Hello guys

Don't know if the flying sub shape was wrong , but the parts fit was ultra wrong as for the front half of Spindrift on the angled window part...... That twelve years old kid got it assembled together with a lot of glue but the fit is Baaaad!!!!......

Gaétan

BUT it IS based on an actual model used in the show. ....I've heard that it was close to dead on by some folks very familiar with the design. ....I wouldn't know on that one but from my inexpert examination of it, it looks to be proportioned fairly close. Nothing about it "jars" my senses as the robot does. ....The Airfix sucks but the Aurora version is said to be very close to the correct shape. There may be some detailing that is different. I'm not a huge expert on that one by any means.

I think what you're saying actually supports the idea that knowledge of a subject might be proportional to your level of descrimination with a model's accuracy. The Robot you know a lot about, thus flaws "jar" you; the others you're less familiar with and they don't bother as much because the errors are transparent.

When I first got an Aurora PL re-pop LIS Robot in my hands as an adult, I was glad to have it. However, something didn't seem right, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Same thing with the Aurora PL re-pop Seaview (it's a mess BTW). After a lot of time spent looking over screen shots, the problems were clear - as I made corrections, even more flaws became apparent. If I was a kid, I'm sure I wouldn't have been as picky as this - mostly it's proportional errors that make me nuts: http://picasaweb.google.com/roadbox128/ModelChopChannel

Maybe this is why I actually finish so few kits, because I try to fix too much!

John O.

I think what you're saying actually supports the idea that knowledge of a subject might be proportional to your level of discrimination with a model's accuracy. The Robot you know a lot about, thus flaws "jar" you; the others you're less familiar with and they don't bother as much because the errors are transparent.

Definitely a factor!

...If I was a kid, I'm sure I wouldn't have been as picky as this...
I don't think I'm any pickier now, than as a kid. At the time, as now, my clear priorities for Lost in Space models were:

-The Jupiter 2,
-The Robot,
-The Chariot.

So, after the disappointment and frustration with Aurora's Robot, I didn't even consider buying the Chariot(in their Cyclops kit).

Having said that, I'm very much looking forward to Moebius's Chariot kit! Even if I pulverize the Robot parts with a sledge hammer, for causing me an Aurora flashback...

. . . Even if I pulverize the Robot parts with a sledge hammer, for causing me an Aurora flashback.

:roll:

The most horrible Aurora inaccuracy was the Batmobile. Car was made too stubby instead of sleek. Too small a scale. Canopies wrong angle and shape. Bat-Wheel hubs all wrong. They should have just recast the Revell Lincoln Futura to get the proportions right. Aurora wrongly believed kids did not care about accuracy.

The most horrible Aurora inaccuracy was the Batmobile. Car was made too stubby instead of sleek. Too small a scale. Canopies wrong angle and shape. Bat-Wheel hubs all wrong. They should have just recast the Revell Lincoln Futura to get the proportions right. Aurora wrongly believed kids did not care about accuracy.

Which is why the Aurora Batmobile sold so poorly?:confused:

:jest:

I'm pretty sure they were right - I didn't care about accuracy then.

NOW, I care about accuracy.

Hopefully, today's kitmakers care likewise.

Which is why the Aurora Batmobile sold so poorly?...
How many Batmobile kits were there to choose from, at the time?

How many Batmobile kits were there to choose from, at the time?

One. And it was a more accurate representation than any Batmobile die-cast, toy, slot-car, or soap-on-a-rope on the market at that time. I was 9 years-old and I had absolutely no complaints about the accuracy of the Aurora Batmobile, nor any notion that it was somehow "wrong" for that matter - so I for one certainly didn't fit the hypothetical accuracy-obsessed grade-school demographic BatToys refers to.

mmm...I didn't like the Batmobile kit after I got it as a birthday present
so I begged my Mother for the Corgi die cast!! :)

mmm...I didn't like the Batmobile kit after I got it as a birthday present
so I begged my Mother for the Corgi die cast!! :)

Which is even less accurate. I was quite happy to have both!

The only Batmobile kit I got came through a Burry's cookie promotion, and it was supposed to be exclusive. I have no idea who made it.

Hey Toyroy, seems like I remember reading that the "Burrys cookie kit" was made by Aurora.

Hey Toyroy, seems like I remember reading that the "Burrys cookie kit" was made by Aurora.

It was. The promotional signs go for mucho dinero.

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/news_images/4/47212_102085_1.jpg

That's it. I wonder what was exclusive about it?

As an aside, I also remember a Batman periscope.

That's it. I wonder what was exclusive about it?

As an aside, I also remember a Batman periscope.

At the height of "Bat-Mania", pretty much anything would sell if it had the name Batman attached to it.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4746/3664/1600/periscope.jpg

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4746/3664/400/crazyfoam.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4746/3664/400/batpen.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4746/3664/400/combs.jpg



And now, Kids, back to our regularly scheduled Moebius programming ....

Speaking of Batmobiles,will the Mattel release of the 1/18th scale version be out soon.:(

It's orderable from amazon--supposed to ship March 4. I put my order in...funny that all the fanfare about this has disappeared and now it appears poised to sneak onto store shelves under the radar...

Could that be so that children, instead of (just) collectors and horders, get to have a few?

Yeah! I haven't found ANY 1/64th Batmobiles on the shelves.

Could that be so that children, instead of (just) collectors and horders, get to have a few?
Yeah, I liked antique cars when I was a kid. Model Ts...cool! :p

...funny that all the fanfare about this has disappeared and now it appears poised to sneak onto store shelves under the radar...

I think the blame for that rests solely with Mattel, which for some reason has botched this release. The models were announced, then dates were changed and I think they also cut one of the planned versions. It's almost as if they had A-Corp handle the marketing !

It's orderable from amazon--supposed to ship March 4. I put my order in...funny that all the fanfare about this has disappeared and now it appears poised to sneak onto store shelves under the radar...

Looks like they're only offering the basic model. Anybody know of a dependable on-line retailer where one can pre-order the primo-editions?

...I think they also cut one of the planned(Batmobile) versions...
Which one? There will be three 1/18 versions, and at least two 1/64 versions.

I mentioned in another thread that I saw 1:18 and 1:32nd Batmobiles at Toy Fair Monday. Didn't ask, but nothing sufggested there were multiple versions.

I mentioned in another thread that I saw 1:18 and 1:32nd Batmobiles at Toy Fair Monday. Didn't ask, but nothing sufggested there were multiple versions.

I went ahead and ordered the basic 1:18 version from Amazon - just to cover my bases. Hopefully some GK person out there will come up with good Adam West and Burt Ward figures to go with.

Which one? There will be three 1/18 versions, and at least two 1/64 versions.

There was also suppose to be a 1/43 scale version but that was dropped in favor of a 1/50th scale car.

I'm not a big fan of diecast, so I'm hoping they'll eventually produce a 1/24 or 1/25 scale styrene kit. I think I had the Aurora kit as a kid; I wouldn't mind seeing it reissued 'cuz I can't afford the going rate on Evilbay.

I'm not a big fan of diecast, so I'm hoping they'll eventually produce a 1/24 or 1/25 scale styrene kit.



Kinda unlikely since they only make die cast cars, and only have the license to make die cast Batmobiles.

I'm not a big fan of diecast, so I'm hoping they'll eventually produce a 1/24 or 1/25 scale styrene kit.Kinda unlikely since they only make die cast cars, and only have the license to make die cast Batmobiles.Okay, I hope someone eventually produces a 1/24 or 1/25 scale styrene kit. :p

Okay, I hope someone eventually produces a 1/24 or 1/25 scale styrene kit. :pYeah, me too. I have a PL kit in my collection, but the TV version would be wonderful. Why is it there hasn't been a styrene kit, anyway?

Yeah, me too. I have a PL kit in my collection, but the TV version would be wonderful. Why is it there hasn't been a styrene kit, anyway?

Because nobody has been able to work out the rights to reproduce that car in any medium for like, a quarter century. The fact that Mattel was finally able to pull it off is something of a miracle.

Next question: does the original Aurora Batmobile tooling still exist, and, if so, who's got it?

If it exists Revell Monogram has it. They may very well have it and not even know. They claimed many years ago that the creature mold was gone. Then a few years later it turned up. IE They looked for it or stumbled accross it while looking for something else. LOL

If it exists Revell Monogram...may very well have it and not even know...
Maybe now is a good time to find it, methinks.

Speaking of old tooling, perhaps now would also be a good time to lose the Robot molds. Forever. Then, all-new tooling could be created to fill the unquenchable demand for model kits of the Robot. And a new day will dawn, for those who stand long... :)

I know for a fact the Aurora molds still exist, because someone at Revell/Monogram told us so here a few years ago. They'd done a test shot to see if the molds were still okay, and they were, but they still couldn't get the licensing.

Evidently, licensing is possible now. Maybe someone should send Revell/Monogram a Hot Wheels Batmobile, with the date circled in red?

Evidently, licensing is possible now. Maybe someone should send Revell/Monogram a Hot Wheels Batmobile, with the date circled in red?

I would think the various Hot Wheels versions would take a lot of steam out of any styrene '66 Batmobile kit that would be issued now. Add to that, that compared to the Mattel, the Aurora Batmobile is wildly inaccurate and soft on detail. Us Aurora nostalgia guys would kill to have one - but only if re-issued with the original box-art. R/M did quite poorly on their various Aurora repops a few years ago as they attempted to jump on the Polar Lights bandwagon. Even if they could get the rights, I don't think they would even consider an Aurora Batmobile repop. It wouldn't pay for itself.

I'm perfectly happy to have that great big diecast...I've got plenty of models to build, I loved my 1/43 Corgi Batmobile as a kid and I can't wait to finally have the Hot Wheels version...

Last that I knew Mattel had the US master licesnse for everything related to Batman.
Far as I am aware that includes model kits, as Warner / DC considers model kits to be TOYS!
A master license is an exclusive license for the entire product category.
Last I knew Warner had NO interest what ever in discussing Batman licensing opportunities for model kits with anyone.

That was back in 2004, things could have changed since then, but I sincerly doubt it because Mattel is just getting their big Batmobiles to market. I'd wager that they still have the Batman license all locked up

Once Matell has made all the Batman stuff that they can make a buck on, they may let the license lapse, until then I'll bet that nobody else in the US gets a license in the toy catagories.

Dave

Last that I knew Mattel had the US master licesnse for everything related to Batman.
Far as I am aware that includes model kits, as Warner / DC considers model kits to be TOYS!
A master license is an exclusive license for the entire product category.
Last I knew Warner had NO interest what ever in discussing Batman licensing opportunities for model kits with anyone.

That was back in 2004, things could have changed since then, but I sincerly doubt it because Mattel is just getting their big Batmobiles to market. I'd wager that they still have the Batman license all locked up

Once Matell has made all the Batman stuff that they can make a buck on, they may let the license lapse, until then I'll bet that nobody else in the US gets a license in the toy catagories.

Dave

Dave - from what you know about the license with Mattel, would that cover pretty much any kind of Batman TV-Series related toy as well? I mean, could they issue Adam West and Burt Ward action figures for instance? Or a special-issue Julie Newmar as Catwoman Barbie? It's just curious to me that they finally cracked the Barris Batmobile but that everything else related to that show would be left alone.

Looks like Amazon has raised the price on the 1:18 from $29.99 to $34.99 in the past couple of days.

I don't have any idea if Mattel would do anything Batman related with Barbie.
I'm pretty sure that the master toy license would cover dolls as well as die cast cars.

I don't have any idea if Mattel would do anything Batman related with Barbie.
I'm pretty sure that the master toy license would cover dolls as well as die cast cars.

They did these a couple of years back. My daughter has all 4 figures proudly displayed with her other Super-heroine stuff.

http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/15886/2117283960102496074S425x425Q85.jpg
http://i24.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/80/bf/7e5f_1_b.JPG


Doing a little web search, it appears they did a Limited Edition "Classic" Catwoman as well.

http://www.barbiecollector.com/images/showcase/products/B3450_9993_main.jpg