Tim Burton's 1989 Batmobile

[cehnot]

Last year I developed my own version of the original Batmobile from Tim Burton's Batman film. I designed it in LDD and released it on rebrickable. As I worked on physical builds for my other creations I cam to a realization that the model I build was out of scale with the rest of my models. I model my designs based on my echo-1 proportions. I use this mathematical ratio to determine how all my other models fit with each other. This car was also used to determine how the Tim Burton version fit next to each other. When I constructed my 11-stud wide bat mobile I realized it was longer than Ecto-1. I never thought about it until I began working on my X-wing. The last year I thought a lot about proportions and never uploaded a final build because I was quite disappointed in the model's size. I attend a lot of comic conventions and I saw a 1989 replica next to an Ecto1 and realized it was way shorter and only slightly wider than the ghostbuster's vehicle. I looked up proportions and surely enough the measurements didn't lie. 

Ecto-1:
251 inches long (27 studs)
80 inches wide (8.6 studs)

Burton Batmobile:
235.15 inches long (25.29 studs)
94.4 inches wide (10.15 studs)

Delorean DMC-12:
166 inches long (16.69 studs)
73.1 inches wide (7.7 studs)
(note, this is pre BTTF conversion, I used this proportion to design the car first, then added the conversion second)

Now that I was obsessed with measurements, I abandoned the project and never posted the final photos. 

MilkPls69 messaged me last year with his finished model based on my rebrickable design. He noted that the sides were too fragile and when I built my version months later I realized he was right. The main concern was the you could display it, but not plat with it too harshly. Below are the photos he took. The nose isn't accurate, but hat is because I didn't specify you need to cut down a 3mm rigid hose to get the front to work correctly and much closer to each other. He also noted that I need to move around a few bricks and studs to get the sides to work better. His images are all that exist of this model. 

2018 is here and now I present to you my newest update, also soon to be completely built, the correctly proportioned vehicle. I am waiting on 3 brick link orders, but hopefully showcase the model soon. 

First photo:
Left: My final (preferred version)
This version has a chassis moved back 1 stud allowing for the seat to be properly installed and giving the minifies more room to sit. This model also contains the correct round 2x2 intakes on both sides that overlap the vent slits. It creates a nice curve that matches the movie car as well as making the whole model more proportionally accurate. I would love it if Lego made round panel parts or a bucket that is 1 stud high and 2 studs wide. 

Middle: 
This version is for those who want to use the 2x2 round black barrel. This version has a chassis that is moved 1 stud forward from the left version. This version makes the entire cockpit visible from the bottom. I could not figure out a solution how to enclose the cockpit area since the barrel is too tall to allow panels or plates to enclose the area behind it. The 11 stud wide car does not have this issue since the internal structure has 5 studs to work with instead of 4. 

Right:
My original 27 stud by 11-stud wide batmobile. The great part about this model is it fits perfectly in line with 8-stud wide cars, but not minifies side vehicles. This car is massive, but not as long or wide as the LEGO Movie Burton car designed by Brent Wellar. His car fits 2 people side by side. This car used jumper plates to get the half stud proportions seen on the middle section. 

 

This is a great photo of how I used the jumper plates for the back on my smaller car designs. The 11-stud wide car looks best, more plates and angles to fit the correct design, but those smaller designs fit my proper car size. The Front of the 11-wide stud car is the same with as the other models (9 studs wide). I found that you cannot really make the front 8.78 studs, I chose to keep the same 9-stud wide proportion since the front and back really only change very slightly in width. 

I changed the plates to dark gray to show you what the bottom looks like. you can see the chassis I used for the smaller cars. I used this so I can attach the turntable mechanism seen in Batman. This also gives you a great angle to show off the profile of the car. I love the new 2017 parts. 3x3 plates in multiple colors, the 1x1 stud with bar, 1x3 jumper plates, the 1x2 curved plates with angle cut out (originally in speed champion sets. This car uses a ton of new jumper plates. 

Those darn cheese wedges don't quite fit on the car in LDD. I hope to squeeze them onto the final model. That is one pretty top view. 

As seen in the film, you can add on attachments to recreate the scenes. 2 wings to take out knees, take off the 1x1 round tile with bar on top and slide the grappling hook in the side. 

Or attach the turntable to turn the car around 180 degrees to use the turbine engine to toast your enemies. 

Like my Ecto-1 and X-wing models, this car should have a proper engine design in case you want to display this model as a cutaway option or jus to do mechanical work in a garage. You can see my original 11-stud wide engine houses a huge engine and turbine compartment, but I love how compact and well placed each element in the new model looks. I also attempted to design a proper turbine engine in the back with as little space as I had with he awesome help of the new 1x1 stud with bar handle part LEGO created in 2017. You can see it right next to the 1 stud technique bush. 

 

Like all my models, I present to you the final LDD file. 
Preferred Version 10-stud wide car:
Tim Burton's Batmobile 1989 LDD file (10-stud wide version)
 

If you want to build the original version or the car with the barrel, I have decided to also include that in the group LDD file link below. Please note that the 11-stud wide car was only slightly modified from its original design, and did not solve the fragile side panels.):
All 3 Batmobile Versions LDD file

I look forward to building this car. 

PLEASE BE ADVISED ON PARTS:
The file calls for parts not all available in flat silver. These parts I am planning on having Chrome Block City made into their aluminum parts. I think that will look great with this model. You can substitute them for light bluish gray.