Reviewing Fanhome’s ‘1989 Batmobile’ 1:8 Scale Build-Up Subscription Stages 14-18

The next set of build stages in my Fanhome 1989 Batmobile 1:8 Scale Build-Up Subscription* has arrived. This 1:8 scale model meticulously recreates the iconic vehicle from Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film with all the sleek styling and high tech gadgets that make it Batman’s ultimate crime fighting tool.

The finished model will clock in at an incredible 29.5” long, consisting of diecast metal and ABS components. Just like in the film, it will have retractable side wings and roof canopy, a functioning front turbine, a realistic dashboard, rotating wheels, and an opening trunk. There will also be retractable machine guns, a disc launcher, and a grapnel. A remote control will trigger LED lighting and sound effects. 

I’m having a lot of fun with this build. Of all the live action film and TV vehicles, the ‘89 Bat is, by far, the coolest. Fight me. If we’re including comic book and animated series Bat-vehicles, I’ll give the coupe from Batman #39 the nod, because it’s the most inconspicuous, while still being an absolute beast. Logic would dictate that a true detective would drive something that could blend into traffic and could hide in plain sight. I know. I heard it. Logic doesn’t need to logic in superhero stories.

Anyway, I digress. Let’s kick this pig!

Build Stage 14

The vehicle spotlight in this stage’s “magazine”** is from Batman: The Brave And The Bold. This car had the ability to transform into a Batsub or a Batplane. The overall presentation in automobile mode clearly draws inspiration from the ‘89 Bat, with its cockpit just in front of the rear axle and swooping C3 fender lines. It’s not the most unique or groundbreaking Batmobile, but there is that transformer ability, so…

The build stage involves adding disc brakes to the suspension I started in the last stage. 

Build Stage 15

Stage 15’s vehicle spotlight is the 2009 Batmobile that was left unfinished in the Bat Cave following the apparent death of Bruce Wayne. It was completed by Damian, who gave it flight and vertical take-off abilities. That all sounds cool, but this thing looks like a water beetle with its fat round body and retractable leg-wings. 

In this build stage, the swing arm and steering arm are added to the rear suspension assembly.

Build Stage 16

This featured vehicle is probably the most widely known. Many would place the highly modified 1955 Lincoln Futura from the 1966 Batman TV show as the first live-action incarnation, and they’d be wrong. There were actually three versions that predated the iconic Barris Batmobile; a black 1939 Cadillac Series 75 convertible was used in the 1943 serial Batman, a 1949 Mercury in the sequel Batman and Robin, and a promo car was assembled out of a 1956 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 chassis, powered by an Oldsmobile Rocket 324. The latter toured the country as “Batman’s Batmobile” ahead of the TV show’s pilot.  

That Futura, though. Barris’ accounts of how exactly the vehicle ended up as its screen incarnation has varied over the years. The common theme is that the vehicle was purchased by Barris on the cheap, used in a couple films, and then sat dormant until he mocked it up for the TV show. It had been sitting so long, though, that it had some serious mechanical issues that held up filming.

It did look cool, though. 

The build stage requires attaching the left rear suspension to the rear suspension base and frame. 

Build Stage 17

This stage’s featured vehicle is not even a Batmobile. It’s the Jokermobile. Unfamiliar? Take the Mystery Men Herkimer Battle Jitney and slap a joker face on the front. Give it a quick metallic purple and green paint job, and voilà! Jokermobile! This is a silly vehicle. Sillier, I guess, since most of these are pretty out there. 

This stage’s build is the right rear suspension. Same as the left, but in reverse. 

Build Stage 18

The Batmobile from the animated show The Batman is this issue’s featured vehicle. This one just looks uninspired, even lazy, to me. It’s pretty much a Revuelto that’s painted blue and black. Loads of hidden gadgets and weapons, but visually, those cell artists only had to draw a wedge, put some wheels on it, and away we go. 

The build stage is the right rear disc brake. 

These are the stages that kind of get monotonous in the middle of every build. There are four wheels. Each of their constructions is basically the same as the other three. I know this all needs to get done, but I’m looking forward to the body work and electronics. 

*Fanhome provides this subscription to me free of charge for the purposes of review. 

**I will protest this digital “magazine” thing until Fanhome brings back the printed issues. These are clearly formatted for print. In digital form, they are awkward. The print is too small to view scaled, and zooming to full size means you have to scroll back and forth to read the articles and instructions. Bring back the physical copies, or redesign each month’s layout to reflect digital media’s limitations.