The CoMMiES had a contest recently: to build a Batmobile out of something that wasn't already a Batmobile. This is my entry. It is a modified SF3D Super Armored Fighting Suit, from the original Nitto 1:20 scale issue. I love SF3D and Ma.K, but this is the first from this series that I've actually finished.

To the suit I added the big bat ears, smaller fins on the forearms and calves, a Bat Belt, and cape. Most of these features are made of styrene stock and Aves. The Cape was first carved from a chunk of blue insulation foam, then a thin sheet of Aves was draped over and sculpted into place. When it cured, I peeled the foam buck out from under the cape. The suit was painted with Model Master enamels to represent traditional Batman colors. The gray is primer gray post shaded with Euro gray. The black is aircraft interior black, post shaded with flat sea blue, for a really dark midnight blue. I masked and painted the Batman logo, and you can see that I didn't get it very straight. The metallic areas around the engine and hoses are painted with Alclad II jet exhaust. Weathering was done with oil paints and turpenoid. I did several washes to represent dust, rust, oily gunk, and grime. There is a little dry brushing with oils, and some colored pencil to represent scrapes and burnished areas.

That was it for my initial idea, but then I thought, ''You know, that's just a funny take on Batman. But it's no Batmobile.'' So as I was building the suit, I started scratchbuilding something for him to ride. That's right, a Bat Segway. It is made entirely out of styrene sheet and Evergreen stock. The Bat Fenders were made similarly to the cape. I made a buck from styrene, coated it with Vaseline, then a thin layer of Aves. Once it cured, the Vaseline allowed it to pop right off. Both fenders were identical until I added the fin, to make a right and left. Everything but the wheels was painted gloss black, then coated in Future. The red stripes were made from decal film, painted with Tamiya acrylics, first white, then red. I cut out strips and scallops of the decal film, making the thick pin-striping seen on the 1966 Barris Batmobile. Another coat of future sealed everything up nicely. Finally I added a rocket exhaust to the back of the Segway, from a Wave Option set.

The base is made from 1/4'' pieces of drywall, carved into a street and sidewalk. These were painted with cheap craft store paint, and weathered with oil filters. The grass is teddy bear fur, painted with thin mists of Tamiya acrylics. I built the lamp post from Evergreen stock and Aves. The lamp shade is sheet styrene, and the glass is half of a fishing float. There is a 3mm LED in there, which is hooked to a Bat Switch on the side of the base.

Bat Ma.K. is pinned to the sidewalk through one wheel. The Bat Cable is just .015 diameter solder, and the Bat Grapple is cut from a Coke can.

Batswitch

Front

Grass

Lamp

Rear of Legs

Sidewalk

Left

Front Left

Right

Rear

Right

Left