The final chapter of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is here, The Dark Knight Rises, and if you're anything like me, it made you want to immediately don a cowl of your own and run around punching criminals.
Don't forget though, one of the most awesome aspects of Batman is his never-ending supply of crazy gadgets. Unfortunately for most of us, we don't have a billion dollars, nor Morgan Freeman, so we'll just have to make do with some good old-fashioned DIY tricks. Read on for a rundown of some of the coolest homemade attempts at Batman-inspired gadgetry.
The Tumbler
Perhaps one of the most surprising (although nonetheless cool) redesigns in the Nolan films was the alteration of Batman's iconic "Batmobile." Now called the Tumbler, the tank-like vehicle is equally capable of running over cars, leaping over obstacles, and housing more of Batman's tricky tools.
An intrepid designer at the SuperHeroHype forum has taken it upon himself to create a homemade version of the Tumblr, completely drivable and totally awesome.
He's currently working on the steering, and will soon move on to designing the interior to match the film version.
Grappling Hook Gun
No self-respecting caped crusader would leave home without his trusty grappling hook. Unfortunately, science hasn't quite come up with a way to store that much cable in such a small device. Still, this cool inventor wrote an Instructable on how he put together a functioning, albeit larger, version of Batman's iconic gadget.
If you're looking for something a little more stylish (and portable), Indy Mogul's Backyard FX show made one for just a few bucks worth of materials. This one's just for show, although I wouldn't be surprised if a clever tinkerer found a way to get a launching mechanism and some cabling into it.
The Cowl
Easily the most recognizable bit of the Batman costume is that pointy-eared cowl. With a little time and money, you too can strike fear in the city's criminal underbelly! This guy made his out of just $15 worth of duct tape. It might not be so great at stopping punches, but at least it looks cool!
Another costume maker took it a step farther and made one by casting a latex mold. It's a bit more complicated and time consuming, but the results look great.
Shakespeare Bust
This bit didn't make it into the Nolan version, but it was one of the most iconic pieces of the "Adam West" TV program.
Thanks to some DIY goodness from The New Hobbyist, you too can build your own, complete with a working hidden switch. Batcave not included.
Batarangs
Batman's signature shuriken don't seem very aerodynamic, but they sure look great. These Arkham Asylum-inspired Batarangs not only look authentic, but they also fold out for an extra level of coolness.
The entire project only costed about $17 and ten hours of time; a small price to pay to stop crime.
The Batpod
Batman's crazy horizontal motorcycle seems like a work of science-fiction, but creative designer SDParker and his brother managed to recreate a working replica of the bike.
I wouldn't recommend trying this one unless, well, you know what you're doing. But they have outlined their process pretty thoroughly if you're interested in giving it a shot.
Warning: A Short Disclaimer
These and any other related projects are just for fun. Please don't attempt to fight crime with your fists. Unless you are a highly trained orphan ninja with a billion dollars and Lucius Fox as your best friend, you will probably die.
Image by DC Comics
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