In 1949 Batman hit theaters again for his second (and final) serial, starring Robert Lowry and Johnny Duncan. It also "starred" a '49 Mercury convertible, serving as both Bruce Wayne's car (top down) and the Batmobile (top up). Coincidentally, the Danbury Mint released a 1949 Mercury that was a near-perfect match for the car used on-screen.
Packaging
Standard DM packaging: safe & strong, but not much to look at. The model comes in a plain white box with "Limited Edition 1949 Mercury Convertible" written across the top. The model is secured between two styrofoam pieces, with both tops (one "up top," one boot) packed separately. The car itself is protected by plastic sheets closed in the doors, hood, & trunk, foam blocks in the front seat and in the trunk, and a strip of slightly sticky plastic aross the nose to protect the hood trim.
Casting/Paint
A solid metal body, with plastic accessories, vinyl tires, bright chrome trim, and a real cloth top. The paint is excellent overall, though there is a slight mark on the hood from one of the plastic sheets that needs to be polished out. The brightwork is all flawless, including a photoetched "Mercury" across the front of the hood. The interior is finished to represent the tan leather interior option, and has a ton of small detail work. The dash face, door panels, and seats are expertly detailed, including ledgible gauge faces and all the appropriate trim pieces. the floor is flocked from the rear seat to the floorboards, where you'll find detailed gas, brake, and clutch pedals, plus the correct high-beam dimmer switch. Both top options look great, though the detail work on the "up top" version is truly outstanding, with detailed bowx, moldings, and a clear window with chrome trim. The trunk opens to reveal a bumper jack, wrench, and removable spare tire on a ribbed "rubber" mat. Closer inspection shows the appropriate manufacturer's tags and even the fuel tube have been accurately replicated. Under the hood is an excellent replica of the 110hp Ford Flathead V8. Everything from the seperate horns to the voltage regulator on the firewall has been expertly reproduced, even the braces on the underside of the hood are properly reproduced. All of the appropriate wires and hoses are in place as well.
Features/Accessories
In addition to the above-mentioned spare tire and tops, the hood, trunk, and doors open, with door hinges that they swing into the body just like the full-sized car. The visors are both positionable, and the radio antenna can be raised & lowered smoothly. The front wheels steer with the steering wheel, and the suspension is functional as well.
Accuracy
Everything about this replica is excellent. All of the details are nice & delicate, and everything from running gear to top latches looks accurate. The paint is an accurate-looking rendition of Ford's Midland Maroon Metallic - a deep dark red with just a hint of purple and a very fine metallic texture (thanks to 1949's Robin for confirming this to be the correct color used in the serial). Scale is a dead-on 1/24 as well, though accurate scaling is expected from Danbury. The only thing that makes this replica "wrong" for a Batmobile is the fog lights. From what I remember of the serial, the car used there did not have these lights...however, it has been a while since I've watched the serial all the way through, and since there were six different cars used during filming, it's possible that one of the "alternate" cars did have them.
Overall
The limited nature of this particular replica (my car is #4,867 of 5,000) means that this is a bit pricey. However, it is truly one of the finest replicas of the 1949 Mercury available, and the only one anywhere that offers the optional "up top" look. It was a fun bit of luck to find a car that so perfectly captures one of the rarer Batmobiles in Batman's history, and an added bonus that it could be displayed in either "civilian" or "professional" mode. Definitely recommended for fans of the car, and it can help fill in your Batmobile shelf as well.
Edited by spencer1984 on 02-12-2006 09:04
RE: Review: Danbury Mint 1/24 1949 Batmobile -
Posted on 01-12-2006 19:20
Posts: 726 Location: The Shadow Of St Albans Abbey Joined: 28.07.06
Really good review Spencer.
I'd have preferred something a bit more Batmobile like (as we know it), but it's a nice model - and I know Danbury's stuff is quality.
I've never seen either the 43 or 49 season of Batman. I'd like to see them - but the reviews I've read, added to stills I've seen have put me off actually buying it. It just doesn't look great to me (I know some people say it's a product of it's time etc, but so was George Reeves Adventures Of Superman - it's only 3 years later - & it's excellent!)
RE: Review: Danbury Mint 1/24 1949 Batmobile -
Posted on 01-12-2006 23:15
Thanks! Yeah, I know this is a bit of a "cheat," but I always liked the '49-'50 Merc and was happy to see one that so perfectly matched what was used in the serial - so I figured I'd share the fun. Plus, it looks so darn nice with the rest of the Batmobiles.
They're kind of fun to watch as a sign of the times, but definitely don't hold up as well as some other hero stories. If anyone is on the fence, I'd recommend renting or borrowing them before you buy.
RE: Review: Danbury Mint 1/24 1949 Batmobile -
Posted on 02-12-2006 04:38
Posts: 726 Location: The Shadow Of St Albans Abbey Joined: 28.07.06
Call me stupid (!) but I get it now!
I thought Danbury had released this as a disappointing, off the wall choice of Batmobile! & that was what I meant by "I'd rather have seen something more Batmobile like" (sorry, the mild criticism was of Danbury - not you! I didn't realise it was actually a model that you yourself had simply spotted as being part of the 49 season!). I didnt' know they'd done a new Batmobile and it did strike me as a surprise!
I'd love to get the 40s Danbury Batmobile - I've looked on Ebay but for something of that size and price, it needs to be a UK seller (it'll just be too expensive to have it shipped internationally) and a very highly rated profile seller. If I saw one that fell into both those categories, despite the cost, I'd just buy the bullet and go for it.
Edited by real-dark-knight on 02-12-2006 04:39
RE: Review: Danbury Mint 1/24 1949 Mercury "Batmobile" -
Posted on 02-12-2006 09:15
No problem, and you're right - I didn't make that very clear. But no, this was just me finding a '49 in the right colors that actually included the "up top" as an option. Thanks for pointing that out, though - I reworded the title and first couple of lines to hopefully make it better.
Any idea what shipping directly from Danbury would cost you? I bought this through their web site, and it was a flawless transaction (secure site, easy-to-use, and fast shipment). Plus, if you go through the site, you can do thier payment plan insead of having to pay everything up front as you would with eBay (which makes it a lot easier to afford).
RE: Review: Danbury Mint 1/24 1949 Mercury "Batmobile" -
Posted on 03-12-2006 01:24
Posts: 726 Location: The Shadow Of St Albans Abbey Joined: 28.07.06
Thats got me thinking.............
Danbury (UK) haven't had the Batmobiles even listed on their site since I've been looking for one (I reckon it was about 6 months ago) so I just assumed they'd sold out.
However it just never occured to me to check out Danbury in the States!
I've just looked and they're still showing both of them! I've emailed them to see if they ship to UK and what the cost is. I buy lots of CDs and DVDs from the States - don't know what shipping will be for a Batmobile though! If it's not a stupid amount of money I'm gonna do it.
I'll ring Danbury UK on Monday just to double check there's no way they can supply for me though (I suspect it'll be a no however). It's even possible that with the ? being so strong against the $ at the moment, even with shipping across the ocean, it could still be slightly cheaper to get direct from the States...........
I love all my Corgi's (I sound like the Queen), but that would definitely take centre stage in the collection.
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