Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack. It's small due to the scale..

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (1/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (2/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (3/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (4/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (5/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (6/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (7/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (8/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (9/10)

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version (10/10)

Underside

Front detail shot

Side window area

Pop the top open and you get a bare, empty cockpit.

Spoiler section

Side view

Big rear wheels. Chrome rims, nice.. lol

Rear nozzle section

Front wheels seen from below

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version - Flat and glossy underside. The rainbow wave pattern isn't a camera artifact — you a

Flat and glossy underside.
The rainbow wave pattern isn't a camera artifact — you actually see that kind of iridescent reflection in person too.

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version - Alongside the Batman Begins version Batmobile, which you could call the standard re

Alongside the Batman Begins version Batmobile, which you could call the standard release.

The kit structure is 100% identical — the only difference is the coating.

A Batmobile really does need to be black..

Riding the massive success of The Dark Knight, it looks like Bandai picked up a new license for the Batmobile, and so the Dark Knight version Batmobile has been released. As anyone who's seen the film will know, the car itself looks exactly the same as the chunky Batmobile from Batman Begins.

I was thinking, hey, it's the Dark Knight version — maybe a bike pops out from the front or something. But nope, it's 100% the same runners and parts with an identical structure. The only difference is a glossy black coating. One interesting thing though — the product title on every runner is clearly marked "Dark Knight version." Since movie kits are licensed for a limited production run, it looks like they just updated the runner titles to clearly distinguish the license.

Just like the Batman Begins version, the scale isn't large so the kit itself is pretty small and compact. In terms of value for size, ¥4,500 is quite steep. Sure, that's just how the EX lineup tends to be, but the licensing fees must've really been something..

The Dark Knight version's coating is a glossy black finish aimed at full mirror-like reflection, and it does shine brilliantly. That said, this kind of coating picks up fingerprints easily, so be careful when handling it. Also, for parts that need gluing — like the spoiler — you'll need to scrape off the plating first before the glue will hold properly.

As you can see in the photos above, there's a rainbow wave-like iridescent reflection on the plated surface — and it's not just in photos, you actually see that wavy rainbow sheen in person too. It seems to be due to the coating material itself, and honestly a pure deep black gloss would've looked better, so it's a bit of a shame.

Anyway, unlike the Begins version with its somewhat ambiguous bluish molded color, the Dark Knight version is a proper black, which makes it feel much more like a true Batmobile. If you can get past the small size for the price, it'll be quite a memorable item for Batman fans — especially Dark Knight fans. Above all, this is a limited production licensed release, so if you've got your eye on one, you'd better grab one and stash it away in your collection while you can.. ^^

EX Model Batmobile : Dark Night version | 2009.2 | ¥4,500 | 1/35

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.