Jada Batman v Superman Metals Batmobile Kit
I've been seeing a lot of die cast metal action figures and vehicles around lately at surprisingly reasonable prices. The Disney Store has quite a few Star Wars vehicles and figures made with metal parts, and now Toys R Us is full of merchandise that would be dangerous if thrown. There are some cool SD characters you can pick up, but I've always been more interested in Batmobiles. I found this one, which is ostensibly a model kit, at Toys R Us for $20, and decided I'd add it to my collection. It's produced by Jada, who also made some cool Speed Racer vehicles I picked up years ago.
The package does a good job showing off the vehicle (an impressive feat, given that it's not in one piece). The layout of the wheels also did a good job selling the kit as something potentially fun. That said, I was really more interested in the finished product than the experience.
Notably absent from the packaging is the vehicle's scale. Online, I've seen this cited as 1:24, but I'm not sure if that's accurate. It's about nine inches long, including the rear fins, so it's at least in the right neighborhood.
The package does a good job showing off the vehicle (an impressive feat, given that it's not in one piece). The layout of the wheels also did a good job selling the kit as something potentially fun. That said, I was really more interested in the finished product than the experience.
Notably absent from the packaging is the vehicle's scale. Online, I've seen this cited as 1:24, but I'm not sure if that's accurate. It's about nine inches long, including the rear fins, so it's at least in the right neighborhood.
Here's what it looks like when you get the pieces out of the box. The packaging claims this includes 25 parts, but - unless they're counting the already-assembled top as ten - this number includes the individual screws, which is hilarious. Of course, you also get a page of instructions which lays out the order you need to build this in and serves as a detailed, comprehensive guide.
That last sentence: that was sarcasm. The instructions aren't so bad you can't follow them, but they're bizarrely vague and occasionally misleading. Quite a few steps can be done in different orders, and some of the choices made seem to have been chosen for ease of fitting on the page, rather than ease of construction. Oh, and here's a tip, because it is NOT clear in the instructions: the short axle is for the rear wheels, and the long one's for the front.
That last sentence: that was sarcasm. The instructions aren't so bad you can't follow them, but they're bizarrely vague and occasionally misleading. Quite a few steps can be done in different orders, and some of the choices made seem to have been chosen for ease of fitting on the page, rather than ease of construction. Oh, and here's a tip, because it is NOT clear in the instructions: the short axle is for the rear wheels, and the long one's for the front.
Even with the occasional frustrating delay, I had this built in around fifteen or twenty minutes. I wouldn't recommend this for young kids, but it's relatively simple for anyone else. Just make sure you don't lose the screws - Jada didn't include any extras. In case it isn't obvious, the top of the vehicle is metal, as are the axles, and the rest is plastic. That's pretty standard for the style.
The finished vehicle is a decent die cast toy car. It's not quite as good as what you'd expect from Hot Wheels or Corgi at this scale, but it's close enough given the price point.
The finished vehicle is a decent die cast toy car. It's not quite as good as what you'd expect from Hot Wheels or Corgi at this scale, but it's close enough given the price point.
As you'd expect, the wheels spin, but they won't turn side to side. Also, the cockpit opens, thanks to a pair of flaps. The inside looks a bit small considering the supposed 1:24 scale, but it contains a pair of seats and a plastic steering wheel. Lastly, the gun turret on the front can turn 360 degrees.
The weirdest aspect of this is the kit gimmick. I didn't mind putting it together, but - speaking frankly - this isn't actually a model kit in any meaningful sense of the term. This is die cast car which was packaged disassembled with a bag of screws and a tiny screwdriver. I don't really understand why they didn't just put it together beforehand - is there really more interest in a kit than a toy car? Or maybe it was simply cheaper to procure the rights this way.
Regardless, I'm glad I was able to pick it up at twenty dollars, even if the form is a bit baffling.
The weirdest aspect of this is the kit gimmick. I didn't mind putting it together, but - speaking frankly - this isn't actually a model kit in any meaningful sense of the term. This is die cast car which was packaged disassembled with a bag of screws and a tiny screwdriver. I don't really understand why they didn't just put it together beforehand - is there really more interest in a kit than a toy car? Or maybe it was simply cheaper to procure the rights this way.
Regardless, I'm glad I was able to pick it up at twenty dollars, even if the form is a bit baffling.
Before I wrap this up, I've got a few thoughts about the design for the new Batmobile. It more or less looks like a fusion between the Tumbler (a version I hate) and the one from the '89 Burton movie (one of my favorites). I've photographed it with the '89 Batmobile above and the Tumbler below, if you're interested.
That Tumbler's seen better days (I picked it up used). I'm still a little torn on what I think of the new one. I like it much better than the Tumbler, but in general I prefer more streamlined incarnations of the car. In addition to these two, the new one almost reminds me of the Batman Beyond Batmobile. And of course, it's supposed to incorporate elements from The Dark Knight Returns vehicle, but that's true of the Tumbler, as well.
For this one, I wish they hadn't extended the front wheels out of the sides: it gives the car a clunky, inelegant look. Likewise, I feel like the rear wheels could have been better designed, and I'm not certain what's going on with those over-sized fins on top. I guess they're supposed to evoke the vertical fins from the '89 car, but folded down, they just look kind of silly.
For this one, I wish they hadn't extended the front wheels out of the sides: it gives the car a clunky, inelegant look. Likewise, I feel like the rear wheels could have been better designed, and I'm not certain what's going on with those over-sized fins on top. I guess they're supposed to evoke the vertical fins from the '89 car, but folded down, they just look kind of silly.
All that said, this design is starting to grow on me. The blend of classic elements with armor plating is certainly a better direction than the boxy Tumbler, and - setting aside those front wheels - I like the shape of the vehicle. Here's hoping they go with something more streamlined in future movies, though.
Also, while we're on the subject, let's hope future movies aren't steaming piles of crap. In case you missed my review, I wasn't particularly impressed with this one.
Also, while we're on the subject, let's hope future movies aren't steaming piles of crap. In case you missed my review, I wasn't particularly impressed with this one.
