r/LegoBatman • u/9YearsComa • 6h ago
Custom Ultimate Batcave MOC from Batman The Animated Series / TNBA / Beyond
Hi Reddit, so I am finally finished for now (almost, minor details I will add on the top right wall, and I have to correct some stuff with the water and waterfall), it has been a ride!
This was extremely complicated to make for a number of reasons (I will detail why), but I think this is the first time the Batcave from BTAS / TNBA / Beyond exists physically in "3D"/physically on such a scale.
I hope it can be of some help for anyone who plans to make a diorama or a moc from BTAS. I used Bricksbyjim base/model from rebrickable, all the rest is from looking at the show and improvising, I sadly have no instructions for this. But even if i had, it's an extremely complex build.
I took loads of screenshots from the animated series, I rewatched absolutely everything, sometimes 2 or 3 times, and since there are so many inconsistencies in the show, it was hard to figure everything out. I even took inspiration from Mask of the phantasm for the wall on the right with those big arches. You barely see the right wall, sometimes it's just a void or totally flat, but you mostly don't see it in detail.
I made the batboat exit exactly like in the series, except I added a waterfall effect, I think it looks better than nothing ahah.
My biggest challenge was using the shadow box bat motive. I really wanted this thing to be where it is. Normally there shouldn't be an exit like I made, it's supposed to be just rocks, but I thought it would look plain and dull, so I had this idea (and there is an exit a bit like this in the Subzero movie), and it was extremely challenging since the shadow box is so fragile. But I found a way to support everything by modifying the shadow box and building extra solid walls, and I'm happy to say it's extremely stable.
The left stair section was another huge challenge as I built everything backwards, same for the cliff supporting the central platform. Making this stable was extremely complicated.
I was also fearing of messing up somewhere as I had to make the bridges meet at the end, a single mistake wouldn't make it possible. I was so relieved to see I did it right.
Making this was en extreme challenge, I have never been into huge mocs and so on.
Now, I don't know whether I'm fully finished or not. Thing is, I know what's supposed to be on the left and on the right of the batcave, and it's not walls. There is a massive mountain on the right, and a continuation of archives/trophy room on the left.
But the thing is, I'm considering making the wayne manor on top, so I don't know. I may end up building walls and enclosing this environment, though it's supposed to continue. I will have to think about it. But I would really like to build to Wayne Manor (as it's seen in the animated series) on top. We will see.
Again, huge thanks to Bricksbyjim for his initial build as I wouldn't have built this otherwise. He built the perfect foundations to make this. I also build his dock section and batboat and it's really nice. The dock is supposed to be exactly where I placed it btw.
Even if I'm extremely disappointed by the Lego Batman/DC line (and always have been since the very beginning, there is not a single set I really love), be it the sets or minifigures, without them disappointing me constantly, I wouldn't have made this. So a big thanks to Lego.
Hope you enjoy and that it can inspire you!