Supermarionation "Thunderbirds", who closely resembled Sylvia Anderson, and Captain Blue in "Captain Scarlet", who looked like Ed Bishop (the similarity was reportedly coincidental). Other characters were based on well-known film actors: Troy Tempest of "Stingray" was based on James Garner, Scott Tracy of "Thunderbirds" on Sean Connery and Captain Scarlet on Cary Grant. "Stingray" also featured the only non-speaking Supermarionation puppet: the water-breathing woman Marina. Occasionally, close-ups of a live actor's hand would be inserted to show actions such as turning keys and pressing buttons. This was affectionately parodied in the 2004 live-action feature film "Thunderbirds", with a brief shot of
The Ghost Ship (Stingray) held at gunpoint by an undersea pirate called Idotee, who reveals that he has converted the galleon into a submarine and that he used its cannons to sink the "Arcadia". Idotee now intends to kill the "Stingray" crew for crimes against the undersea races. Idotee instructs Shore to radio Troy and tell him to come aboard, but Shore disobeys and orders Troy to attack the galleon. Troy is unwilling to do either and submerges "Stingray" to evade the furious Idotee's cannon fire. Submerging the galleon, Idotee threatens to kill Shore and Phones unless Troy surrenders. Forced to obey, Troy puts