MORE MODEL MANIA FOR BATMAN FANS has arrived with the Moebius Models 1:25 scale Batmobile, as featured in the movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Mat Irvine: On first opening the box, you could be forgiven for thinking that perhaps Moebius has the scale wrong, as the components look like they could be to 1:20 scale, or even 1:18. But nope, the kit is correct as it stands at 1:25, for this version of the Batmobile is BIG. As constructed for the 2016 movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the Batmobile measures 6.07 m (20 ft) long by 3.7 m (12 ft) wide - and that’s wider than a classic Mini car is long.
All this makes it the largest Batmobile - by pure bulk - to date, if you take the cartoon 'tank' version out of the equation, which was as wide as a three-lane highway.
Unlike the earlier Tumbler design, this Batman v Superman Batmobile has a tractor in its genetic code. Production designer Patrick Tatopoulos says that the design team was stuck with finding a suitable source for the huge rear tyres. Eventually, they settled on a modified pair of Israeli tractor tyres! Which is a suitable source, for Lamborghini started out making tractors, and the previous Tumbler was part-based on a Lambo.
Compared to the earlier Moebius Tumbler kit, this Batmobile assembles more easily, perhaps because the parts are larger. There is a large floorpan, to which a simplified three-piece engine block is attached. Then the rear axle differential is added, plus the front axle and suspension.
Assembly instructions (below) are presented in the usual clear Moebius Models style.
Main bodywork assembled (below). Note that the rear is painted aluminium.
After this, you have to decide how you are going to paint the model because now the wheels, complete with those tractor-style tyres, are assembled. The wheels themselves are gloss black, so need attaching after the main body-painting process.
But they can't just be slipped over the axles after painting. All four wheels have fenders that surround the tyres, and these should be finished in the body colour. So either paint the components separately, or attach them in place temporarily for overall painting.
I painted the engine and rear end (below) in aluminium, but oversprayed much of this with gunmetal. Once that was dry, I masked the area off, and airbrushed on some Alclad dark aluminium, to give a slight contrast to the overall look and feel of the vehicle. Some dry brushing was added to these areas, plus the recesses on either side, between the body panels, machine guns, and front wing.
Fitting the windshield in place (below). The transparent sections were masked, to allow spraying of the frame.
The rear (below) looks really convincing when painting has been completed.
Fitting the rear spoiler supports (below). These are relatively delicate components, and the angle is important so take when cementing them in place.
One wing in postion (below right). I sprayed the wings separately, and allowed them to dry thoroughly before attaching them.
The interior (below) is grey with black seats, but the control features are barely visible when the cockpit canopy has been attached. That may be just as well, because detail is minimal, though red instrument panels can be added if you wish.
The twin machine guns (below) and complex five-piece front wing are added to the upper body panel, and this can be placed in position for spraying, allowing you to finish the interior afterwards. The rear wings are finished in the body colour, but their support structure is not - it is gloss black, so the wings need spraying separately.
As we've got to the main colour, note that unlike all other Batmobiles to date, the vehicle is not finished in black, instead being an overall metallic gunmetal grey. Both Humbrol and Testors make an appropriate aerosol shade, and there's not that much to choose between them, except that the Testors paint is enamel, the Humbrol acrylic. In the end, I chose the Humbrol option. I masked the windshield glass, so the frame could be painted the same colour.
The finished model (below) gains a techno-military look, after painting with Humbrol gunmetal acrylic aerosol.
The Batman v Superman Batmobile (above, below) with the smaller Tumbler design, a kit that’s also from Moebius Models.
There are no figures supplied with the kit. Ben Affleck played Batman in this particular film, so you will have to make do without the star of the show. However, Moebius makes a separate pack of two Batman figures, and these could be suitable for adding a sense of scale, especially important if you want to show the vehicle in a diorama setting.
The Batmobile (below) parked in my usual Gotham City retro-futuristic diorama setting. Also featured here is an earlier Moebius Batman figure. The Polar Lights Barris Batmobile, as featured in the 1960s TV series, can be seen just behind.
Scale stats
Moebius Models: Batmobile from the movie Batman v Superman
Scale: 1:25
Parts: 90
Assembled length: 230 mm (9 in)
Manufcturer’s ref: 964
Thanks to Moebius Models for the review kit.
See superheroes in conflict and Batman's vehicles in action with the Warner Bros trailer (below).
SMN note: the Bat Tank (below) mentioned by Mat has been available as a diecast for a while now. Click here to check availability.
