Pimp My Batmobile!

Posts Tagged ‘1/25 batmobile’

Ed. Note: We’re trying something new. I mentioned that PMB! is getting a major overhaul soon. (Don’t worry, you didn’t miss it. You’ll KNOW.) One of the planned changes is that we’ll be hosting features and articles by guest contributors. Our first article on lowering the 1:18 Hot Wheels Batmobile, by Insane Detailing’s Doug Switz was such a hit, that we want to share more info from our esteemed colleagues in the Batmobile community. Here then, is Kevin White of Bats Inc. with a review of the Polar Lights [Round 2] 1966 Batmobile Snap-Kit packaging.

I received my snap kit today, a gift from a friend back home. Not much has been said yet about the packaging of the kit. I will leave the building review to Scooter as he is already well on his way with that, but I thought it might be interesting to let you all know what to expect upon receiving your model.

6. The bulk of the interior parts and the afterburner (season one) are contained in the next baggie along with those curious J shaped floor boards which are necessary for mounting the dash section.

Okay I give up. I’ve decided to throw in with the yay-sayers for a change and get behind this whole Round 2, Polar Lights 1:25 Batmobile release in full effect. Why, what’s changed? Not much really. Yes, we were  snubbed by Round 2′s PR person who promised us that she’d send a pre-production kit of the Aurora reissue model to us for review here, and then never did. (I’m not a fan of begging a company to do their marketing groundwork for them)  I guess when you’ve pre-sold as many as they have, you don’t need to keep your promises to the most-visited, highest traffic volume website in your subject matter on the web. Yes, I still see some issues with some of the details on the mock-ups photos that they’ve been leaking. Yes, I’m still the same guy who just an hour ago chastised a R2 emissary on another forum for their  reluctance to preview the kit and work with experts/fans on detail concerns when they could have.

But I have to say that the idea of actually getting a 1:25, injection-molded plastic 1966 TV Barris Batmobile model kit is something I just never thought I’d EVER see in my lifetime. And it’s making me giddy with optimism. And that optimism has officially replaced my skepticism, like that little sack of rocks replaced the golden idol on the stone altar  in Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Let’s just hope for a better outcome than Indy had.

Part of my conversion is due to the fact that Jamie from Round 2 showed up on the other forum clearly biting back his annoyance with some comments made there by some whiny Batmobile fan (ahem…). I figure anyone proud enough of their work to risk that cesspool, sharkpit of geek-backlash has to be fighting the good fight.

So, until I have better reason to act otherwise – I’m officially stoked and enthusiastic about this product. Let’s all keep a good  thought that we’re going to get something special.

Doug's Accuracy Overlay

Wonderfest Mock-Up

1/25 Snap kit before the end of this year? Wow. I really hope so. Actually, I’ll be thrilled and amazed, frankly if either the snap or the glue kits get released at all. But the mockups look excellent so let’s keep a happy thought. Diecast was great. But a 1/25 plastic, accurate model kit answers a lifelong quest for me. PLUS, I’ve got dozens of accurate parts for this scale including…uh, those of a figural nature. Who wants to start the nitpicking with me early? You knew it would be coming, right? Okay – from the looks of the photo, there is a break point all along the top edge of the tail-fins.  That’s a stupid place to put a transition part as it’s going to need to be puttied and smoothed. I know it”s a KIT and all, but I’d be happy with a one-piece main body like every resin garage version of the car featured all during the 90′s as opposed to taking cues from the original Revell Futura kit which is a nightmare to fit together.  Ah well, we wouldn’t want it too easy would we? Or would we…