Check out Hot Toys 1/6th scale The Bat from "The Dark Knight Rises" Seen @ STGCC 2012

The film "The Dark Knight Rises" introduces a vehicle that has been compared with the Batplane, dubbed "the Bat". In designing the Bat, Nathan Crowley approached it as if it were an actual military project, emphasising the need for it to "fit into the same family" as the Tumbler and the Batpod. The final version of the Bat takes its design cues from the Harrier Jump Jet, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and the Boeing AH-64 Apache. Chris Corbould described the Bat's size and shape as presenting a major challenge for filming given Christopher Nolan's emphasis on practical effects over computer-generated imagery. In order to make the Bat "fly", it was variously supported by wires, suspended from cranes and helicopters, and mounted on a purpose-built vehicle with hydraulic controls to simulate movement.

Hot Toys 1/6th scale The BAT makes its presence felt at the 2012 Singapore Toy Game & Comic Convention (STGCC 2012) Hot Toys Booth which opens from today September 1 (10am till 11pm) till tomorrow September 2, 2012. This vehicle is HUGE and collectors and Batman Fans have been clamoring to have a 1/6th scale version of their own. But alas, this might not happen after all.

Overheard from a very reliable source coming from the horse's mouth (Howard Chan, who was at the booth for the set-up) itself, Hot Toys will NOT be producing this 1/6th scale The Bat due to the sheer size and complexity of the project. A 1/12th version might see the light of day but don't expect the 1/6th scale version to happen. That's the biggest news I've heard so far. So scroll down and enjoy the pictures of Hot Toys 1/6th scale The Bat as STGCC 2012 might be the only place you are going to see this 1/6th scale The Bat from "The Dark Knight Rises" up close ;p

The Hot Toys booth at Singapore Toy Game & Comic Convention (STGCC 2012) is a showcase in itself. To spend that much money to put up this exhibition booth for just two days is really counting the cost. Impressive, no doubt but after the event is over, everything is torn down and thrown away.

Isn't that Howard Chan himself on the right of the picture?

Back to The Bat! Since watching "The Dark Knight Rises", I've never seen any other version of The Bat up close and this Bat vehicle from the movie certainly impresses with its sheer size. Looking at how the vehicle has to be held up and the size of this monstrosity, it is no wonder Hot Toys has decided against producing a 1/6th scale version.

Click on the pictures for a BIGGER & BETTER view

First of all, the price for this thing would be unimaginable. Probably like buying a small car. That and the amount of issues due to damaged parts during shipping and handling that Hot Toys will have to handle certainly is NOT worth the money at all.

It is good to know that Hot Toys can make this if they wanted to because they already have produced this prototype one-of-a-kinf model but I believe this will be their show piece and NOT sell piece because of the problems they are going to face with customers. Anyway, the man himself has spoken so that's the final word right?

Scroll down to see more pictures of this 1/6th mechanical wonder called "The Bat".

Some close-up pictures of Hot Toys 1/6th scale The Bat from "The Dark Knight Rises"

And a look at the under belly of the beast that is "The Bat", with the two large propellers on either side of the undercarriage.

Check out MORE posts on Hot Toys exhibits at STGCC 2012 and other 1/6th scale figures on display to follow...

Hot Toys The Dark Knight Rises: 1/6th Selina Kyle / Catwoman Collectible Figure Preview

Following the great response of The Dark Knight Rises movie and our movie-accurate collectibles, Hot Toys is proud to present the highly anticipated female character - the 1/6th scale Selina Kyle/ Catwoman Collectible Figure from this movie.

The collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Anne Hathaway as the prominent character Selina Kyle/ Catwoman, highlighting the movie-accurate head sculpt, hair implantation, highly detailed costume and accessories.

Hot Toys - MMS188 - The Dark Knight Rises: 1/6th scale Selina Kyle / Catwoman Collectible Figure specially features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle / Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises movie, Newly developed head sculpt with eye mask and movie-accurate make-up, Real fabric hair implantation in long brown straight hair. Approximately 28 cm tall, TrueType body with over 28 points of articulations. Seven (7) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including: One (1) pair of relaxed palms, One (1) pair of fists, One (1) pair for riding Bat-pod, One (1) right palm for holding pistol. Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Costume: One (1) set of one-piece black patterned jumpsuit with belt, One (1) pair of black high-heel boots

Weapon: One (1) pistol

Accessories: One (1) pair of googles, Figure stand with patterns of water drops, with Selina Kyle / Catwoman nameplate and the movie logo

Special Edition – Bonus Accessory (for selected markets only): One (1) 1/6th scale Batman mask

Artists: Head Sculpted by K.A. Kim, Head Painted by JC.HONG, Head Art Directed by Kojun
Release date: Q1, 2013

Preview Art-Figures AF009 1/6 scale City Police 12" Figure with "Sin City" Bruce Willis likeness

Sin City, also known as Frank Miller's Sin City, is a 2005 crime thriller film written, produced and directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez. It is a neo-noir based on Miller's graphic novel series of the same name. The film is primarily based on three of Miller's works: The Hard Goodbye, about a man who embarks on a brutal rampage in search of his one-time sweetheart's killer, killing anyone, even the police, that gets in his way of finding and killing her murderer; The Big Fat Kill, which focuses on a street war between a group of prostitutes and a group of mercenaries, the police, and the mob; and That Yellow Bastard, which follows an aging police officer who protects a young woman from a grotesquely disfigured serial killer.

In "That Yellow Bastard", Bruce Willis plays ageing police officer John Hartigan who tries to stop serial child-killer Roark Junior (Nick Stahl) from raping and killing eleven-year-old Nancy Callahan (Makenzie Vega).

Art-Figures AF009 1/6th scale City Police 12-inch Figure (slated for October 2012 release) is basically inspired by Bruce Willis' John Hartigan character from "Sin City". Besides coming with a 1/6th scale head sculpt that will have Bruce Willis likeness, the 12-inch figure will also be attired in 1/6th attire / apparel worn by the character from the movie.

Art-Figures AF009 1/6th scale City Police 12-inch Figure will come with 1/6th scale authentic likeness head sculpt of Bruce Willis as John Hartigan, 12-inch male figure body, white underpants, blue shirt, blue tie, blue dust coat, blue trousers, black socks, black leather shoes, shoulder pistol holster, Ruger Blackhawk single-action revolver, Walther P22 semi-automatic pistol with pistol magazine x 2, Auto 9 automatic pistol, M9 pistol magazine x 2.

Scroll down to see more preview / pre-release pictures of Art-Figures AF009 1/6th scale City Police 12-inch Figure with "Sin City" Bruce Willis as John Hartigan likeness

The Ruger Blackhawk is a 6-shot or 8-shot, single-action revolver manufactured by Sturm, Ruger. Ruger introduced the Blackhawk in 1955. Chambered for the .357 Magnum, the Blackhawk was a simple and strong design, and sold well.

Here we see Art-Figures AF009 1/6th scale City Police 12-inch Action Figure with the Auto 9 and Walther P22 semi-automatic pistol. The Auto 9 is a highly advanced select-fire machine pistol with a 50-round magazine used by RoboCop in the "RoboCop" movies.

Why is Art-Figures City Police figure holding RoboCop's Auto 9 machine pistol? That answer can only be answered by the manufacturer themselves and it remains to be anybody's guess.

Close-up picture of the Art-Figures AF009 1/6 scale City Police head sculpt with Bruce Willis likeness

Virtual ToyS (VTS) had released a Stone Cold Killers boxed outfit set in 2010 that is almost identical to this Art-Figures upcoming release. VTS Stone Cold Killer boxed set also came with a 1/6th scale head sculpt of Bruce Willis as John Hartigan and accompanying clothes and accessories similar to this set to be released by Art-Figures. See my post HERE for pictures and full review of the VTS Stone Cold Killer OR Bruce Willis as Hartigan boxed set :)

Sideshow Collectibles 1/6th scale Boba Fett, Han in Carbonite and 12-inch Stormtrooper escorts

Earlier conversation...
Darth Vader: There will be a substantial reward for the one who finds the Millennium Falcon. You are free to use any methods necessary, but I want them alive. No disintegrations.
Boba Fett: As you wish.

The scene: Han Solo is captured along with Leia and Chewbacca by Darth Vader after Boba Fett manages to trail them to Cloud City where he informs Darth Vader of their whereabouts. Han is tortured to lure Luke Skywalker to Cloud City where Darth Vader awaits. Vader orders a carbon-freezing chamber prepared to freeze Luke, which will hold him in suspended animation for transport to the Emperor. The process is tested on Han Solo.

Darth Vader: You may take Captain Solo to Jabba the Hutt after I have Skywalker.
Boba Fett: He's no good to me dead.
Darth Vader: He will not be permanently damaged.

Boba Fett: What if he doesn't survive? He's worth a lot to me.
Darth Vader: The Empire will compensate you, if he dies. Put him in.

Click on the picture for a bigger and better view :)

Han is frozen in carbonite and handed over to bounty hunter Boba Fett who intends to return his quarry to Jabba the Hutt for a large reward.

Click on the picture for a bigger and better view :)

This is Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Scum and Villainy Series 1/6th scale Boba Fett 12-inch Bounty Hunter Figure (reviewed earlier HERE and HERE with lots of pictures) with Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Militaries 1/6th scale Imperial Stormtrooper 12-inch action figures (also reviewed earlier HERE and HERE) and 1/6th scale Han in Carbonite by Hasbro. It's nice to be able to put everything together in 1/6th scale :)

Click on the picture for a bigger and better view :)

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (also known as The Empire Strikes Back) is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner and written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, with George Lucas writing the film's story and serving as executive producer. Of the six main Star Wars films, it was the second to be released and the fifth in terms of internal chronology. It has become one of the most popular chapters in the Star Wars saga and one of the most highly-rated films in history.

Jeremy Bulloch starred as Boba Fett, a bounty hunter who has gained infamy throughout the galaxy and is hired by Darth Vader to hunt down the Millennium Falcon. Jason Wingreen provided Fett's voice in the original theatrical cut and the 1997 Special Edition of the film. Bulloch also makes a cameo appearance as the Imperial officer who grabs Leia when she tells Luke to avoid Vader's trap.

The film made Boba Fett one of the most popular characters of the Star Wars universe. Boba Fett's air of danger and mystery have created a cult following for the character, who has been merchandised across multiple media.

The Imperial Stormtroopers are fictional soldiers from George Lucas' Star Wars universe. Stormtroopers are elite soldiers, working as the marines for the Imperial Navy, under the leadership of the evil Sith Lord and Emperor Palpatine and his commanders, most notably Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.

From the moment they appeared on the big screen in May 1997 when "Star Wars" opened, they have become one of the coolest soldiers of movie-dom. It didn't matter that they couldn't see properly through the helmet nor shoot straight when encountering the main stars / actors of the film, their all white ensemble was a treat to see ;p

The troopers' most distinctive equipment is their white battle armor, inherited from their time as clone troopers. The complete armor set completely encases the body and typically has no individually distinguishing marking (in contrast to the clone trooper armor, which typically had various colorings to denote rank or unit, stormtrooper armor has no rank affiliation).

Stormtrooper Armor has several similarieties with German World War II military equipment. The distinctive helmet has a similar shape as the German Stahlhelm (also used during the latter half of World War I). The waist gear in some ways represents the ammunition pouches of German soldiers. Another similarity is the small cylindrical shaped case resting on the lower back of the wearer. The German gas mask canisters of World War II had the same cylindrical shape and also rested on the lower back.

See my earlier toy blog posts HERE and HERE for reviews and more pictures of these Sideshow Collectibles 1/6th scale Star Wars Imperial Stormtroopers 12-inch figures. They too suffer from the weak ankle syndrome :( When a figure has a weak ankle, it falls over easily because the ankle does not support the entire body weight, which is a pity because then you have to put the figure on a figure stand all the time and that negates the realism of the figure's pose.

These 12-inch Stormtroopers are standing upright with the aid of Dragon Models Limited (DML) plastic molded figure stands which hold onto the figure's heel and helps to hold the figure up by increasing the surface area on which the feet is standing. Simple but effective :)

So far Sideshow has nailed it in terms of the armored troopers from the Star Wars Militaries Series. All the helmets and body armor as well as weapons have been pretty much spot on. They aren't very good with their head sculpts / portraits but everything else is quite good. If only they can do something about their weak ankle bodies.

Here's another look at Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Militaries Series 1/6th scale Imperial Stormtroopers. They included hands that allow you to customize either a right-handed 12-inch Stormtrooper figure or a lefty. This way, when you pose these troopers with the 14-inch tall Darth Vader, they would look symmetrical - check out the pictures of Sideshow Collectibles Darth Vader and Stormtroopers HERE :)

And finally, here's a shot of Sideshow Collectibles Star Wars Scum and Villainy Series 1/6th scale Boba Fett 12-inch Bounty Hunter Figure standing with Sideshow's Star Wars Imperial Stormtroopers. Overall, I'm quite pleased with these finished products from Sideshow Collectibles and am certainly looking forward to more from them :)

NEXT: Comparing this Sideshow Collectibles 12-inch Boba Fett Bounty Hunter Figure with Marmit 1/6th scale "The Empire Strikes Back" Boba Fett action figure and Medicom Toys supposedly 1/6th scale ESB Boba Fett Figure. How do they stack up?