Cool Stuff: Fan Built Tumbler Working Replica

Bob Dullam built a full size working replica of The Tumbler from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. The whole thing was built from scratch without blueprints, using only photo references found online. The total cost is an estimated $50,000-$70,000. He did the project for fun, and does not plan to sell. “You wouldn’t want to sell this if you had one, believe me,” Bob writes

“It’s a once in a lifetime project. I did this alone, no help. I have found with other things in the past that if you have help, the help often does not get it right, and you have to do it over 95% of the time, plus I like to work alone. All parts are scratch built, cept’ tires, rims, brakes, engine, etc.. meaning all bodyparts, brackets, just about everything external on the car.”


There is still more work to do. The interior is not finished, but Bob promises that it will look as close to the interior shots from Batman Begins as possible.

“It feels like climbing Mt. Everest half way up, you start to wounder if this wasn’t a big mistake. Then you realize that you are too far to quit. In fact, quitting is now not an option. Because if you do quit, you will have set a precedence about yourself, and all up to this point will become a huge disaster. You get a little farther, now you look down and view is breathtaking. So on an emotional level this car is giving back to you, what you gave to it. It makes you start to think that, If you can do this, then you can make anything happen if you really want to. It revitalizes faith in yourself. This is not supposed to be possible. Not at this social/economic level.”


Up next, Bob wants to build a Batpod. From what I understand, the bike from the movie was actually impracticably engineered, and only one guy in the world was able to ride it. Hopefully Bob decides to modify the original designs a bit for usability. And yes, he’s already begun work on a Batsuit. So if you see a vigilante dressed as Batman riding the tumbler on the nightly news, we know it’s just Bob.

Cool Stuff is a daily feature of slashfilm.com. Know of any geekarific creations or cool products which should be featured on Cool Stuff? E-Mail us at orfilms@gmail.com.

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via: SHH Forums

  • Whiskey
    You think that's something? You should check out the other work he and Bobby C do.
    http://www.dullam-causey.com

    I'm particullarly fond of their Jack Nicholson bust.
  • John Freeman
    Wow... Just wow!
  • Adam B.
    now THAT'S a fan, one with way too much money as well, haha.
    bad ass.
  • Christopher Edwards
    That dude should be building stuff like for films, not jsut for fun.
  • BA
    That's amazing...
  • Donivan
    I built one of those but I designed it to look like a Ford Festiva to be incognito and confuse the bad guys.
  • nice.

    Question: does that Batmobile car in the movie actually work for real? Does it run on an engine?
  • Coral
    WTB!
  • that is so freaking awesome... the things people come up with.. Imagine seeing that thing behind you.... loitering lol
  • Brian from OR
    Yeah it actually works but it is terrible on gas. It has a really small tank and the interior is non existent. Shoots of it opening up are shoot on a non moving batmobile. Alot of this info was in the behind the scenes Batman Begins book.
  • YoungZe
    Un-fucking believable.
  • I love this man and I want to be his nephew. I need to be.
  • maremagnum
    Impressive! Most impressive!
  • Josh
    wow. this nukes the fridge a bit. Because there's no way you can post anything better than this in Cool Stuff.
    ..at least I don't think there is...
  • jomama
    i am quite jealous. i want to know how is doing the bat suit
  • GregoryV
    That's so gangsta.
  • T-1337
    Is it me, or does the Batsuit have a Bat-Crotch-Protector in the last pic?

    Other than that, nice job, Bob.
  • lefthandedpanda
    I just finished engineering my Vespa into a batpod. I glued wings and glitter on it and wrote batpod along the side with a sharpee. Exact likeness. It looks delicious.
  • Danny
    this is so fucking cool! I know bob!

    check out his other works at well guy, this guy is a fucking genius. he's doing some ones right now, that my manager would kill me if I spoke about. but he's insane. check out his batcave :D

    great job peter
  • Godly.
  • Agusto Paprika the 3rd
    Unreal.

    Way to go , Bob!
  • Holy Shit amazing, Hollywood should hire him
  • Brody
    Well isnt he just the coolest dude that lives in the suburbs.
  • orange cinema
    that's the coolest f-ing fan art i've ever seen. it'd be badass if he started using it for vigilante justice!
  • StarBlazer101
    Man, I wanna see that goin down the freeway takin out cops! lol!
    And is it me, or does the batsuit have a boner! lmao!
  • El Bart-O
    Holy Crap!!!! have you guys seen his other work?!?!??!?!?! it's freakin amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I almost flipped out of my seat when I saw that Joker bust!!!!! can't wait to see it finished :D
  • freemachine
    Looks terrible. The front tires are way too small and the rear tires belong on a monster truck. Their sculptures are pretty amazing, but the Tumbler = FAIL.
  • optimusprime
    I want one. "freemachine", so you are saying that the Tumbler is also terrible in the movies.
  • Logan
    @ freemachine


    Either you're a troll, or just a fucking idiot. The front and rear tires are the same ones used in the movie. The fronts are made by Hoosier Tires. The rear are just Super Swampers. It's a safe bet you're just jealous, like the rest of the people who have seen these pics.
  • Jelohac
    I hope I don’t come off as a hater, here, I mean it’s impressive what he’s accomplished (if you’re looking to impress a 12 year old boy).

    He looks so sad, standing alone and barefoot in his barn, posed next to his Bat mobile tires.

    And what are his plans for the bat suit? Is he going to drive around the neighborhood as Batman?

    It’s one thing to think to yourself, “Hey wouldn’t it be cool if…..?” but what would dive a grown man finish that sentence and think it’s actually a good idea?
  • Captain Awesome
    Jelohac,

    You are a troll. A bad one at that. This guy and his friend do these replicas for a living. If you go to the website someone linked in the first post. It shows the guy actually makes a living off of making cool shit like this for other people and companies.

    I appreciate your pseudo internet psycho analysis though.
  • StarBlazer101
    @freemachine
    well i don't see you coming up with anything better!
    STOP HATING AND GET MONEY NIGGA!
  • Peaches
    "...it’s impressive what he’s accomplished (if you’re looking to impress a 12 year old boy)."

    LMAO
  • ---J-E.-,R,--Y --B-U.-T-L-E-R
    Looks more like Porcupine Man's ride. What's with the random bars jutting out all over the body. Why do all of that hard work, and then just ruin it by sticking clamps all over the body to hold it together?

    We can only hope that he resists arrests once he takes this street illegal monstrosity out for a spin and catches some death by cop action.
  • Jelohac
    @ Captain Awesome

    Nope, not a troll. just giving my valid opinion like everyone else, here. If you took the time to read my post, you’d see I clearly stated that my intent is not to come off as a hater.

    Also, if you'd like to read the original post it clearly states, "He did the project for fun, and does not plan to sell." So I guess he does have some very special plans for his homemade Batcar and matching superhero costume.

    Nice try though. Keep up the good work being Awsome!
  • evergreen
    I guess it does come in black.
  • I just have to say this is awesome.
  • Wow thats soo coool!!
  • Emerson
    Does it come in black?
  • ziggi
    holy shit i NEEED one soo bad!!!!!!!
  • SlappyWhite
    Judging from a lot of the comments here, It seems like there are a lot of jealous untalented folk running their mouths. The guy made a replica and you are bashing him? Try to make something like that yourself. Oh, You can't? Why? because you never got off your worthless behind and got a job or an education? So it's okay to make fun of someone because you feel like you are so damn superior. Must be nice to be perfect.
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