This afternoon I just saw a tv ad for a neat toy: the Batman Begins Bat-Tumbler. And I find myself actually tempted to go out and find this thing for myself. The last Batman toy I was really intrigued with was my little nephew's Batmobile from the Batman Adventures TAS--I think I played with it more that Christmas Eve than he did. :lol: I wish now that I'd gone out and found one for myself (and I don't think a model kit of it was ever offered, but please correct me if I'm wrong).

However, apparently Bandai is on the ball. Look here. (http://www.action-hq.com/cgi-bin/action-hq/oth002472.html)

I've already ordered the Bandai. And this weekend I got lucky at a toy show and finally got the Hot Wheels 1/18 Metal Keaton Batmobiles (both versions) on a trade.

which was a disappointment to me. The special battery cost $20 plus I needed a 9V alkaline battery for the remote. It doesn't turn as well as I think it should. I could have bought a Tumbler alarm clock and also a regular toy version for the price I paid for the radio control car.

I am just disappointed at the money I spent on the ONE car, the way it works isn't too bad, I guess.

Ya know, I hate the damn thing as a Batmobile, but I think I'd LOVE to have a radio controlled one to tumble around the yard!

I've got the big Mattel toy, which I may tear down and rebuild as a more accurate version. Also have the Bandai version on the way.

I want a real one. Traffic is crazy around here.

I'd love to get the Bandai model, but I know that I would feel incomplete if it is just sitting there, all by its lonesome self. Darn it, I should've bought the Keatonmobile model when I had a chance 12+ years ago... who cares if I was a starving student then?

José

Jose, It's still available my friend.

Rich - Thanks! That gives me hope that all's not lost. I'll keep my eyes open for it, but reading what people say on these boards it appears to me that the model picture is brighter in other parts of the country (even in Canada... insert joke about it being the 51st state here) than in the Greater Sacramento Metropolitan Area (go Kings!).

Here, I've seen a couple of model/hobby shops go belly up, one that got out of the modeling business a few years ago and the larger stores (Target, Wal-Mart, Big Lots) don't carry models and if they do they're not sci-fi. That leaves me with one mom-and-pop store that, let's just say their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. So most of my models come from the Internet.

Maybe I just need to take modeling pilgrimages. ;)

José

The 89 Batmobile was recently re-issued by RC2-ERTL so they are pretty easy to find, especially on Evilbay.

Gato--

Doesn't Sacramento have a really big hobby shop called Riverside Hobbies? I bet they'd have an AMT Batmobile. Check the phone book before you do any long distance driving.

:)

Doesn't Sacramento have a really big hobby shop called Riverside Hobbies? I bet they'd have an AMT Batmobile. Check the phone book before you do any long distance driving.

Riverside Hobbies is the mom-and-pop shop lacking customer service that I mentioned. It's got a nice selection of train, car, ship and plane models, but only an aisle of sci-fi (mostly Gundam). I used to go there a lot to get my supplies and hobby fix even though they were pricier (call me a sap for small businesses, my dad used to own one so I know how hard it can be).

Everytime I go/went there, though, I find them to be rude and short (except for the lady owner, she tries to be helpful). I thought it was me, but my wife had the same experience when she went there to get me a Christmas present. So they tend to be my shop of last resort now. Out of sappiness and probably misplaced loyalty, I still refer business to Riverside and I rarely mention my problems with them to others, but I usually caution people that they're not very helpful.

The 89 Batmobile was recently re-issued by RC2-ERTL so they are pretty easy to find, especially on Evilbay.

Rich - Hey man, thanks for the heads up on the Keatonmobile repop! That's excellent news....

José