Moebius Batmobile in-process photos

Very fine stuff. Thanks for the heads-up on the fit issues.

Your build is forcing me to buy one of these kits.  

Sorry for taking so long since my last post. I've worked on the model every day but I've just been a little too busy to post anything plus I wanted to get a little further along in the process before showing anything else. In these photos you can see the placement of the LEDs for the spotlights in the cockpit front wall as well as the holes I cut to route the wires. You can also see the completed interior as well as the cockpit extension. This is a cool kit but it does have fit issues which I will try to explain as I go along. The braces for the cockpit extension don't line up like they are supposed to. The alignment pins on each end of the braces don't line up with the holes. I fixed the problem by cutting one pin off of each brace while leaving the other one and glued them in place. The braces also had to be bent slightly to get the ends to touch the side of the cockpit extension as well as the front wall of the cockpit. This is all I have time to post right now but I have more that I will post tomorrow. The model is almost complete at this time. Hopefully very soon I will be posting pics of the finished model.

Well, I don't have as much done roughly a week later as I'd hoped. I've had some aggravation and mishaps and setbacks but that's how it goes in model building sometimes. But, I have made a little progress. I'm meticulous and a perfectionist in my model work so it tends to progress slowly. Plus, working 10 and 11 hours at my job doesn't help at the hobby table. Anyway, in these photos you can see the progress I made with the cockpit interior. Not quite my best work but considering that the greatest focus is going to be on the exterior, the interior still doesn't look bad so far. I've shown the extra pieces that I added to the computer monitor at the end of the center console. And how the finished monitor looks. Definitely an improvement. Some other added details and modifications include the clear HUD screen on top of the control column as well as the added cables coming from the control/steering handles on the column. These added details definitely add some realism to the interior. In my opinion, so far, this is not a bad kit. From what I've seen in the little I've completed so far, if you want an accurate replica of the movie car some modifications and scratch building will certainly be required. If you're a serious model builder like me and relish the opportunity to apply advanced skills to build a realistic model then there is a lot of potential in this kit. 

Next, I'll add the front, back, and side walls to the interior. And that means I'll have to begin figuring out the placement of the lights and routing of the wires. 

More to come, soon.

Jim

Yeah. I've thought about doing a camo Tumbler, too.

I picked up two of these because I had to do the original Wayne Industries camo scheme.Had to.

It's a nice kit. I've entertained thoughts of getting another one and doing a super-detailed Tumbler. But, I'll worry about finishing this one first. Plus I've got a ton....over 200....of other unassembled kits that need attention too.

Jim

Cool.  I want to get this kit so I'll be watching this build with interest.

Nice,clean work so far.

Nothing real spectacular to show here. Just some dry fitting to get an idea of how things are going to look. I had to repaint the seats because they were too light. I didn't want them to be pure black. I think they're just right, now. I also had to repaint the center console. My paint mix was a little too thin and I had runs in a couple of spots. I was totally blown away that the new paint mix matched the original exactly. And I didn't even document my original paint recipe. How amazing...or better yet, lucky...is that? Now, I'll let the seats cure for a couple of days and begin the detail painting of the braces and frame work. I'll wait until later to begin detail painting the console because I think I'm going to add some detail to the monitor screen on the front end of it.

Jim

There are currently a few on Ebay still.

www.ebay.com/.../161100272157

Check Ebay.This kit was exclusive to San Diego Comic Con.I imagine it will be released to the general public eventually.I got it on Ebay for $18,which isn't too bad considering the dual Batman kit wasn't much cheaper.

Is that Batman/Joker kit still available? And if so where can I find it? And you aren't interrupting me at all. Feel free to comment on my posts anytime.

Jim

I won't interrupt your build any further.I just wanted to show people what the SDCC Exclusive kit looked like.The Batman fig included is the same as the one I posted earlier except it's molded in purple.

All this Bat-talk forced me back to the bench today.

It looks good. I especially like how you weathered the tread on the tires. I have the 2-figure Batman kit but I haven't bought the 1/25 Bat Pod yet. I do have the 1/18 Bat Pod with Catwoman. I have a number of people now keeping an eye on my Tumbler project. I hope I don't disappoint. It will take me awhile but hopefully not too long. I plan on including the standing Batman with it as well as displaying it on a Gotham-themed diorama base. A diorama is something I've never attempted so I will probably keep this one simple but hopefully effective. I will try to post new pics each week.

Jim

I have two Trilogy Tumblers in the stash and will be watching this build.I have completed the 1/25 Bat Pod and it is an excellent kit.The rider for the Pod however doesn't come close to fitting without major modification which is currently beyond my talent and patience.

Would LOVE to have a model of the BatPod.

This one, the Tumbler, is my favorite vehicle that came from the Batman Dark Knight world. The Bat-Pod is second.

The original is my favorite Bat Mobile. 

Gerry, I agree, the Tumbler doesn't exactly look like a Batmobile as compared to the others. But, to me, it is definitely more menacing. And kinda like Rob was saying I think that is part of what they were going for. I think Christopher Nolan's vision for Batman was to say that if there was a REAL Batman, this is what he and his world might look like. The Tumbler isn't my least favorite Batmobile. That honor goes to the one that I think was Val Kilmer's ride. I didn't care much for Clooney's wheels either. As far as the movie cars go,  Michael Keaton's Batmobile was my favorite. But none of them can ever compare to the original. The one from the TV series with Adam West is THE Batmobile, in my opinion. But, the Tumbler has grown on me and the model is part of the reason why.

Jim

I think they were going for a vehicle designed for something else but pressed into use as a Batmobile vs. a Batmobile-by-design. Much like all of his gear, it was designed for something else and he adapted it into Bat-use.

It added a bit to the realism of the situation...also this was the first Batman to explain how he became such a bad---bat-fighter. All other TV & movie renditions just have him appear as Batman without telling the story of how he became such a superb fighter.

The "Bat" from the Dark Knight Rises was by far one of my most favorite Bat-vehicles.

Of all the batmobiles the Tumbler as it's called is my least favorite. There's nothing "batty" about it. I know that was what they were going for, but if you're gonna dress up like a bloody bat you'd have  a ride to match wouldn'tcha?

But your work is quite nice so far.

The Joker (in that pose) and the standing Batman figure were released in a foil pouch during the San Diego Comic Con. You can still find them on eBay, but for around $20+ for the two figure set which is molded in purple.

The Batman Tumbler driver figure hasn't seen the light of day (as far as I know). I think it is insane and overtly greedy to issue these vehicles but make you buy the figure separately.

From memory, I believe the kits from the movie, Batman Returns, consisted of the retooled Batmobile with removable engine, Batmissile (snap kit), Batskiboat (snap), and Horizon did vinyl figures of Batman, Catwoman and the Penguin.

That would be so nice to have a Joker figure especially if he is in that pose. Maybe they'll still release those figures eventually.

oh ok, then the lighting addition sounds doable. 

This is the ad on the 1/25 Bat-Pod box 

The only lights I'm concerned with are the two spotlights on each side and just behind the cockpit. I will actually have to "reconstruct" them using the LED's as the body of the spots which means the wires will be visible and the shape of the spots will be different from the kit parts. But in the movies you never see the actual outline or shape of the spotlights you just see when they are on. Hopefully I can make them inconpicuous enough so that the lighted effect makes all that modification worth it.

I bought the Tumbler kit first and then the other kits later. But, I don't have the 1/25 Batpod yet. Instead I have the 1/18 Batpod with Catwoman. I've opened and looked at the Batman figure kit but haven't begun assembly yet. I may start on it after I've finished the Tumbler. My ultimate goal for the Tumbler is to place it, lighted, along with the standing Batman figure in a small Gotham-themed diorama. That will also be my first attempt  at a diorama so this will be one interesting project. I plan on buying the 1/25 Batpod and will probably do something similar with it and the "riding" Batman figure.

I wasn't aware of the initial plan for the "driving" Batman figure or the Joker figure. It would definitely be cool to have a Joker figure, especially one that is large scale.

I wasn't aware of the two kits from Batman Returns but I do have the Batmobile from the first two Keaton films. And I have the Batmobile from the TV show, in my opinion, the best one of all of them.

Jim - lights would be an awesome addition!

Rob - you're right about the Bat-Pod figures and the figures kit. I bought both but not at the same time. I built and completed the Bat-Pod first then couldn't fit the rider figure onto it correctly. 

I bought the Moebius Bat-Pod when it came out, but didn't build it because I was waiting for figures to be released as advertised on the bottom of the box. It mentioned a four figure set with a standing Batman, Bat-Pod riding Batman, Batmobile driving Batman and standing Joker.

When the figure set came out, I bought it, but it only includes the Bat-Pod driver and standing Batman. Does yours come with a driver?

Incidentally, the instructions for the Batman figures specifically state that it is best to build the rider and the Bat-Pod at the same time, but it also gives optional instructions for adding the rider to a completed Bat-Pod (release date on the box of my Bat-Pod is 9/5/11 and the figures is 7/20/12).

The figure box and instructions make no mention of the Batmobile or the other two figures mentioned in the earlier Bat-Pod kit.

My Bat-Pod kit is cool, but I honestly think the two-pack of Batman figures includes more plastic that the bike!

Anyway, I'm glad I waited for the figure, and it is interesting to note that two of the cooler kits, the Bat-Pod and Batmissile from Batman Returns both come about because the Batmobile is damaged.

I'm excited about it myself. I knew when I first got the kit that I wouldn't be able to wait to build it. I've got a couple of neat ideas for the direction I can take this build but the one that excites me the most is putting lights in it. And that shouldn't be a problem unless there is some unforeseen obstacle that I'm unable to overcome.  Hopefully the build process will gradually pick up speed because I can't wait to see the finished product. If everything goes together as planned it will look awesome.

Jim

Exciting project. I'm paying close attention to this build.

Concept drawings of the Tumbler's control column show it with a head up display. The actual car used in the movies didn't have it. But I liked the idea and look of a HUD and who is to say that Batman would never improve on the Tumbler's design and add one? After all, the Tumbler was originally built as a military vehicle. I cut away the plastic that forms the HUD screen on the kit part and cut a piece of .005" clear styrene to get an idea of how the new HUD screen will look. I think the affect will be really cool once it is all finished and the HUD gets a coat of transparent green.