Summary: Like all the releases so far – a head shaking, “cool-but too bad they didn’t…” experience that still somehow ends up being a must-have in any 1966 Batman Collection. Yes, it’s very nice and looks great. Loaded with mistakes when compared to the original on-screen version(s) but probably is an exact duplicate of someone’s replica out there. If it’s too much to ask for screen accuracy, it would have been nicer if they had at least changed the crappy wheels on the Go-Kart on the Elite version. If it had been the only one out they could have charged $85 and it would have been fine. The fact that a $29 version came out first with maybe $6 less detail parts on it just makes this version all the ruder. Still – had you told me 6 years ago that we’d be holding such a model and that it would be (for the most part) a mass market release – I wouldn’t have believed you.It’s a great model and if taken on its own merits – certainly worthy of your display shelf. Buy it from our retail sponsor, REPLICARZ and tell Brian that Scot from PMB! sent you.

Overall – lots of nice upgrades. Sadly – most of them just make the model look more accurate to the #1 car IN ITS CURRENT STATE, in Barris’ garage. Not how the car looked on screen or in 1966. Here are some interesting hard to see new differences from the standard model to watch for:

• Flocked carpeting
• New detectoscope with inner decal (not accurate at all)
• Aluminum painted rocker panels and door-wells (no texture detail)
• Chrome, UN-segmented dash with open Futura radio(?) and other odd guage
• Parachute pull ring (black plastic)
• Resized batphone with cord
• Chromed inner door trim
• Light lenses under front and rear gills
• Compass decal
• Steering wheel chrome inner struts and center decal
• Photo-etched door handles
• Photo-etched bat radar
• Full fire extinguisher
• Clear red antler lenses
• Routed and painted chassis
• Seatbelts and bat buckles

But since we are issuing a parts upgrade set I am getting to play with and tweak and modify a bunch of small parts. So I thought I’d show some of that work. This is the Futura wheel I am currently working on.

I am constantly checking products for usable components and I found this beveled eyelet at Michael’s and thought it would fit the new wheel barrel I had made from a pen.

I wanted the center speedo and instrument cluster to be able to be ‘gently’ back-lit so the empty center area is going to work well for backlighting. The first thing I did was file down the back of this bevel a bit to have a flatter base to mount to the barrel I was working with. (tiny item up in the right is an early sculpt of the Futura turn signal torpedo that sits under the wheel struts)

Next I punched out a clear disc from a toy packaging bubble to mount to the bottom of the bevel so when I mount the decal to the bevel, it will have a bottom to stick to.

I then used a pipecutter tool to cleanly slice a chunk from a cheap black rollerball pen.

Note – this pen has a matte finish and the Batmobile/Futura wheel column was glossy. I will use a glossy pen barrel or a blank white styrene round stock in the next one I do. This one could be repainted or gloss-coated as well.

The next step was the inner wheel struts. I carefully trimmed the inner struts from our replacement wheel part and attached them to the sides of the pen barrel segment.

NOTE: The barrel was intentionally left longer than I need for more careful placement and fit later. Better to be able to cut it down than have it too short.

The ensuing gaps had to be smoothed out and filled a bit. (A good reason to stick to the stock replacement part we’re putting out. LOL)

The next step is a little tricky – mounting the rounded wheel section to the 2 struts. We are still modifying this section for our parts kit, so that it includes the two rubber stoppers Barris plugged the ends with after he hacked the one-of-a-kind Futura wheel apart at 10 and 2. But for now – the wheel section is as pictured.

Here it is painted and set aside to dry. (Yes, the rear of the wheel section does feature the contrasting square nubs)

Now it sits waiting for our new decal set to come in so I can mount it in the middle of the bevel and light it from inside.

Tim handwired tiny model railroad lights inside the hood and is powering them with a regular 9V battery. Lighted parts: Batphone, Detectoscope, 5 colored dash lights, bat-ray (front turn signals) and the beacon! Other new details – this car is sporting a set of our new accurately shaped resin antlers and take a look at the tiny barris “saturn” emblem on the front quarter-panels. This detail will be available freshly sized, in our decal and photo-etched sets. For those of you who aren’t modelers and have been asking about our build-up/upgrade services  – now’s your chance – get to eBay!

Well I finally have some answers:

1. The release dates are still sketchy but it seems like we’re looking at May or June for the Elite and September or so for the Super Elite.

2. Don’t listen to most of what you read on ebay.

3. For a few weeks now, we’ve been looking for an affiliate partner to direct our members to for batmobile purchases and now –  PMB! is proud to welcome Replicarz.com to our growing list of development partners and featured vendors. Replicarz is an online dealer specializing in fine scale models for automotive enthusiasts. In a few days you’ll be able to click right on their banner ad to go check out their phenomenal selection of diecast scale models. And Brian from Replicarz is a great guy. When the Elite and Super Elite Batmobile are available, PMB! members will be the first to know about it.

ALSO: PMB! and Replicarz will be working up a special perk for registered PMB! members very soon. So stay tuned and get registered!

Lots to Love. Lots to Fix. I’ll let my hastily-shot crappy video do the rest of the speaking here. Enjoy my laundry area!