.[6]
Gadgets[]
The Q-boat's equipment were armed and operated by switches to the left and right of the steering wheel, with an LED display directly above.
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Torpedoes — Two forward-firing guided torpedoes are concealed underneath the front hood of the Q-boat. They are armed/disarmed and fired by switches on a panel to the left of the steering wheel. |
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GPS display — Above the steering wheel is an LCD screen which displays global positioning system (GPS) information, including map data, target tracking information, route-calculation and the user's proximate location. |
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Jet engines — The Q-boat was notably equipped with a pair of rocket boosters for providing a short bursts of speed. Bond additionally uses them to propel the craft through the streets of London. |
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Submersible mode — The boat was equipped with a submersible mode which allowed the operator to briefly submerge and resurface the craft. It was operated by a lever to the left of the driver. |
Unused Gadgets[]
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Grenade launchers — Two pairs of three forward-firing grenade launchers (two on each side) were hidden beneath panels on the front of the boat. Switches for "grenades" are seen on the control console and launcher props were built but unused. |
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Machine guns — In storyboard panels of the boat-chase sequence, along with officially sanctioned cut-out schematics[3], a pair of forward-firing pop-up machine guns are listed in the boat's weaponry. In the finished prop they are located alongside the grenade launchers. They were also unused. |
Gallery[]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Vehicle designation from in-film UI graphics, detailed in visual effects artist Mark Coleran's portfolio
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 (2002) 007 Spy Files #1 (Magazine), 007 Spy Files (in En-UK), London: GE Fabbri Ltd., pp.04-05.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Vehicle stats and dimensions detailed in James Bond Model Car Collection magazine, Issue No. 82
- ↑ Lot #: 161 James Bond’s (Pierce Brosnan) Full-size Q-Boat THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999). Prop Store Ltd.. Retrieved on 12 November 2016.
- ↑ British Waterways' Film Map: Canals and rivers on screen. Waterscape.com. Retrieved on 15 January 2008.
- ↑ Kent Film Office. Kent Film Office The World Is Not Enough Film Focus.