1:9 scale batcave begins!

[darklord1967]

That 1950's Batmobile image is magnificent!! I've been following this project with great interest!

On an unrelated note, I just found my new desktop wallpaper...

Thanks so kindly, pal.
The film itself is going to be quite a thing!

if you (or anyone else) is interested to have a peek at our current work-in-progress master edit, shoot me a private message note and say hello. I'll be happy to share!

I am also scheduled to host a behind-the-scenes speaker panel presentation this summer at the KRUGERFEST weekend show (Kruger Train and Toy Mudeum in Wheeling West Virginia / Saturday, July 12th.

From Toys To Film: THE LEGENDS OF GOTHAM CITY will be an exploration of my earliest origins with MEGO and the Batman comic book mythology... My entry into the world of toy / action figure customizing in the late 1990's... the development of my own 9ART "line" of custom Gotham City toys... and ULTIMATELY, the current (work in progress) production of my stop-motion animation fan film short THE LEGENDS OF GOTHAM CITY. The panel will conclude with a screening of the film's current WIP master edit , PRESENTED ON A BIG SCREEN WITH DIGITAL SOUND... followed by an audience Q&A!

[KnightDetective]

That 1950's Batmobile image is magnificent!! I've been following this project with great interest!

On an unrelated note, I just found my new desktop wallpaper...

[TrekStar]

This is some pretty amazing work going on, love it.

[Megotastrophe]

Haha it looks like a fun project. I own the Temu Lego knockoff 66 Batmobile 35$ vs 150$. I have not started it yet. It’s supposed to finish out around 22” long which is pretty close to scale. And of course I still have the Mattel 19” Batmobile for the 6” figures. They do fit into it and it looks better than the Mego Batmobile by a country mile but it is still far from perfect. Hope to see more as days go by

[darklord1967]

So the comics accurate Batcave from the late 40s to 50s era makes me wonder which Batmobile is featured in the cave. The dome roof styled Batmobile of the 50s seems to be the most logical here and the early 60s roadster style from just before the TV show also seems appropriate. The late 60s similar to but not quite the same as the TV show Batmobile would work as well. I seem to remember that you are a particular fan of the 66 TV show Batmobile as I think you had a multi year project making as perfect of a replica as possible. You can’t go wrong with any of them really

EXCELLENT QUESTION regarding Batmobile appropriateness with this 1:9 scale custom BATCAVE!

There is a LOT to unpack here.

Okay , first off…

I can tell you this: Even though it’s been long delayed, my custom 1:9 scale 1966 Batmobile project is actually alive and well!

The exciting news is I have actually FAST-TRACKED the project by CONBINING it with the AWESOME Fanhome 1966 Batmobile subscription kit !

The Fanhome model is beautiful, BUT it DOES have some areas (particularly in the cockpit) that are inaccurate. This is where I am performing some serious surgery with the parts I spent years developing to be very accurate… right down to my soft, plush faux leather seats and light-up mobile Batphone).

The Fanhome model is very big and very heavy (about 28” long with a fully detailed metal frame, steering, AND suspension… AND metal body shell components!)

There is a fully-detailed V8 engine under the opening hood bonnet. But MY custom car will feature the detailed TURBINE engine that I developed (which the fictional Batmobile was supposedly equipped with)

The Fanhome 1966 Batmobile subscription model is currently approaching the 3/4 point of the build. (currently at Phase 80 out of 120). The subscription was released in late 2023, but is no longer available.

I have not yet photographed my own build, but THIS photo represent my exact same current state of completion on my own model. Seen here posed with 8” scale Beast Kingdom figures, James really shows how perfectly sized they are for this car! (photo by James Leason)







NOW…

…As for a suitable Batmobile to go with my upcoming 1:9 scale BATCAVE…

I will say that this entire LEGENDS OF GOTHAM CITY project of mine is meant to reflect the COMIC BOOK CONTINUITY of the Batman mythology. While I do have a few small tributes to 1966 Batman sprinkled about, this is definitively a COMIC BOOK MYTHOLOGY-based line.

As such, the BATMOBILE which i personally regard as most suitable to be parked in my custom BATCAVE diorama is the 1950’s comic book ride (seen here in this frame grab from “THE LEGENDS OF GOTHAM CITY”… a 12-minute long, stop-motion animated short fan film that I am producing for free release in 2026)!





This custom, OOAK 1:9 scaled 1950’s comic book Batmobile has been in construction development for the past 3 years (along with the 1966 car). The digital files that I developed to construct the 1950’s Batmobile were also used to model, render and animate the car digitally for my upcoming fan film.

When I subscribed to the Fanhome 1966 Batmobile kit, I actually purchased TWO subscriptions. This is because I intend to use the primary FANHOME chassis frame, suspension, steering and cabin tub as the basis for the custom 1950’s comic book BATMOBILE!

[Megotastrophe]

So the comics accurate Batcave from the late 40s to 50s era makes me wonder which Batmobile is featured in the cave. The dome roof styled Batmobile of the 50s seems to be the most logical here and the early 60s roadster style from just before the TV show also seems appropriate. The late 60s similar to but not quite the same as the TV show Batmobile would work as well. I seem to remember that you are a particular fan of the 66 TV show Batmobile as I think you had a multi year project making as perfect of a replica as possible. You can’t go wrong with any of them really

[TRDouble]

This looks amazing! I can't wait to see the final product.

[darkbros]

this is coming along Awesomely.

[boss]

Following with great enthusiasm.

[darklord1967]

Giant Penny front layout…



Stay tuned to this thread to catch my construction updates over the following weeks…

[darklord1967]

Giant Penny rear layout…

[monitor_ep]

Wow this is going to be a very interesting look and cannot wait to see how this turns out.

[darklord1967]

I’ve now begun my preliminary layouts for this giant penny trophy prop.

[darklord1967]

it was a forgone conclusion for me that creating the big penny’s surface details as a flat printed paper graphic, would NOT be a satisfactory approach for my standards.


I created all of the lettering and graphics for both sides of the giant coin’s surface as 3D printed sculpted objects.

In keeping with my LEGENDS OF GOTHAM CITY Collection’s faithful depiction of the Golden Age - Modern Age comic book details, my big coin would be built as a 1947 “wheat” penny.

I did elect to take some liberties with the Abraham Lincoln portrait (on the penny face) and the curved wheat stalks (on the penny rear) by 3D rendering the sculpt details to be much sharper than what would actually be seen on a penny that is expanded to this size. I was quite pleased with the quality of the final 3D prints.

[darklord1967]

A pair of 1/8” thick, 14.5” diameter flat rings would serve nicely as the raised border on both sides of the penny’s circumference!