The Nautilus c/w submarine was released shortly after the film 20,000 leagues under the sea was shown for the first time.

As  with all Sutcliffe submarines it dived dynamically - it used the speed of the water over its diving planes to overcome the buoyancy of the submarine, and force the submarine under the water. As the clockwork motor wound down , it gradually rose to the surface in a very realistic manner. The first issue of this sub can be distinguished from the later version by noting that the earlier version is different shade of green , and that it does not have the hole in the rudder.