One of the more unusual special editions released by the
recent Eaglemoss Batman Automobilia collection is the Flying Batcave.
This odd looking crime fighting helicopter was introduced in
Detective Comics # 186 (August 1952), and went on to make a second appearance
in Detective Comics # 317 (July 1963)
It all began when Robin was kidnapped by Gotham gangster,
‘Diamond’ Lang, and Batman is forced to sign an agreement to not set foot in
Gotham for seven days.
Determined to stick to his word, Batman comes up with The
Flying Batcave, a huge flying surveillance helicopter, packed with
crime-fighting gadgets.
The cockpit is fitted with pilot seats which convert to
‘Whirly Bats’. Behind that is the large ‘Observascope’ screen, along with a
giant magnifying glass!
Housed inside the strange looking craft is a compartment
filled with an array of observation screens monitoring Gotham City below.
There's a garage with a mini version of the Batmobile; a trophy room; sleeping quarters and a galley.
There’s also a giant claw and electromagnet, as well as a miniature
submersible.
There’s illuminated bat signals either side of the hull, and
it can create a cloud around itself to sneak up on the villains.
All in all it’s an atomic age marvel with a touch of TARDIS!
I've never seen the Flying Batcave before, Scoop. Must admit I really like the colour, shape and design. It's quirky and cool :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a new one on me Tony.it is a unique design, very fifties with an eye to emerging technologies. I think it's the CCTV surveillance aspects that intrigue me. We take it for granted these days but it wasn't something that happened in the fifties and early sixties.
ReplyDeleteThat is uber kool Scoop - I've never seen this before!
ReplyDeleteEven though it's an odd looking thing it has got appeal, Ed.
DeleteGreat post Scoop - I've really enjoyed all your Eaglemoss Batman Automobilia posts - Can you confirm how many models there were from the Adam West TV/Movie era - I make it about 10 - I'd probably have missed some without your guide ! As for the Adam West era, I can't believe they missed the Penguin Submarine from the movie! Outside the Adam West era I was fascinated by the one from the "Live stage show" - what was that all about and how did the model look ? Finally, if you got the whole series how are the chances of a group shot of them all - I can't imagine how you'd display such a mighty collection ! Thanks for an excellent series of posts - Best wishes - John Swan
ReplyDeleteThanks John.
Delete1966 Batman stuff. Off the top of my head, there's the Batmobile,the two Batcycles; Batboat;Batcopter;Black Widow bike;Joker mobile; Penguin mobile; and the Kitty car.Can't think of another,have I forgotten one? The Penguin Sub would have been a great addition. Some people wanted a model of the bat chute recovery van, and someone even suggested the Alf cycle!
As to a group shot,I can't see it happening as there's over eighty models,they'd all blend into one :)
It appears that, for sheer variety, Eaglemoss has all other manufacturers of Bat vehicles beat by a long shot
ReplyDeleteThere are some unique models Ed. Apart from the '66 stuff I do like the Batmobile from the graphic novel, The Dark Knight.
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DeleteI just got this for my birthday gift. It and the Bat-Train are goofball treasures to me, items that could only have existed in the era they emerged from. I will say, the Corgi collection from the Mid-2000's did give Eaglemoss a run for their money in terms of variety. I have a PDF of their never-released 2006 collection which would have included the 'Child Of Dreams' Batmobile, very similar to the Batman: The Return mobile which Eaglemoss did release. I ran across a bank made up like the Red Batphone. Unfortunately for what I wanted, it seems to more resemble the version they used inside the 66' version, rather than the one in Bruce's study kept beneath the cake-plate.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Yeah, the Bat- Train is an odd one, which like the Flying Batcave not many have heard of. I suppose that could be said about the batphone which most would more easily recognise from the TV series.
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