Nicest set of 1:18 TV Crimefighter figures I’ve ever seen for the Hot Wheels car. Posable arms, hands. Brass bat-buckle, decal emblems… The works. Truly deluxe.

I can’t mention who made them right now. And we don’t sell them here. But we can tell you where/how to get them. Just subscribe to our list. (HERE) Our September email-blast that only goes out to registered subscribers will offer details on these figures (and other stuff) in about a week. Don’t blink or you’ll miss them.

Meanwhile, look what’s being done for 1:25 figures for the R2 model kit. Here’s a WIP photo below. This model is the best Batmobile kit ever produced and it’s a crime to not have great looking figures in it. Looks like Robin will get to be holding the Batphone and canopy. Cool! Again, we’re not selling these here. Just showing off some custom work.

2011 Hallmark 1966 Batmobile Ornament

2011 Hot Wheels RC 1966 Batmobile

The ornament looks pretty cool. There seems to be a bumper crop of little scale Batmobiles right now. Certainly the fact that it plays the theme is great. But it loses a bit of accuracy to house those electric components. As does the RC car, if the photos are correct. I guess I’m not over-eager to spend full retail on LESS accurate Batmobiles, even if they “do stuff” right now. But I can appreciate that these are the answers to someone’s prayers.

As has recently been reported by Leonard, the scale has been stretched a bit larger than 1:18 – closer to 1:16, which at the very least, makes it a must-have for some people’s “gotta have every size” bat-garage. An interesting side note – it was showing up as $40 on Amazon until a couple dealers raised their prices to $49 (first wave buyers) Here’s a place that allegedly still has them for $40 (until they don’t)

Yes, we’ll be grabbing a few of those audio chips and inserting it into our full-on, super-DUPER-Elite Batmobiles that we’re working on in multiple scales. But not right away.

No, we will not be making any of our models into RC driven cars. Mit already did that a year ago and it blew flame too. (video below by Mit and RHD) So – been there, seen that. Will show better pics of these when they find their lackluster way into our hands.

More info: These are much more affordably priced than our previous painted figures for a few reasons. First, they are made of a heavy vinyl as opposed to urethane. Second they are stationery – no articulation. Third – Our seated figures came with a very premium paint job (including emblem decals) by one of the top toy design shops in Asia. These standing figures are great, and look sensational next to the car or in a diorama – but their paint job is a bit simpler than the seated figures sported. So – they cost a lot less.

"Holy no more squeezng inside Mattel's heinous interior, Batman!"

The bad news is that we have reevaluated what it has taken to make these units and the price is going up. Everybody that already ordered one – good going. Anyone else – sorry but they are just too time intensive to warrant our earlier $49 pricing. I have to crow about these a little, which is okay since I didn’t make them. I may have helped with the design stage but the real work is done by Insane Detailing’s Doug Switz. But if you’re serious about your Batmobile detailing – these are just must have pieces of amazing craftsmanship. I know they’re pricey but they’re absolutely worth it.

ORDER THEM HERE

1. Solid resin economy version
2. 3-piece hollowed resin cage and clear red lens insert version that you assemble and paint silver (shown below, right)
3. Completed ALUMINUM and clear red lens unit (shown below, left)

These are the best, most accurate 1st season 1966 Batmobile sirens I’ve ever seen and having them in metal is a bonus. Easily lit if desired.

L-R: New Aluminum Beacon, Resin Version

Original Mattel/Hot Wheels siren (can you say "Lego"?)

New Beacon on Mattel Hot Wheels Rollbar with Alex's Antlers

Front view sitting on Alex's replacement rollbar.

Side view on replacement rollbar (with I.D. lights)

We’ve said it before but it bears repeating. If you can live with the version that Mattel put out – by all means do so.

For the rest of us, we carry on the insanity.

This is a study for the ALL-ALUMINUM, cnc-milled beacon cage that is soon to be coming to us from our Australian design team. (Mit and Paul)

This piece will be able to be lit from below if you desire and be as precise a reproduction of the original season one car’s beacon as has ever been produced in scale model form. I’ve seen the prototype in hand and it is GORGEOUS.

Stay tuned.

-S

First the bad news or at least the not as great news:
1. The parts set that we were calling “Upgrade Parts Set #01″ has been canceled. There were several reasons for this decision, though it didn’t come easily:

• When we first developed the upgrade parts set, we were not yet working with the “Insane Detailing” parts. Since there are now amazing I.D. versions of some of the same parts that were listed in the Upgrade set, it seemed incongruous to offer both.
• The suppliers for some of the parts that were in the Upgrade Set stopped carrying some of the materials we needed to create some of those parts to our satisfaction.
• Many of you mentioned to me (note how I didn’t say “complained”) that you’d rather not have to buy the whole set just to get the one or two parts you really wanted. We can’t do anything about that with things like the photoetch set, but we are able to change it for this set so – we did. Some of the parts in the set are already up on the ordering page. And more will be added soon.

Many of you pre-ordered this set some time ago and we apologize for this cancellation and assure you that we will be refunding your PayPal accounts in the next few days. We have accurate records of everyone’s orders and there is no cause for concern. You’re also welcome to re-apply the funds toward other parts if you like.

2. As we mentioned in a previous post, we are no longer taking pre-orders for parts or holding parts for future payments etc. When there’s a button next to something on our ordering page, that means it’s either in-stock or available to order (some of the I.D. parts are ‘made to order’, but they’re fast) If there’s no button, that means it’s coming soon but not available yet. We hope this will cut down on some of the correspondence issues. If you go check out our NEW ordering page, split into three distinct sections, you’ll hopefully agree it is an easier system than before. No extra password needed!

3. Figures are back! Yes, we got a very limited run of the painted figures from our friends in Asia. They are IN STOCK now and like the Mackinaw Peaches, when they’re gone, they’re gone.

4. New shirts are due very soon and there are some new designs coming up as well.

5. Due to our partnerships with some great designers, we will be teasing out some images of new and upcoming parts over the next weeks. We have some AMAZING things coming up soon for the interior of this car. That’s all I want to say right now. But  – we are pretty excited.

Great things in the works. Stay tuned.

-S  8/9/09

These items and more are now open to the public in the Custom Shop. Introductory and Sale prices will last until 4/15.