This time around, larger sections of the build are coming together – and in many ways you can begin to see the overall shape of the Tumbler – so welcome back to my build for the Hachette Partworks 1:8 scale model of the Batman Tumbler!

The Tumbler was brought to life in Christopher Nolan’s iconic The Dark Knight trilogy, making its debut in Batman Begins, and this Batmobile ‘Tumbler’ holds military-level stealth tech as its inspiration, can break through concrete walls, has bullet-proof bodywork and is one of the finest additions to Bruce Wayne’s Batcave or hidden dockside underground workshop….

If you fancied looking back through where we’ve been, with Issues 1 to 52, then just head here for those blogs, and today it’s the turn of 6 issues in one hit from this Hachette Partworks release!

Click here to start your own, and remember if you have any questions or queries, drop me a message in the comments below…

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Issue 53

The magazine that comes with the build instructions carries on delving into the history of the Batmobile itself, and also the progression of the design, which is interesting to discover over the years – plus it offers a brief look at another vital illustrator, this time John Byrne, which is a nice addition in ever magazine along this journey, giving time to those who made Batman who he is today, each with their own touch.

The build itself is another quick one really, you’re essentially grabbing the tail and engine body from last time out, and adding this inner bulkhead, the nice visual addition is that of 2 pairs of gas cylinders, plastic of course, but as a design, it gives it a nice little more rounded vibe, as things continue to slowly come together.

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Issue 54

The best part of this Issue is certainly the magazine, because we hit the films and – very particularly – Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, a proper masterpiece of the era and hugely influential on the years that have followed, not just for Batman but for the state of ‘superhero’ films aplenty.

That being said, Burton knows it wasn’t just me who helped make this change, while he had the some freedom to create Michael Keaton’s iconic and Gothic world of Batz on the big screen, there were certainly comic book influences to get it there – including the likes of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, and Alan Moore and Brian Bolland‘s iconic The Killing Joke – something that was also an influence for Nolan’s take, some years later.

For the build side, less positives this time out and I’ve given the smaller parts a lot of leeway, because of my Tumbler love, but a bigger ‘part’ of Issue 54 is a very odd one – and all will be reveal later on when it comes to this built section and it’s very dubious connection into another section.

Essentially here you’re building uprights, crossbars and connectors but it’s not the strongest part for what it’ll be intended for, nor is it very robust for the same reasons but, because we’ve come this far, it’s a quick and easy put together and sets us up a little for what’s next on the front piece of the Tumbler.

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Issue 55

The magazine here takes us inside the success of 89’s Batman but also what came next – namely in the shape of Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, which offers up readers stories outside the usual places, dropping out of the usual ‘universe’ and becoming more or less being stand alone adventures. Check out Dennis O’Neil and Ed Hannigan’s Shaman, as an example.

The build is also a little more fun, and bulky – as you’ll need the front bulkhead (previous terrible ponder intended) with the wheel assemble as well as the cockpit floor frame – as you’ll be putting together the floor of the front section!

In essence, this is a lot of screwing things in but it’s actually a little more complicated to hold the frame in place, whilst screwing in the floor and making sure you’re holding it mid-air – as you can’t really do it upside down.

The strangest part of this is using the Issue 54 frame inside of the front piece, because it doesn’t really work – and most of it doesn’t even seem to ‘do’ anything. While I think they needed it to half connect to the front bulkhead, it’s so flimsy and un-tethered, that it either breaks apart or doesn’t really sit. You’re also expected to screw it into the front piece, which is virtually impossible without an angled screwdriver.

However, I did eventually manage to do it – and there were swear words used – but a lot of the floor section helps you connect it together, which is handy because without that strong part of the build, I’d be concerned that it’d all fall off otherwise. But, anyway, it looks and feels strong when it’s finally together – see:

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Issue 56

After a big heavy section, you’re getting straight back into those little additional pieces, which sometimes I think should be done later as they’re so breakable – but #56 gives us time for a slower screw-together with mountings, pistons and shock absorbers.

These tiny parts all sit around what you’ve just built and the front assembly of the Tumbler. As you’ve added some pistons in previous builds, you’ll instantly see the ones that haven’t been done. Again, I’m not sure exactly why they couldn’t be done together, but what it does do is make it more even, and look more detailed – which is ace. Incidentally, I’ve removed two tiny shock absorbers from the front piece because one keeps falling off, and I’m pretty sure I can add them back in at the end, before I lose them forever (to the floor or hoover gods!)

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Issue 57 and 58

Issue 57 contains the engine panel and a couple of exhaust pipes, this isn’t a taxing build because there isn’t even any screws around. Although I like the metal weight of the engine panel itself, and the exhaust pipes have a fine gold/burned out effect in their colouring, which is definitely a nice touch. For this ‘put together’, you’ll do it in about 2 minutes as they’re just slot-in pieces as you’re clearly prepping for a later issue.

Issue 58 follows a similar path, and while it’s the epic-looking Tumbler roof, and a tiny, single, individual support (?!), it’s literally called ‘Support 1’ you’re not doing anything here bar screwing that first support into the Tumbler roof, I think they probably could have given you a few more things here, it feels like someone offering you a pack of biscuits but actually only giving you a half.

As ever though, I remain positive, you can kind of put it together visually and see where we’re heading and, if you know these builds, then patience and a little hopeful positiveness is usually the way! 🙂

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My Batmobile Tumbler Build Blog shall return!

Head to Hachette Partworks to start creating your own: https://batmobile.hachettepartworks.com

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