Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade (Complete #8)

[13doctorwho]

I bought a kit off eBay years ago of the Grapple Clamp. This prop



I built it but, I found the resin blades a little disappointing. I recently ran across it and the blades were horribly warped. I decided it needed an upgrade, what about real metal blades. I decided to cut the blades out of aluminum to replace the resin ones.

First I rough cut the shape with a scroll saw...




Then I rough cut the slots and drilled the holes...



More soon...

 

[BTTFSpencer]

Re: Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade

Me likey.

 

[13doctorwho]

Re: Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade

So, more work. I filed the slots to a better shape and rounded the edges. Then I polished the blades. It would have been better to get them done by machine, but I think they look really good for being made on a scroll saw and with a lot of filing.



I'm now working on the handle. I've sanded it and am currently priming and painting it. More soon...

 

[13doctorwho]

Re: Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade

End of the weekend update.

I painted the handle flat black. When it's completely cured I'll clear coat it to protect the finish.



I test fitted the blades to see how it was looking. The round cap that sits over the posts that hold the blades still needed work so I left it out of the picture...



Now I have to wait a few days before I can clear coat the parts, then it's off to final assembly!!!

More soon...

 

[MattgomeryBurns]

Re: Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade

Very cool. All of those props from Batman are so well designed.

 

[gregday]

Re: Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade

I'd be interested if you ever decided to do a run of these.

 

[MattgomeryBurns]

Re: Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade

I'd be interested if you ever decided to do a run of these.

Same here!

 

[13doctorwho]

Re: Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade

It's finished!! Here are some pictures of the finished prop. I've very pleased with how real it looks with the aluminum blades.

 

[MattgomeryBurns]

Re: Batman Forever Grapple Upgrade

It's finished!! Here are some pictures of the finished prop. I've very pleased with how real it looks with the aluminum blades.

View attachment 812653 View attachment 812652 View attachment 812651

Looks great man! So smooth. Are you thinking about making the hand attachment?

 

[ryan1989bats]

awesome!!

 

[13doctorwho]

Thank you for the comments!!

 

[pastadude]

I love this prop, but the resin kit that came out was so, SO far off from the original... I snapped photos of it when it was at either the WB exhibit or SDCC, and realized the kit (wherever it came from) was pretty bad... I ended up doing the same thing you did, but I had the arms laser cut in plastic and then completely rebuilt the handle and the launcher base. I do love these props, and your replicas of this and the torch are awesome! Let me know if there's any more you might be interested in tackling, I'm pretty sure I'd be able to help out in one way or another ;-)