Neal Adams Batman

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This is my latest Bat-kit, and it's a big one! Batman stands almost 10" tall to the tips of his Bat-ears, and his massive flowing cape is almost 15" wide. 

The model is based on a famous Neal Adams full-page pose from 1973's "Joker's Five-Way Revenge!," a classic Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams story in Batman #251. (Click here to see a scan of the original page, as touched up and reprinted in 1988's The Greatest Joker Stories Ever Told hardcover.)  It's a great pose, very dynamic, very realistic, with a real sense of action and movement. This model of Batman  looks darned real, if you ask me.

This is also one of the least structurally sound models I've ever seen; the only thing holding up this heavy resin model is the very tippy-toe of Batman's left boot. (After one major crash to Earth, I inserted three pins between the foot and the base, along with enough Zap-a-Gap to choke a horse--here's hoping it holds!) 

The actual building of the model wasn't too hard, thanks to the increased size. My biggest challenge was with the cape, which came in two parts that didn't fit together at all! I had to do a lot of sanding and filing and used a lot of putty to make it look like a single-piece cape. Fortunately, where the two pieces merged fit right in with the natural fold of the cape. I think it looks pretty good. 

Painting was also relatively easy, due to the size of the model. My major customization was to go with the retro/modern dark gray/black color scheme, with metallic gold paint for the traditionally yellow belt and chest oval. (I got that from Alex Ross, who says he always paints comic book yellow as gold. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me!) 

MODEL FACTS
Name: Batman
Manufacturer: McCracken Models
Year Manufactured: Unknown
Year Built: 2001
Paints: Ral Partha flat acrylics, Ral Partha gold metallic, Testors flat gray acrylic (costume)
Primer: Model Master Gray
Putty: Squadron Green
Glue: Zap-a-Gap

 

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Last modified: November 10, 2008