Showing off my SHAMELESS-GEEK-side in a whole NEW way! (for me anyway!)

 

Besides 'brain-storms'--- stuff to do with my most FAVORITE fictional-character of ALL TIME  takes up a LOT of  'thinking-space' in the 'ol Loydster-noggin! Heck, MOST of the 'brain-storming' has to do with him (OR his various gadgets & vehicles!) too!

If you've been checking in here with me lately, you'll know that I recently mentioned the complete TRASHING of one our vehicles! Back in May, a collision with a HUMONGOUS deer, turned the fairly nice old 2001 Ford F-150 'Super-Crew' pick-up I'd been driving--- into pretty much SCRAP! 

Ah well, that's one of the kinds of 'twists & turns' that life can sometimes throw at you! Although, it SURE seems like it's been happening a LOT to us Ferrells!!!

Having to sell the truck for junk, I ended up having to fall back on another of our vehicles (and thank the good LORD that we had it!)-- a kinda-beat-up / WELL-worn 2004 Honda Odyssey mini-van. Not the most 'exciting' mode of transport in the world, and it's definitely seen better days! But, it's mechanically sound, and still runs pretty well! MOST important, it's getting me back-and-forth to my job! Otherwise, life would be even MORE full of those aforementioned 'twists & turns' than we could probably handle around here at 'Supreme Ferrell Headquarters'!

Anyhoo-dooky, after a little under a month of driving it 'as is', I decided to a do a bit of 'fixing up' on it-- mostly 'cosmetics'--- since, as I said, it's in pretty decent mechanical shape! I gave it a good sanding all over (it has the 'peel-and-fall-off' paint-problem, that a lot of early 2000s Honda vans have! So... LARGE areas of 'exposed' factory primer were showing, all over the body--giving it a WEIRD, 'shaggy-polka-dot' look! YUCK!), and went over the whole thing with a matte-finish 'colored primer'. Not exactly 'beautiful'.... but WAY better than it's previous appearance!

One of the very FIRST things I decided to add to it, after my 'back-yard-paint-job'--- to show-off the 'shameless-geek' side of the 'ol Loydster---- (and because it just made me giggle when I spotted it on E-bay!), was this NEAT-O 'custom license plate' and frame for the front bumper!---

Little did I know, after bolting that item onto the 'old Battle-Wagon', that it would lead me into the decision to throw even MORE 'geek-tastic' items onto to it--- as perfect proof that not ONLY am I PROUD of my 'Bat-fandom', but now---- the old van may STILL be an old van, but at least it sure isn't a BORING old van!!

Not that the decision to go with the items I did, was completely based on 'impulse' and without any kind of 'thinking it over'! No---  I already had been thinking of putting on some sort of stickers or decals, (even though it's something I've NEVER done with ANY vehicle I've EVER had!... More about that later!) BUT----I knew I didn't want to do just the normal, kind-of-CLUNKY looking decals or bumper-stickers, plastered all over the back windows and rear-bumper of my vehicle! 

I wanted whatever I decided to go with, to be a little on the smaller side, (3 to 4 inches at the largest!) and near the bottom and edges of mostly the rear-windows of the van. Something that wouldn't really catch somebody's eye, unless they were behind me at an intersection, or passing the van in a parking lot! Something that would hopefully make other folks giggle to themselves, and bring a smile to their face! (Not to mention make ME smile, every time I glance at the van!)

That's when, thanks once AGAIN to the wonders of E-bay, (and others-- more on that shortly, too!) I discovered the WAY-COOL items known as 'transfer-decals'! Now, I've seen these things on other vehicles in the past few years, but didn't really understand how they worked. OR-- after I'd done a bit more research on them--- how EASY they are to put on the windows of your car! 

The first two, shortly after arriving in my mail box-- were popped into their spots, in about 20 minutes or so, on a Saturday morning! Check out how THEY turned out!----

By the way, the kinda-hard-to-make-out license plate frame says: 'Ain't pretty, but it's paid for'!

                         ---AND-- here's what they look like, up close!---

I also snagged some NIFTY decals for the rear side-windows! The passenger side is simply a smaller version of the 'Bat-symbol', without the 'ellipse' (or--'oval-shape'!) surrounding it. Check out this MONDO-cool one for the driver's side though!----

'ol Bats 'emerging from the shadows'! The decal made me think of all of those COOL Neal Adams or Don Newton-drawn comics I read, way back when I was 're-discovering' Batman comics in the early-to-mid 80s! Just a VERY NEAT-O image!

Now, what kind of 'TRUE-Bat-fanatic' would I be, if I didn't at least TRY to find another spot or two, to place SOME kind of decals that show my LOVE for my ALL-TIME favorite 'Bat-ride'? (If you don't know that it's the '66 TV show-version--- BOY-HOWDY, you just HAVE NOT been paying attention to THIS blog!)

Thinking that finding a decal representing that exact version of the Batmobile was going to be simple, turned out to be all-the-way WRONG! I had to do some SERIOUS digging around, to find a source that would supply the teeny-tiny-sticker version of that LEGENDARY Bat-vehicle I wanted, to slap onto what's now becoming known--- as the 'GEEK-wagon'!

Finally, by searching around on Etsy--- another NIFTY source for this kind of 'NERD-related' - type stuff---- I finally came across one of the sources for some VERY cool '66 Bat-ride' decals! A little business known as 'The clothed eye' hooked me up with the first set, which I immediately started putting to use! 

One went on the cover for a little Samsung tablet I use for goofing around on, when not on my trusty lap-top! The other ended up in THIS spot, near the top of the rear-window!-----

VERY cool decal, for only 3 INCHES wide!

Next on my agenda, was finding a slightly larger set of decals of the '66 car, to go onto the area near the bottom-front of the windows, on the van's sliding doors. I wanted those to be around 4 - 5 inches wide. Not TOO large, but still easy to spot by the other drivers at intersections and in parking lots, etc., like I mentioned earlier!

My source for those decals turned out to be this ULTRA-nifty on-line service, known as 'Sticker Mule'! You upload pretty much ANY kind of design--- as long as it's pretty 'straight-forward' and simple-- and they'll stream-line it a bit further, let you check out a 'proof' of it. (you can even submit changes you want to make in the design at this stage, until you're happy with the design!) Then they produce it, and mail however many copies of it in 'decal-form' to you that you want! How cool is THAT?!?  Here's the design I uploaded, which was just an image I grabbed on-line, and tweaked a little!----

                           

I ended up paying a bit higher price, because I only needed the two decals (one for each sliding door). BUT-- still, it only set me back around 20 smackers-plus-postage. For a TOTALLY unique set of decals, I didn't figure that was too bad!

At any rate, here's how the final product turned out--- this one's now mounted-up on the driver's side sliding door-window. (the other one-- on the passenger's side-- is identical, facing the same direction---the front of the van-- meaning it had to be the REVERSE of the 'driver's side' decal!-- VERY tricky stuff for an 'over-fifty'-type like ME to remember! Luckily, I did! I'm pretty proud of the results!)------

Yes, I'm a bit disappointed that the 'Bat-mags' couldn't be reproduced, complete with 'Bat-spinners'---on the decal (TOO small a detail, they said!), and that the side 'body-line' under the car's side-fin also didn't show up! STILL though, a very NIFTY and UNIQUE decal! Over-all, I'm a happy camper! 

 

One more NIFTY little decal--- and I do mean LITTLE--- this thing is less than 2 inches wide!--- This one is mainly visible to just me, (on the bottom-right side of my windshield) as I'm cruising down the road! Something that's called a 'chase' sticker. Folks mostly slap these around the edges of (the inside of) their windshields and rear-windows. I also snagged this one from 'The clothed eye' on Etsy. They have several VERY fun 'Batman-related' stickers! (ALL only an inch or two wide / tall!) Including: the '60s TV Bats & Robin, climbing up a teeny-tiny 'Bat-rope'!

The itty-bitty '89 Bat-ride really caught my eye though, and I've gotta admit, it's just a BLAST glancing over and seeing it as I zip back and forth in my drives to and from work! (an other wise pretty DULL drive!)-----

Now, as I was saying before, in the past I haven't been much of a 'bumper-sticker' -- OR window-decal kind of guy! That's STILL true for our main vehicle, that the wifey also drives. But---- the the mini-van had to be forced into service as my 'schlepping-back-and-forth-to-work' transport! AND, let's face hard facts, it's kind of a BLAH set of wheels--- I figured I'd try to add a bit of fun GEEKSTER-related identity to the old beast! 

For me--- this is something I haven't done before!--- and it's just been NEAT thinking about and planning, where to slap all of these 'Caped Crusader'-related decals onto my 'work-ride'! Besides, as with everything that's GEEKY-NERD-OID-related that I do--- it sure brings a smile to my face! As they say, a smile's WAY easier on your face, than an 'ol scrunched-up frown, RIGHT?

Don Newton, the somewhat overlooked comic-art MASTER!

Don Newton, sometime in the early 70s. One of only a TINY handful of pics I could dig up of the man! AND---yes, that IS a (home-made!) 'Captain Marvel' costume he's wearing! 'Cap was apparently Mr. Newton's favorite comics character. More about that, down below!

It's time once again, gang--- to hop into the 'way-back' time machine, and have a peek at just what I was REALLY digging and groovin' on, circa 1984-1986 or so! That GOOF-BALL time, between graduating high school, and my enlistment into the USAF!

Among the more positive things that happened to me during that time-period (trust me, there weren't that many! Let's just say it was a pretty miserable spell for me--- trying to figure out what to DO with my life, and all that kinda stuff!--- and leave it at THAT!)-- was my re-discovery of the JOY of reading and collecting comics! 

During high school, I'd moved away from reading / following the adventures of my childhood heroes, to more of the things--- DOPEY high-school kid that I was--- that I felt were more 'adult' in nature! Things like: pursuing relationships with young ladies, dreaming of my first car, what jobs / 'careers' to look for / look into, after high school, etc...! ( In other words, BORING 'ol 'grown-up stuff'!) Man, was I in a big, hot rush to be 'all grown-up'!-----

The then-19-year-old Loydster and his FIRST ride! A '73 Mercury. (Just look at the GIANT pile of HAIR on my already OVER-SIZED noggin!) A short year-or-so before re-discovering my passion for comic books and the heroes of my little-tot days! Working for my first 'real' paychecks, as well as saving-up for that first vehicle, took a BIG priority, over following the adventures of the heroes from my childhood!

It was fairly shortly--maybe a year or two--after high school, and during my first steps into the world of 'trying to earn my own living' / trying to venture out on my own--- that I fell back into the habit of reading the exploits of the characters I'd ALWAYS loved! ---Even during that silly 'high-school-semi-adult' period! (Just didn't stay up with the comics!)

It turned out that all of that 'earning a living' stuff, was a pretty GRINDING and fairly TEDIOUS experience! Comics were the PERFECT 'antidote', or --- a temporary escape-- from at least SOME of all of that!

SO---I began to try, (as stated above, around early-1984 or thereabouts!) for really the FIRST time, to build a 'serious collection' of comics, focusing on those aforementioned 'childhood favorites'. Batman (of COURSE!) was my MAIN focus, as he'd ALWAYS Been my number ONE favorite character (well--DUH! he STILL IS!)! 

It was during that 'slow-build-up' of my 'Bat-collection', that I also discovered the absolute WONDER, that was the artwork of Mr. Don Newton! A guy who VERY quickly became one of my ALL-TIME favorite 'Bat-artists'! Oh, but it would take years--- no DECADES--- before I would learn just how much More versatile, talented, and yes-- downright PROLIFIC--- this artist REALLY was!

The apparently RARELY photographed Mr. Newton, (apologies for the CRUMMY pic-quality! Again, it's one of the very FEW images I could find of him!) and a Newton-penciled image of the guy I most associated him with, back in the late 70s / early 80s! It would take me DECADES to realize how much MORE (and just how MANY more characters!) the man had actually drawn!

Let's jump in and move forward with our trusty time-machine for a bit--- to just a couple of years ago, in fact--- when it's the current era of the-GRAY-whiskered Loydster! I stumbled across some fairly extensive coverage, in one of my FAVORITE comics-related mags 'Back Issue'-- of Mr. Newton! 

Issue number 19 of that eye-opening magazine, gave details of the artist's life, his (pre-comics) career as BOTH a high school art teacher, and nearly LIFE-LONG comics-fan & 'fan-artist'! He drew HUNDREDS of images for the covers of a number of 'fan-published' magazines, before finally breaking into comics as a pro.

I was also ignorant of  a number of his early art-assignments as a pro! One of his earliest 'pro-gigs', was as the regular penciler / cover-artist, on 'The Phantom' for Charlton comics. Amazing fact: for NO extra pay, he PAINTED the covers of every issue he penciled! For eight issues, from 1975 thru 1977, fans of 'The Ghost who walks' were treated to BEAUTIFUL covers, like THIS one!! (The FIRST issue featuring Don's art, by the way!)---

Now, SOME of the info about Mr. Newton's association with the character of Captain Marvel, I knew about. Like him being the artist on the character from around '78 - '82, for example (the SAME period of time he was also drawing all those 'Bat-tales' I was DIGGING on so much! Like I said, the guy was PROLIFIC!). What I wasn't aware of, 'til reading that 'Back Issue' article, was that he was also a LIFE-LONG 'Cap-fanatic'

Along with producing numerous pretty SNAZZY pieces of 'fan-art' of the good Captain, (see below!) Don also created his own Captain Marvel costume, wearing it proudly to comics conventions and other fan-gatherings! From what it says in the article, the gig drawing 'ol Cap, as well as the rest of the 'Marvel family' & related characters, was INDEED a dream come true for the artist!

While hunting around for those elusive actual pictures of Mr. Newton, (kinda hopeless! There's just NOT hardly ANY in existence!) I instead stumbled across a number of VERY cool pieces of art he created over his life time! Including the NIFTY Captain Marvel piece below! Also amazing, is that this is apparently a 'private piece', not done for a comics cover or anything! Cap looks like he's about to just leap right off the canvas!-----

While not having the 'photo-realism' of the paintings of Alex Ross, Don Newton's paintings still pack a powerful punch all their own! There's a sense of action that's 'about to happen' in this Captain Marvel piece!
This and the Phantom painted cover above, give you a sense that the characters are 'poised and ready for ACTION'! Even though those characters may be standing completely STILL in the moment captured in the paintings!

Once again, the 'way-back' machine zooms us back to the days of a MUCH younger Loydster-- with a LOT more (darker) hair! Back when I discovered this 'Newton guy,' who was penciling the Dark Knight's adventures when I'd dived back into actively collecting comics. Something about the artist's drawings just reached out and grabbed me back then!

His Batman seemed just a bit more dynamic, his women were ALL beautiful! Even Robin seemed to be more of a 'real' young man, under Mr. Newton's pencil. Other artists have done an excellent job of penciling the Caped Crusader, some with a LOT more flash and 'showiness' than others! But--- Don Newton? The man made my ALL-TIME favorite character just feel more 'alive' to me! Just check out this NEAT-O panel, from a Newton penciled / Dan Adkins-inked Bats story!----

It's like a 'still-frame' from a movie, RIGHT? Don Newton's Batman was graceful, sleek, and athletic! Yet he also retained a 'classic', almost 'Golden Age' look!

AND--- here's a couple of my favorite covers, from Newton's run on 'Batman' and 'Detective Comics'! Sadly, the artist did only a small handful of covers during his time penciling the slightly less than 80 or so 'Bat-stories' he produced! That's kind of a shame, 'cause it's OBVIOUS that he had a real knack for composing an 'action-packed' cover image!---

Yet again, let's look at more samples of Mr. Newton's Batman. This time within the comic's pages themselves! The full-page 'final panel' image below, is actually STILL one of my ALL-TIME favorite drawings--- by ANY artist--- of the 'Dynamic Duo'! (Inks by Alfredo Alcala, by the way!) ---

Check out these uncolored pages, with inks ---once again here, by Alfredo Alcala (who, along with Dan Adkins-- in my opinion-- was one of the BEST inkers of Don's pencils!). Just BEAUTIFUL stuff!---

I think I've pretty much proved my point! That Mr. Don Newton was INDEED a talented artist, who did an OUTSTANDING job as penciler on the tales he produced--- for all TOO brief a time--- of the Gotham Guardian! 

Sadly, shortly after I discovered this wonderful craftsman, and his equally beautiful art--- Mr. Newton passed away, at the ALL-too-YOUNG age of only 50 years old--- in August of 1984. BUT--- he left behind a good-sized body of work, that is STILL just as fun to look at and be amazed by! Even nearly 40 YEARS after his passing! I just recently re-read a good-sized chunk of his run on the Batman series, and, needless to say--- his art's just as much of a BLAST to look at now, as it was all of those DECADES ago!

I'm also planning on--- in the hopefully fairly NEAR future, tracking down more of the other comics featuring his craftsmanship-- in particular, his runs on the Phantom & Captain Marvel! I wonder what  he would think, of comics fans enjoying his art nearly 4 decades after he left us? I'd like to think--- since he was such a BIG fan of comics himself--- Mr. Don Newton would be proud of THAT kind of legacy!

One MORE image of this man's AWESOME artistic skill! One that's MOST appropriate to finish-off this post, considering how much I closely associate Mr. Newton with that guy in the 'Bat-suit'! Another 'private piece', done before he broke into 'the pros'. This one featuring a 'Golden Age' version of the character! Here's hoping it inspires even MORE comic-art fans to hunt down the work, of this kind-of-UNDER-appreciated artist! He was INDEED a TRUE comic-art MASTER!---- 

This post is dedicated to the memory of Don Newton (1934-1984). May his art CONTINUE to be enjoyed and cherished for GENERATIONS to come! 

Loyd's BONUS video-clip!! --- # 48!! --- 'Huey ROCKIN' it, with 'The World's Most Dangerous Band'!!

 

The old 'ROLLER-COASTER' of life just KEEPS herky-jerking me along folks! Yet ANOTHER vehicle accident (not to worry, I managed to come out of it uninjured!--- Sadly, I can't say the same for the vehicle! It was left pretty much a TOTAL loss!), and OTHER things--- are keeping my life.... well, let's just say... 'interesting'! SO-- another 'shorter-than-usual post', once again!

Anyway--- while life can SURE beat us up, kick us around, and just generally leave us feeling like we're being picked on by a mean old school-yard BULLY--- we can STILL find PLENTY of bright-spots along life's way! One of the BRIGHTEST spots for me? Why, MUSIC--- of COURSE!

Fortunately, I found JUST the RIGHT kind of toe-tappin', and head-boppin' CURE I needed for at least SOME of my blues! While doing one of my regular cruises around YouTube, I came across a CLASSIC little piece of  'Rock 'n Roll history'! Huey Lewis, along with PART of the guys in his band, The News--- joining up with 'The World's Most Dangerous Band'-- on the old NBC David Letterman show!

This was in 1984--- Huey and The News were at the TOP of the charts, with the album: 'Sports'--- STILL one of my ALL-TIME favorite albums, by the way! One day, at SOME point in the (hopefully-not-TOO-distant!) future, I'll put up a post about this somewhat over-looked and under-appreciated band (who I saw LIVE in 1987, by the way! They, of course ROCKED!)! Anyhoo-dooky-roo, here's Huey and some of his guys, along with Paul Shaffer & company--- BURNIN'-up 'The Heart of Rock and Roll'!!---

ATTACK of the RETURN of the SON of the GHOST of 'Dr. Franken-Loyd'!!

 

As I've stated MANY-a-time before, here on the 'ol bloggy-wog-a-wing-ding---- I have a SERIOUS love for, and SHAMELESS nerdiness about the Batmobile! Starting back in the fall of 2020, I returned to doing my own, custom-versions of the Bat-ride. (Something that, if you want to scroll back and look through my old posts for proof-- I've done a LOT of, over the years! Go ahead, and give a look-see if  you'd like!-- I'll wait!---) The 'Bat-customs' this time around though, are in 1/64th scale. I call them my 'Bat-Hot-Wheels'.

Why do these things in such a TEENY-TINY scale, you ask?  A couple of reasons, actually! Number one and probably most important--- especially in the just over 2 years that we've lived at our current address--- is that 1/64th scale vehicles DO NOT take up very much space! Either when you're tinkering on them / thrashing-away at the customizing--- OR-- looking for a way to display them--- OR--- stashing them into storage. When They need to be stored, they can be quickly and easily rolled up into a little tissue-paper, put into a fairly small box-- and safely tucked-away for display later!

Secondly--- and just about as important as the above reason--- besides scribbling-away in my various 'Superhero-related' coloring books--- they're something to keep the 'ol Loydster's mind and hands busy. In other words, it's a creative activity that helps me stay SANE, yet doesn't take up hardly ANY space! (Again, a PRICELESS thing at our current digs!)

Like my wifey has said before though, my little geeky tinkering can sometimes turn into a bit of an obsession! 8 of the 'little-bitty-Bat-hot-rods' featured below, were actually done in the last 4 months or so! But-- hey, like I said-- it's 'do something creative or go all-out-BONKERS!' SO--- to hold on to what little is left of my 'sound mind'.... guess I'll just keep breaking out the E-6000 glue, clear plastic sheets, and spray paint--- and continue doing these little 'Bat-conversions'!

First off, let's look at the 'micro-Bat-ride' collection as a 'group'. Just about ALL of them are tucked-away into the above-mentioned tissue-paper and little boxes!--- They're safe and sound until I can once again put them on display at a (HOPEFULLY near-future) later time and place!--- Where there will be at least adequate space (again-- HOPEFULLY!) to show them off!-----

If you've been following along with me for very long, here at the Blog-a-wog-a-wig-wag--- You'll remember that I've covered the customizing of the first 3 of the 'Bat-Hot-Wheels' in earlier posts. You can scroll back and refresh your memory, if you'd like! Like I said above, I'll wait while you do that!-----

Now that you're back... Let's take a look at each of the remaining 9 'rinky-dinky-Bat-customs'. Along with the usual 'Loydster-chatter' / comments-- about the tinkering I did on each one! Oh, and-- I'll share the original names of the 'source cars' down below, after the 'car show'!------

1.  This little number is one of the few in this growing collection, that isn't based on an actual Hot Wheels car. The 'base car' comes from the 'Metal Machines' line of toys. I saw it in a 'Big Lots' store toy-section--- for a buck-- and immediately started seeing it 'converted' into 'ol Batsy's ride in my twisted little mind! The usual clear plastic-sheet in the right spots, some shiny black paint (with blue trim / pin-stripes, of course!)-- and that's the results above!

2.  This one's the 2nd vehicle I've customized (oddly enough!) ---from the 'Marvel characters' line of Hot Wheels! This one based on the 'Scarlet Witch' character. I think it turned out pretty nifty!

3. The 'Bat-ride', based on more of a 'muscle car' groove--number ONE. It's long, low roof-line and 'pinched'-looking front-end, are what made me visualize a classic big-block-powered 'pony-car'-based Batmobile!

4. The Batmobile based on a pretty exotic 'concept car'! Yep, sure enough--- I know it's been done before! The Lincoln Futura is the BEST example of that sort of thing (not to mention the MOST copied / riffed-on body-style of the Batmobile--ever!). The shape and profile of this thing just SCREAMS: 'Hey, drive me REALLY FAST!!'

5. Another kind-of 'concept car'-based vehicle! This one was also the first time I tried making TINY little photo-copies of 'Bat-symbols' for the wheel-centers. These were from the '66 Batmobile. It's over-sized wheels, and THICK, almost coffin-shaped body, make it look a little BRUTAL! The results turned out fairly NEAT-O, I think!

6. 'Bat-ride' as muscle-car, number TWO! The 2nd one in this group based on a 'Metal Machines' car. It looks SO much like a classic Mustang, I just HAD to see what it would it look like all 'Bat-TRICKED-out'! Also, my 2nd try at putting teeny-weeny little photo-copied 'Bat-symbols' into the wheel-centers.

7. This one's a little more on the 'cartoony'-looking side! AND--- with GOOD reason, being that it's based on the Hot Wheels 'Lightning McQueen' vehicle, from the 'Cars' flicks! I'd been looking at the body lines on various versions of this little number, and thought--- 'well, it's kind of exaggerated in it's proportions--- BUT-- with a little tweaking here and there (including lowering the roof-line quite a bit!) it would STILL be a VERY cool version of the Batmobile'! Another set of photo-copied 'Bat-wheel-covers' for this one too!

8. 'Bat-ride, with a muscle-car-GROOVE', number THREE! Also number 3 in the collection (so far, anyway!), that's based not on a Hot Wheel, but a 'Metal Machines' car. This one had a little Dodge Challenger---along with a little Chevy Camaro--- body-lines kinda 'mashed-up' into it! It also had a HUGE, out-of-proportion blower sticking WAY-up out of the hood! 

Out came the trusty cutting tool, (actually my son's 'Dremel' tool! Mine died on me several years back!) utilized to CHOP out that ugly blower, and smooth-out the body-lines of this now-SLEEK-looking 'Bat-hot-rod'! (the hole left behind was covered by a little piece of the ALWAYS handy sheet plastic!) The big, beefy-looking headers-thru-the fenders and side-pipes make it look like the real BEAST that a Batmobile should be!

9. 'Bat-ride-based-on-a-concept-car', yet AGAIN! Even though it would be TOTALLY impractical in 'real life' (would ANY of these cars REALLY be 'practical', IF they were indeed 'REAL' cars???)!  The way the 'Bat-fins' 'sweep' all the way from near the front fenders, to the rear of the body--tall enough to COMPLETELY cover the side window-glass (Batman would be unable to SEE anything on either side!)--- just looks VERY 'zoomy-zoopy', and --- yes--- COOL! who CARES about 'practical'? with the Batmobile, the STYLE is EVERYTHING!

I based this one on a pretty beat-up Hot Wheel, by-the-way--that I found at a yard sale for a quarter! Not a bad investment, I'd say!

Last, but certainly NOT least--- here's what the original little 1/64th scale rides looked like--- before I started in with all the sheet plastic, glue and black or blue paint!-----

The original names for the 'mini-Bat-customs': 1. 'Toxic' ('Metal Machines' car) 2. 'The Scarlet Witch'  3. 'Count Muscula'  4. 'Velocita'  5. '16 Angels'  6. 'White Fang' ('Metal Machines' car)  7. 'Lightning McQueen'  8. 'Poison Ivy' ('Metal Machines' car) 9. 'Ballistik'

 

So, who says something FUN has to be anything in big sizes or packages! If you're somebody like the 'ol Loydster-- meaning a regular old 'working stiff' who pretty much lives from one payday to the next--- you don't have the 'disposable income' / big bucks for big, king-size geeky stuff anyway!! We 'average-working-nerds' manage to figure out how to 'get our geek on', in our own little affordable / 'budget-friendly' ways.

Besides, like I've also said before here--- these kind of things, after they're all up on a shelf (or WILL be, in the hopefully NEAR future--- in another 'man-cave' I'll one day be hanging out in!), ALWAYS bring a big-GOOFY-GEEKY-grin to my face--- every time I look at them! And THAT, my friends--- is the BEST reason to keep doing the slightly crazy, 'mad-scientist'-type stuff  that I do!

Loyd's BONUS video-clip!! --- # 47!! --- ANOTHER 'Bat-fanatic' builds ANOTHER cool 'big BLACK car'!!

 

  

Life just keeps on being a BUSY / HECTIC / INSANE whirl-wind for the 'ol Loydster folks! Hence, once again--- I've gotta put up a bit of a 'shorty post'! I've actually been chipping away at what will EVENTUALLY be a COUPLE of REALLY neat-o / FUN posts, but... things being the way they are--- it'll be NEXT month (at LEAST!) before I can get EITHER of them FULLY put-together and 'ready for prime-time'!

MEANWHILE!----The on-going TREASURE-TROVE of ULTRA-GEEK-TASTIC and just out-right FUN stuff to be discovered on YouTube, continues to be the 'gift that KEEPS ON giving'! Especially if, like me, you're looking for something that fits EXACTLY into JUST what a bloggy-woggy-wang-a-dang-thang like mine is ALL ABOUT! (AND--- you don't have the time to put together a FULL post!)

So--- feast your eyes upon this completely INSANE, custom built, FULLY-FUNCTIONING replica of the '66 Bat-ride! A guy in Ohio, with an OBVIOUS love for the CLASSIC vehicle, (and REALLY deep pockets / UNLIMITED 'disposable income'!) put this baby together! I also DIG that he has '66 Batman' doing the driving and demonstrating all the gadgets! VERY COOL!-----

Loyd's BONUS video-clip(s)!!--- # 46!!--- 'Classic-Cougar-Commercials'!

 

Ah the WONDERS and TREASURES to be found on YouTube! While (virtually) cruising around there recently, I stumbled across a couple of NIFTY old ads for one of my 'top-5-or-so' FAVORITE vintage rides!--- The Mercury Cougar!

The 'Classic Cats', (especially the '67 through '70 models!) in my mind anyway-- are EVERY bit as COOL as their cousins-- the Ford Mustangs. Virtually the SAME vehicles 'under the skin', Cougars sometimes don't get the respect and appreciation (not to mention mass-media hype and attention!) I think they deserve! Maybe if good 'ol Steve McQueen had driven a dark metallic green 'Cat, instead of that 390 GT 'Stang in the movie 'Bullitt'--- things might've turned out quite a bit different! (There have been LOTS of  other movies & TV shows with 'Stangs prominently featured--- but you get the idea!)

Not that I'm moaning & groaning about classic 'Stangs getting attention! They ARE pretty much my ALL-time favorite 'vintage rides' after all! I just feel that the Cougars need to be treated maybe a little less like the 'unwanted step-children', and more like the COOL and SLICK-looking close-cousins that they REALLY were!

Anyhoo-doody-roo, here's a pair of 'classic ads', for a pair of  VERY CLASSY cars! The '68 and '69 model Cougars! The picture and sound quality isn't that great, but our TVs back in those days weren't that great either! Just pretend it's 1968 or '69---your 'outdoor antenna' isn't picking up the local station all that good (maybe a storm-system's causing interference!)--- and enjoy!---