Pimp My Batmobile!

Posts Tagged ‘hot wheels’

So the “news” isn’t really new anymore. Serves us right for going on vacation. But while we were out soaking up the sun in Chicago, both the 2011 “Magic” Hallmark ’66 Batmobile Ornament (“magic” because it plays the TV theme. See video below, posted by Ken Netzel) and the Hot Wheels 1:18 RC Batmobile came out. We had heard about the RC car months ago, but not being even remotely interested in RC toys, AND surmising that Hot Wheels was just repackaging up another Standard 1:18 in a new way, (much like the “Foundation” version, which we DID warn you all about) we really didn’t do much evangelizing about it. So – until our versions come in, here are some web-shots of the two items.

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.

Photo proof.  The Eaglemoss “1/43″ 1966 Batmobile is definitively NOT the same model as the  Hot Wheels 1:43 Batmobile. Looks to be falling in between the 1:43 and the 1:50 HW scales.  Stick around, we’ll be showing that leaked iPhone 5 photo later today too that clearly shows it has an all-metal back and a Sony-built camera.

Pictured are (L-R)  the Hot Wheels 1:43 1966 Batmobile, the Eaglemoss 1966 Batmobile, and the Hot Wheels 1:50 scale 1966 Batmobile. (photos thanks to UK Correspondent Ken Partridge)

Now, can anyone actually get us one to keep? :)

Well, I’m not sure how “Elite” it really is, but it’s here. Looks like a different softer seat padding, couple of hoses, lens on speedo, tiny bit more chrome here and there, flocking on part of the go-kart frame, probably a couple more small things. I won’t count the red pinstriping or the corrected 4th white scallop because only Hot Wheels would make us think that CORRECTIONS should be considered Elite Options. I can’t find one thing that’s different about the Go-Kart itself. Maybe someone else with an opened standard can correct me on that. Some nice little touches.

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.