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Building the Batmobile from The Dark Knight?

brian9271

brian9271

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 31, 2008
318
0
Next door
Hey guys, I've set myself a new project, to build a copy of the Tumbler from The Dark Knight, any ideas how, body parts and frame are my main thing.
 
Just saw The Dark Knight last night and I have a plot question ....

The Joker is to get "half" of the mobster's money when he kills Batman. Batman is clearly alive when the mobsters are making the payoff (big pile of cash in the boat with Hong Kong Guy tied up at the top).

Did I miss something?

mt
 
First thought, presuming a model of the real thing, is get a CAD program and some images to work off of. Any experience along this line would be a real help to. Course, you could always get the model kit. ;)
 
Full size?

From what I've read:

It uses a 5.7 litre Chevy V8. This engine has been tuned so that it can provide the power necessary to take a 5,000-pound vehicle from zero to 60 mph (100 kph) in 5 seconds.

The rear axle is a truck axle, with a truck transmission carrying power from the engine to the axle. The truck axle added a lot of weight to the vehicle. They wanted the car to be as light as possible so it would jump better, and this axle was the opposite of "lightweight." That extra weight is one of the things that contributed to the strain on the front end in the first jump tests.

The rear tires are 37-inch-diameter, off-the-shelf, 4x4 mud tires called Super Swampers made by Interco.

The front tires are racing tires made by Hoosier.

The front wheels have independent suspension elements inspired by the long-travel suspensions of Baja racing trucks. When airborne, the front wheels pop out about 30 inches on their suspensions to absorb the shock of a 30-foot fall.
Click to expand...


They made four, and they cost $250,000 each, AFTER development costs.

They were built in Britain (IIRC, by Land Rover), because none of the US firms thought it possible to build a vehicle capable of meeting their required specs. I'm guessing they probably used somewhere near $5m of the first film's budget to develop the tumbler, what with the technical difficulty of getting a 2.5 ton car to jump 30ft and not fall apart when it landed.


I think I'd probably just go for a model.
 
I THINK it is possible for me to build one, you just need the materials, I don't plan on making it exactly the same as the real one, but um yes I will start off with the small model, I will basically convert each piece of the model to the size of a car, then I'll basically make the frame, spray, insert some seats and the extra buttons inside, with the turbo boost at the back, go get some normal and big wheels, get a frame (most important), engine... hm... dunno bout that yet, if I fail making this tumbler, I'm making the bike, Batpod, so cool, but it aint gonna be easy stuffing the engine into its wheel. If I succeed, I'll post some photo's.

To succeed, I need some of you guys out there who have actually made this.
 
If your not sure where to start, I would take it to mean you don't even have the tools to attempt this. I suggest sticking to the model. The parts alone are way more than you could afford.
 
Yes the model will help me out iMac-Knight, also, if I just go get like a go kart engine - $10k. And CortexRock, I believe I have seen the link you have given, thanks anyway. EDIT: By the way, my version won't be as heavy as the real one, I am still kinda thinking on how the roof is gonna open .
 
Hey guys, I found this site where this guy is actually making the Tumbler, its still being made but check the site out for some pictures, heres the link
 
You building a tank in your garage? Hmhmm... Me thinks the state/federal government won't take that too lightly. They'll think you're a terrorist.:eek:
 
Prof. said:
You building a tank in your garage? Hmhmm... Me thinks the state/federal government won't take that too lightly. They'll think you're a terrorist.:eek:
Click to expand...

Its not really a tank, but it should be illegal for the roads, but I'll just drop by at my friends place :p
 
brian9271 said:
I THINK it is possible for me to build one, you just need the materials, I don't plan on making it exactly the same as the real one, but um yes I will start off with the small model, I will basically convert each piece of the model to the size of a car, then I'll basically make the frame, spray, insert some seats and the extra buttons inside, with the turbo boost at the back, go get some normal and big wheels, get a frame (most important), engine... hm... dunno bout that yet, if I fail making this tumbler, I'm making the bike, Batpod, so cool, but it aint gonna be easy stuffing the engine into its wheel. If I succeed, I'll post some photo's.

To succeed, I need some of you guys out there who have actually made this.
Click to expand...

lol just need the materials eh?

have you ever used machines before? as in for metal fabrication

have you ever layed up materials like carbon fiber or fiberglass

have you ever welded?

have you ever designed via a cad package and make machine drawings so you can even build the parts?


lol good luck but i think you are simplifying it waaaaaaay too much...even for a model
 
dukebound85 said:
lol just need the materials eh?

have you ever used machines before? as in for metal fabrication

have you ever layed up materials like carbon fiber or fiberglass

have you ever welded?

have you ever designed via a cad package and make machine drawings so you can even build the parts?


lol good luck but i think you are simplifying it waaaaaaay too much...even for a model
Click to expand...
That's why I'm looking for the "model" version, and hopefully if I bumped into someone who has created this, there is a chance that it won't be made. But I'll try ;)
 
seriously, that car is about as technical of a build it gets.
i assume,
numerous cad drawings,
CNC machine,
car bay lift,
the tools pshh,
o and the whole jet engine in the back,
and the fact that it needs to turn into a motorcycle,
and i can help you with 1 thing though,
the front tires are M/T like 22in by 24 or something muddin tires, there beefy
 
I've seen 3 people so far who has built this, one guy built his by just looking at pictures, only if there was somehow a video on how to make this would be way easier, if you guys find something on this (making of Tumbler) then I sure will be really happy. I doubt that I can make this by looking at images.
 
No offense meant, but the odds of you building a life size one are pretty much zero. You sound a bit young, therefore inexperienced in auto mechanics.
 
Cop "Can you at least tell me what it looks like?"

Tumbler roars by cop.

"Never mind."

Cop shakes the cob webs out of his head and takes a swig of coffee.
 
Rather have one of these:
 

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