Sed ut perspiciatis, unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam eaque ipsa, quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt, explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem, quia voluptas sit, aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos, qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt, neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum, quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci[ng] velit, sed quia non numquam [do] eius modi tempora inci[di]dunt, ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit, qui in ea voluptate velit esse, quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum, qui dolorem eum fugiat, quo voluptas nulla pariatur?

At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus, qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti, quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint, obcaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa, qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio, cumque nihil impedit, quo minus id, quod maxime placeat, facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet, ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat…

Sed ut perspiciatis, unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam eaque ipsa, quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt, explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem, quia voluptas sit, aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos, qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt, neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum, quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci[ng] velit, sed quia non numquam [do] eius modi tempora inci[di]dunt, ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit, qui in ea voluptate velit esse, quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum, qui dolorem eum fugiat, quo voluptas nulla pariatur?

Sed ut perspiciatis, unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam eaque ipsa, quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt, explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem, quia voluptas sit, aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos, qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt, neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum, quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci[ng] velit, sed quia non numquam [do] eius modi tempora inci[di]dunt, ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit, qui in ea voluptate velit esse, quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum, qui dolorem eum fugiat, quo voluptas nulla pariatur?

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Internal photo:

Check it out HERE

We decided to build the diorama in this large 6ft long glass store display case. We found this case fairly affordably from a local used store fixtures supply warehouse in Pittsburgh. It came with existing lighting but we mounted new mini fluorescent lights to the interior ceiling. We are testing out a floor-plan and getting a working base floor out of pink building Styrofoam in there to make markings.

The tricky parts of this (other than, you know – actually creating all the little bits) is working within the space contained by this display case and working front to back until we get ready to turn everything around later. We wanted a platform base to give elevation for a grotto for the batboat, and to hopefully house electrical parts.

We tried to drop in a full-length base platform but I realized it would be better with two smaller ones so we can have flexibility and maneuvering room. Here we are laying out the new floorplan and test-fitting the underflooring. You can see our markings for where the grotto will be.

Marking the Batcave floor.

Laying out some goodies for a test fit.

I met Roman Schelling from Germany through the Custom Batman forum where he was showcasing a beautiful Wayne Manor he had modeled for a film. I approached him about possibly modeling some pieces for our Batcave diorama and he was enthusiastic and very graciously offered his help. He made these pieces by hand using balsa wood, cardboard, and Sculpy polymer clay. When they arrived, we were very excited. The plan is to modify a few of them and add to them. Believe it or not, though he made a TON of pieces, we still don’t have all the familiar Batcave props. What a great head start though! Thanks Roman!

Roman Schelling Created These Gadgets for our Batcave

I always LOVED the 1966 TV Batcave set. Primarily because it was real. You could see it live, two times a week when I was a kid. The comic book Batcave, on the other hand, while cool – was never the same thing twice. It wasn’t real and depended entirely on whatever artist was rendering it that week to be interesting. Consistency was not a watchword.

That said, the comic book Batcave had some pretty cool stuff that they didn’t capture in the TV version: The Giant penny, The Robot Dinosaur, the Villain Trophies, Bat Gyros…the list goes on.

After much consternation about which version we should do, my 4-year old son, Alex gave me the simplest and most obvious (and yes, most challenging) answer: Why not combine them? Take the best elements of the TV Batcave and the best features of the classic comic book Batcave and do a mash-up. Why not? So we decided to try to blend the best elements of the Batcave over the years. I have no idea how well it’s going to work, if at all. The 1966 TV guys will grumble about the Dinosaur, the comics guys will scoff at the ’66 labels on all the gear – but hey, it’s our project and this is what we’re gonna do.

My friend Mike Stutelberg, who has designed many bat-models for Horizon, Polar Lights among others, did a large scale Batcave diorama some years ago that featured a lot of the comics version, with not as much of the TV elements as we’re going to go for. But his work inspired me to think BIG. And so we’re going to steal emulate some of his work where we see it fitting into our project. When I say “we”, I am referring to my son and I. I have less and less time these days for selfish, time consuming hobby projects. This is something that we both can work on in whatever passes for spare time, and we both get to exercise design and building ideas. If you get a chance to build something, anything, even something as geeky as this with your kids – I say go for it before they turn into teenagers and have no time for you.

Mike Stutelberg's Custom 1:25 Batcave Model

Mike Stutelberg and his Batcave Model, circa 1998 (thanks to CultTVMan)

I thought it looked great and was amazed to see the Atomic Pile modeled in 1:25 scale and actually ON eBay for sale! I won the auction and when the model arrived I was amazed by the build-quality: Welded metal struts, cast resin panels, multi-media textures – it was very well done. I then realized that here was my answer. This was how the diorama model could get built – by supplementing our own work with pieces by other craftsmen. It would still be a huge, time-consuming folly, but it just might work!

I decided that I wanted to get an Atomic Pile model that was NOT anchored to a smaller cave setting like this one was, so I contacted the builder, Jim Graham and asked him to make me another one.

The new Atomic Pile would be freestanding and able to be utilized in my larger planned cave diorama. Now, how to house it, and what it would actually entail were the next questions I had to tackle.

Luckily, having a 4-year old telling you that anything, no matter how ambitious, is just what has to happen – is all you need to shame you into taking any project on.

And so, a Batcave – That’s it. It’s an omen. We shall model – a Batcave!