BAT-A-RANG
Let me just say that as a life-long Batman fan, I do NOT consider the 1966 Adam West version of the Bat-mythology as the definitive version.
I DO, however, freely admit to having a favored preference for a lot of the production design elements first introduced on that show, into the Bat- mythology (Re: The Batmobile, The Bat Cycle, Bat Boat, etc.)
One such design from the 1966 Batman TV show that I consider an all-time favorite... even over all of the later versions seen in the comic books, cartoons, video games, or films... are the BAT-A-RANGS!
To me, the 1966 versions look really cool. They looked dangerous, they were functional as weapons AND grappling hooks, they had a strong Bat-motif as part of their design… AND… more than any other design I can think of… they actually seemed to be based off the size, shape, and function of an actual BOOMERANG!
The kind folks at Figures Toys Company created a 1966 Bat-A-Rang for their 8 inch scaled Batman figures. They were the first (and only ones) to do this in that scale. The trouble is they created an accessory which was considerably under-sized. The sculpt appeared blunted and roundedly dull… not at all dangerous-looking.
Most egregiously of all, FTC seemed to forget (or ignore) the fact that Robin (and Batgirl) both used much smaller “sidekick” Bat-A-Rang props as the weapons of their personal arsenals. These sidekick Bat-A-Rangs were a completely different design (although within the same style "family") as the Batman’s “hero” prop.
While I was lucky enough to get a “headstart” on the fabrication of The Batman’s Bat-A-Rang for this project (via a parts bin discovery from a model kit), I was NOT similarly fortunate when it came to creating Robin’s throwing weapon.
I had no choice but to create the sidekick weapon from scratch.
I downloaded an image of Robin’s 1966 Bat-A-Rang to my computer, and re-sized it to 1:9 scale in Adobe photoshop. This essentially allowed me to have a workable pattern that I could use for cutting some white sheet styrene into the Bat-A-Rang’s basic shape.
Using styrene rods, and modelling putty, I have managed to create Robin’s classic (1966-styled) sidekick Bat-A-Rang in precise 1:9 scale for my custom figure.
Let me just say that as a life-long Batman fan, I do NOT consider the 1966 Adam West version of the Bat-mythology as the definitive version.
I DO, however, freely admit to having a favored preference for a lot of the production design elements first introduced on that show, into the Bat- mythology (Re: The Batmobile, The Bat Cycle, Bat Boat, etc.)
One such design from the 1966 Batman TV show that I consider an all-time favorite... even over all of the later versions seen in the comic books, cartoons, video games, or films... are the BAT-A-RANGS!
To me, the 1966 versions look really cool. They looked dangerous, they were functional as weapons AND grappling hooks, they had a strong Bat-motif as part of their design… AND… more than any other design I can think of… they actually seemed to be based off the size, shape, and function of an actual BOOMERANG!
The kind folks at Figures Toys Company created a 1966 Bat-A-Rang for their 8 inch scaled Batman figures. They were the first (and only ones) to do this in that scale. The trouble is they created an accessory which was considerably under-sized. The sculpt appeared blunted and roundedly dull… not at all dangerous-looking.
Most egregiously of all, FTC seemed to forget (or ignore) the fact that Robin (and Batgirl) both used much smaller “sidekick” Bat-A-Rang props as the weapons of their personal arsenals. These sidekick Bat-A-Rangs were a completely different design (although within the same style "family") as the Batman’s “hero” prop.
While I was lucky enough to get a “headstart” on the fabrication of The Batman’s Bat-A-Rang for this project (via a parts bin discovery from a model kit), I was NOT similarly fortunate when it came to creating Robin’s throwing weapon.
I had no choice but to create the sidekick weapon from scratch.
I downloaded an image of Robin’s 1966 Bat-A-Rang to my computer, and re-sized it to 1:9 scale in Adobe photoshop. This essentially allowed me to have a workable pattern that I could use for cutting some white sheet styrene into the Bat-A-Rang’s basic shape.
Using styrene rods, and modelling putty, I have managed to create Robin’s classic (1966-styled) sidekick Bat-A-Rang in precise 1:9 scale for my custom figure.
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