Batarang from "Arkham Asylum" Game

This is an instructable for making a replica of the batarang seen in the game “Batman: Arkham Asylum.” I wanted a batarang that unfolded with an action similar that that in the game. Not counting the cost of the tools, which I had already, and the paint (ditto), the entire project cost me about $17 and took perhaps 10 hours.

Step 1 Tools and Shopping List

I decided to make this prototype batarang out of Plexiglass, because a) it is easy to work b) it has no grain and doesn’t splinter or chip c) it is transparent, which helps with aligning the pieces d) it takes a metallic paint better than wood, and, finally, e) I didn’t have access to a metal-cutting bandsaw. Needless to say, you won’t be knocking any thugs unconscious with this one. You probably won’t be throwing it anywhere, either, unless you want to see your hard work shatter into bits.


Shopping list:

.093”x11”x14” Lexan (or Plexiglass) sheet
Furniture joint connector nut, ¼”-20 thread
¼” x 3/8 flathead machine screw
four neodymium disc magnets .47” x .11” (12mm x 3mm)

Tools required:

Coping saw
Straight and curved files
Power drill
Various drill bits, including a ½” spade woodborer
“Liquid Nails” clear silicone adhesive
Cyanoacrylate superglue
Two part epoxy resin
Sandpaper

Comments

[curious youth]

great ible my friend but may i ask for a link to a website you may know for cheap lexan? see i am from australia and im finding it hard to track some down

[spookylean]

Funnily enough, I am Australian too. But I live in the USA, and I bought my sheets of plastic product at Home Depot. That chain spread to Oz, didn't it? I would try there.

[curious youth]

ok then i shall look around. hopefully i can find some thanks :)
it really bugs me that alot of my creating and modding work is halted because i need to track down products that are so easily accessible in the us

[spookylean]

I know, exactly. But I'm sure I bought perspex in Australia about 10 years ago, and not online... wish I could remember where.

[EGT1984]

What did you use for the "cap" that hides the screw?

[spookylean]

I think it was the plastic pourer from a soy sauce bottle.

[bluesquirrel]

This is pretty cool! And better yet, it translates into instructions for making almost any retractable throwing-blade type thing (ninja stars, batarangs, etc etc) for a costume :D

[EGT1984]

One could even make a Bird-a-rang (Robin's version) if they wanted to.

[EGT1984]

Be sure to check for protective sheets of plastic before one transfers the pattern to the plexi-glass.

[spookylean]

Very true. I made that mistake the first time around.

[paco_91]

Thanks looks amazing!

[oud25]

im looking at coil springs from knives and stuff so it will whip out and stuff but u would have to use a stronger material probably

[seltzer10]

dude i like it you should make steel one!

[Hamzah]

yeah, I agree. but, how to install the magnet on the metal?

[devinda]

ya , isn 't there another stronger substance

[oud25]

kydex but its pretty expensive

[Gage987]

I wish the one I got with the collector's adittion opened like that

[knoxmj19]

Amen, What a let-down that piece of crap was!

[dr.zedd]

now that is gaddang good sir. would you consider doing these via commission?

[spookylean]

I appreciate it, but I just don't have time (grad school)

[mephit]

Just as a note to others looking for the furniture connector. These are called chicago screws, screw posts, or (and no, I'm not kidding) sex bolts. You can find them in nylon, aluminum, steel, etc. and flat, phillips, allen, torx, whatever heads.

[FFVIIBOY]

this so awesome

[devinda]

Good work, i am making it as a gift

[TecDroiD]

does it really work like a boomerang? i'd like to see some video :)

[katerpeter]

i'd imagin you cold fashion the plexiglass with a sander to match that of a boomerang... although i'm not sure if the abscence of a 90 degree angle will matter or not... awesome craftsmanship, two thumbs way up

[spookylean]

A boomerang has uneven wings with airfoils which is why it returns. This would not work like that (though perhaps the wings could be specially shaped... something to experiment with when I get access to a woodworking studio).

[InfiniTTTy]

Beautiful! That explains it. Thanks!

[InfiniTTTy]

I don't get how the batarang folds in half (as in the video). The pieces don't seem to allow for that kind of movement / position. Can you post some more pics (side view + folded up) or a video? Thanks!

[spookylean]

I posted some more pics on step 7. Hopefully those will explain the action better than I can in words, but essentially the pivot arm slides up and down the length of the furniture joint connector, allowing it to close.

[bartongang]

Could you post all of the stencils please?!?!? (pivot wing, fixed wing, and back peice) I am a really bad drawer lol If you could that would be GREAT Thanks

[spookylean]

Coming soon...

[spookylean]

Ok. New stencil (courtesy of InfiniTTTy) on page 2.

[InfiniTTTy]

Thanks for including my new stencil!

[lint66]

Could you use a dremil to do some of the fine detailing around the wing?

[spookylean]

I think a dremel would work well, especially if it was table mounted like a router.

[neurothing]

Excellent piece - inspired me to make a 3d printed of one out of ABS plastic using a Makerbot (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3878) - not as elegant as yours but took less than an hour. And while it doesn't loop back, it does spin nicely and flew further than I thought it would.

[spookylean]

Video?

[HomemadeHonor]

If you don't try throwing it and post a vid, I'll make one and find you.

[spookylean]

Eek. I guess I better get onto it.

[Tommy B]

Nice work!