1966 Batmobile

[Nitrozilla]

Here's mine so far. Using lots of straight pins to detail the push button tranny, door pulls, antennae, etc. Also made a radar do hickie, rocket launcher tubes, gas / brake pedals and a bat phone. What self respecting Batmobile model comes without a Batphone????? I know it's the original molds, so I can't blame RC2 / PL, can I?

Only other lament is the time required to make the nose fit. Don't get me wrong. I love the kit, but 2 hours? Okay, I'm done. Did I mention the added mesh to the front and rear grills?

Enjoy.

Joe

P. S. I'm not a fast builder, so be patient young padawans.

Edited July 6, 2011 by Batzilla

[Harry P.]

Looks like it's too late, but you could have used beading wire (from Hobby Lobby or Michael's) for the seat piping. It would have made it much easier to make them straighter (instead of trying to paint them on the seat). But no matter... what you have so far looks good!

[Romell R]

I got to see the 1:1 when I was a kid (what an exciting time!) If you want to make this like the 1:1 you should cover it with black fuzzy fur because the original was covered in a black felt type material. Youre doin a great job keep it up!

Edited June 4, 2010 by Aftashox

[David G.]

I got to see the 1:1 when I was a kid (what an exciting time!) If you want to make this like the 1:1 you should cover it with black fuzzy fur because the original was covered in a black felt type material. Youre doin a great job keep it up!

I saw that one too, sometime around 1977, I think. I remember feeling dissappointed because I thought it wasn't the real one. I distinctly remembered the one on TV being shiney and not fuzzy.

I read recently that it was covered with "Bat Fur" beacuse the fiberglass body work had become riddeled with cracks in the ten years between the end of the TV series and the time it was making the circuit. It has since been restored.

*******

Batzilla,

What you've got done so far looks good. What scale is that one in? I heard that there are plans to release it in 1/32 (I think) and 1/25.

Edited June 4, 2010 by David G.

[Harry P.]

The first pre-production Batmobile was flat black with white pinstripes. This car was used very early on, in test shots and test sequences. The producers didn't like the results and asked for gloss black paint with fluorescent red pinstriping.

All the cars used in the show were gloss black.

The 3 replicas were fiberglass-bodied, and at some point were covered with the fuzzy-flat paint to hide stress cracks in the fiberglass.

[trogdor]

Growing up in the 60's, that was the coolest car ever and arguably still is. Here's a nice link you might enjoy browsing through

http://www.1966batmobile.com/sideview.htm

lots of pics and history

[Nitrozilla]

Thanx for the kudo's folks. This isn't going to be a replica of any one version. It's incorporating all of my favorite features. Next will be painting and Bare Metal Foil on the chassis, then the first coat of gloss on the body before decaling. Gonna shoot it straight on the black plastic because I blended the nose with a mixture of glue and black plastic shavings. Polished out very nicely.

Harry, not too late for the piping. I'll give it a try. I tried pinstriping, but the corners refused to stick.

More to come.

Joe

[RodneyBad]

Whatever the case, That is looking great.

I can't wait for the 1/25 version (another yr? )

[Nitrozilla]

Thanx some more there then too also. David, this is the 1/32 version. There is also a tin box edition that includes the kit and some extra goodies. Really nice art on the tin. Best guess is end of year for the 1/25 version. I may need eye transplants before that!

Since Harry pointed out the piping on the seats, anybody got an idea for marking the compass? Might be I'm doing something wrong, but I tried to reduce a pic of a compass. However, it still prints full page.

Can't wait to foil the canopy frame. Yee Haa!

Joe

[Romell R]

I saw that one too, sometime around 1977, I think. I remember feeling dissappointed because I thought it wasn't the real one. I distinctly remembered the one on TV being shiney and not fuzzy.

I read recently that it was covered with "Bat Fur" beacuse the fiberglass body work had become riddeled with cracks in the ten years between the end of the TV series and the time it was making the circuit. It has since been restored.

*******

Batzilla,

What you've got done so far looks good. What scale is that one in? I heard that there are plans to release it in 1/32 (I think) and 1/25.

See I learn something new everyday....

[Nitrozilla]

The seats look 100 times better.

And thank you Mark. I'm very pleased. I knew I came to the right place when I moved from Sci-Fi kitbashes on Starship Modeler. Used to have the handle of "Kitbasher", if anybody recognizes that. I've come back to my first love. Vroom VroomMobiles!

This starts my weekend, so there should be some nice shots of the chassis and interior by the end of Thursday.

Thanx All, Joe =/\=

[Harry P.]

Looks cool. Did you say this was 1/32 scale? If so, even more amazing, since it's so much smaller than a 1/24 kit.

[charlzrocks]

I am impressed! You have more patience and better eyesight than I could ever have! Kudos!

[Rick R]

Excellent work on a difficult subject!

I worked with Barris on a few projects in the last half of the 80s, into the early 90s, sat in and at one point even drove the original Batmobile a few feet out of the garage where it lived. In the early 80s it was in pretty bad shape... leaks, extra junk tacked onto it, those stupid labels on everything, and barely ran. Besides, the comic book comany wanted it crushed! Eventually Jay Ohrberg worked out a deal that gave George perpetual rights and GB finally put it back into presentable condition.

At least two of the cars were 'fuzzed' in the 70s, and the original was restored yet again before it went to its current resting place in the Petersen Automotive Museum.

A total of five 'original' Barris copies (including one drag car) were built during the run of the series for use in car shows. The original '54 Lincoln frame used for the Futura dream car was also replaced by a '66 Galaxie frame similar to the ones used in the copies.

Maybe the most amazing thing I was ever told, though, by Barris' painter Roy Johnson over 20 years ago, was that the Futura bumpers, made from cast bronze then chrome plated during the construction in Italy, were tossed onto the shop roof after the car was stripped for conversion to the Batmobile. The bumpers were later sold for scrap.

Ohrberg built several copies as well, and a collector in Santee Ca. bought a 'fake' Squarebird-based Batcar that Barris had confiscated in the late 60s and made a nice copy as well as restoring a Batcycle and creating a transport trailer that doubled as a showcase.

Edited June 14, 2010 by Rick R

[impcon]

Excellent work on a difficult subject!

I worked with Barris on a few projects in the last half of the 80s, into the early 90s, sat in and at one point even drove the original Batmobile a few feet out of the garage where it lived. In the early 80s it was in pretty bad shape... leaks, extra junk tacked onto it, those stupid labels on everything, and barely ran.

How sad that such a beautiful car would let go like that.. what exactly were your feelings when you saw it and drove it??

Besides, the comic book comany wanted it crushed! Eventually Jay Ohrberg worked out a deal that gave George perpetual rights and GB finally put it back into presentable condition.

ARGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now THAT makes me shake my head in wonder!!!!!!! The car is a piece of cinematic history and even to a degree, American history as most everyone who grew up in the mid '60's knew that car! I am always amazed at how legalities and copyright laws can screw so many good things up. Well, at least the car was saved.

At least two of the cars were 'fuzzed' in the 70s, and the original was restored yet again before it went to its current resting place in the Petersen Automotive Museum.

A total of five 'original' Barris copies (including one drag car) were built during the run of the series for use in car shows. The original '54 Lincoln frame used for the Futura dream car was also replaced by a '66 Galaxie frame similar to the ones used in the copies.

Maybe the most amazing thing I was ever told, though, by Barris' painter Roy Johnson over 20 years ago, was that the Futura bumpers, made from cast bronze then chrome plated during the construction in Italy, were tossed onto the shop roof after the car was stripped for conversion to the Batmobile. The bumpers were later sold for scrap.

I have seen the movie "It Started With a Kiss" starring Glenn Ford and I think it was Debbie Reynolds way back before I ever knew thatthe car used in that movie ( the Futura ) really was the Batmobile. I knew the cars looked similiar so it was no surprise when I found out that the car from the movie was the Batmobile. The Futura was a gorgeous creation and the idea that the bumpers went for scrap sickens me. Movie cars really don't lead a charmed life.. My son bought three Camaros that were used in the final episode of Stargate Atlantis and those cars were certainly "used" well and hard. Two of the cars run and the third is the car that was shot up towards the end of that episode. All three are sitting here in our yard as I type this. The cars were slated to be scrapped once the filming was done but my son was in the right place at the right time and scopred threeof the four cars used in that show. We don't know what happened to the fourth car as it remained in Vancouver, B.C. while the other three were transported to our are where they were finishing the shooting. They sold the cars to my son rather than trailer them back to vancouver - around five hours drive from where we live.

Another movie car that got a raw deal was the '68 Mercury ParkLane Brougham that Steve Mcgarrett drove in hawaii Five-0. It is restored today - quite an interesting story about that one too. Sorry - I know that I am rambling.....

Ohrberg built several copies as well, and a collector in Santee Ca. bought a 'fake' Squarebird-based Batcar that Barris had confiscated in the late 60s and made a nice copy as well as restoring a Batcycle and creating a transport trailer that doubled as a showcase.

Your build is coming along nicely. Looking good - and I can appreciate the work and effort thatyou are putting into it. Keep up the good work