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Moebius Batmobile in-process photos

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  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by JimNTENN on Sunday, December 1, 2013 4:44 PM

Well, here it is. Finally. I actually finished it a couple weeks ago but decided to build the Batman figure before posting photos. Overall it is a really cool kit. It has good potential for modification and modeling creativity but it also has its flaws, mainly in the area of fit. It was definitely worth the time and money. I'm even thinking about building it again and trying some different ideas and different approaches in the assembly process. Since my previous post showed it almost complete and before the airfoils were attached let me now state that the attachment of the airfoils and their braces were, to me, the most aggravating part of the build. If I do build the Tumbler again this is one part of the process that I will approach differently, primarily in the order in which certain pieces are attached. The upper panels that fit over the rear spotlights as well as the roof are attached before the braces and airfoils so they really get in the way of attaching the airfoil braces. As a result I had to slightly bend some of the braces to get the airfoils to fit and one of the braces actually broke when I was trying to attach it. All in all I like the way it turned out. And I think the lights were a good choice.

Jim

Current project(s): Hobby Boss: 1/72 F9F-2 Panther

                                  Midwest Products: Skiff(wood model)

                                  

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by JimNTENN on Sunday, December 1, 2013 4:54 PM

I forgot to mention that this isn't how it will be permanently displayed. I will build a scenic display base but that will be a new experience for me. I'll have to do some research for design ideas as well as how to actually build such a base so that will came a bit later.

Current project(s): Hobby Boss: 1/72 F9F-2 Panther

                                  Midwest Products: Skiff(wood model)

                                  

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Monday, December 2, 2013 6:06 AM

Well done on the lighting.Really sets it off.

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: California
Posted by SprueOne on Monday, December 2, 2013 10:29 AM

Fantastic! The added lighting really elevated this build

Anyone with a good car don't need to be justified - Hazel Motes

 

Iron Rails 2015 by Wayne Cassell Weekend Madness sprueone

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by JimNTENN on Monday, December 2, 2013 2:21 PM

Thanks, SprueOne. Everyone that has seen it was really impressed. And they all liked the lights as well. Somehow I just don't think it would have been complete with out the lights.

Current project(s): Hobby Boss: 1/72 F9F-2 Panther

                                  Midwest Products: Skiff(wood model)

                                  

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 2:43 PM

 I finally got started on mine today.How did you go about painting the exterior? It looks like it's going to be a PITA!

Also,I'm not much of a figure painter,but here is the Joker I recently completed.

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by JimNTENN on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 4:40 PM

TD, painting the exterior isn't as bad as it looks. I just airbrushed the parts flat black while they were still on the sprue. I used Vallejo acrylics. But you can use whatever brand you choose. As far as the detail painting I did that just like I would on any other model.  I used Tamiya Weathering Master kits to add a little depth to the flat black panels. If you aren't familiar with them there are 4 different kits, that I've seen, with three colors in each. Instead of the dry weathering powders they are like a paste that you can apply with the included foam-tipped brush. They give you greater control over just how much you apply and where you apply it. I used the Gun Metal paste to highlight the angles, edges and raised details on the panels much like you would drybrush paint to get the same effect. But the Gun Metal applied to the flat black is very subtle which is what I was looking for. When you look at the model the depth really jumps out without  being overwhelming.

Unless you plan on making the roof removable you might not want to spend too much time on the interior. Once the model is complete the interior isn't very visible. And remember, there are a few left and right parts that are reversed in the instructions. They'll have to be switched around on the model.

One more suggestion. There is a book called, Batmobile: The Complete History, by Mark Cotta Vaz. It's like a coffee table book with plenty of color photos and illustrations throughout and it pays particular attention to the Tumbler. It's an excellent reference for your build. Mine wouldn't have looked as good without it.

Your Joker figure looks good. The face is awesome. I don't feel I'm very good at figure painting either. In fact I think painting in general is my one skill that can stand the most improvement.

Good luck on the Tumbler. Can't wait to see it.

Current project(s): Hobby Boss: 1/72 F9F-2 Panther

                                  Midwest Products: Skiff(wood model)

                                  

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 4:44 PM

I figured the exterior being so complex would make it a pain to paint.Is it possible to have a removable top? Again,it looks too complex.

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by JimNTENN on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 5:08 PM

I think you could have the top be removable. The instructions require you to attach the windshield to the roof before attaching them to the body. If you want the roof to be removable you would probably need to attach the windshield, by itself, to the body. That way you only remove the roof and not the windshield too. The roof has two big locating pins that fit snuggly into holes in the panel under it. This is enough to hold the roof in place without gluing. The only problem is getting the roof pillars, two on each side, to sit flush against the body without gluing. Might take a little work but I think it can be done.

If you paint the body panels before assembly it's no big deal. If you paint them after assembly, then yeah, it will be a little aggravating. Because of the design of the Tumbler it looks intimidating to build. Some of the assembly can be a little aggravating, especially the airfoils and their braces, but I wouldn't say it IS intimidating.

Once it's finished, you'll see that all that effort was worth it.

Feel free to ask me any questions you have about it.  I'll help you as much as I can.

Current project(s): Hobby Boss: 1/72 F9F-2 Panther

                                  Midwest Products: Skiff(wood model)

                                  

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 7:19 AM

Thanks.I'll probably be bugging you again.

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Friday, December 6, 2013 5:08 PM

How did you get the dashboard to fit the rest of the cockpit? It ain't working for me at all!

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Monday, December 16, 2013 10:56 AM

What did you use to dirty up the rear tires? I like the look.

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by JimNTENN on Monday, December 16, 2013 2:38 PM

I used weathering powders. I don't remember which brand since I have several different ones. I actually ended up getting too much on the tires. I really wanted a more subtle effect. If you are also looking for a more subtle effect you might try using real dirt or using pastel sticks scraped with a knife and brushed on. I think the weathering pigment was so fine that it ended up creating too rich of an effect. I actually ended up cleaning some of it off. In any case I was trying to replicate what was shown in the pics in the Batmobile book.

Current project(s): Hobby Boss: 1/72 F9F-2 Panther

                                  Midwest Products: Skiff(wood model)

                                  

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