2004 Gotham City CVPI

[cyrix9445]

As one of my hobbies, I make replica movie cars. I've done a complete replica of the #12 Jurassic Park Jeep from the first JP movie, and run the forum JurassicParkJeep.com. I am also in the process of making the Ford Explorer from the same movie.


Now, a side project I'm working on is a replica GPD car from the new Batman movies (The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises). For use in private events, conventions, etc.


Example:





I am looking for some feedback/advise on keeping this legal (this is not my daily driver, but I do not want to trailer the car to events/shows). I've done a lot of reading on replica/restored police cars and the precautions to consider, but most of these are vintage vehicles, since this is a "modern" police replica it will be higher profile. My intentions on the project are not to be "wackerish" or an impersonator. I plan to take every measure to ensure that.


Here's what I'm thinking:


1. Lights - The lights used on the GPD cars are Whelen Liberty's with clear lenses. This SHOULD be to much of a problem since the lens' are clear, BUT I want to be safe and disconnect power + use a lightbar cover as well, this will serve a dual purpose as it will protect the lightbar from UV rays, however it seems covers are now hard to find, might have to make one custom. If I HAD too I could figure out a way to make it quick disconnect, but with the amount of wires I think it might be kinda bulky.





2. Siren - Currently the siren (Whelen CenCom) is disabled via USB programming. Only PA remains active.


3. Paint Scheme / Markings - As I mentioned before about replica vintage police vehicles, the common practice is to make the Police insignia out of magnets OR use magnetic sheets to cover them up. Thoughts? As for the paint scheme, there are no blue/while Police vehicles in my area, the only cars with a two-tone paint job are the FHP cars. Should be fine there.


Here is a picture of the GPD car I am planning to replicate:


[Broken External Image]:http://www.batman-movie-buzz.com/wp-content/uploads/batman/large_TDK - GPD Vehicle-ydpkhyp9.jpg





Here are some pics, still need to clean/finish the wiring.























EDIT: Completed!











Installed Equipment:


Whelen CenCom light/siren box.


Whelen SA314 Speaker with center mount.


Whelen UHFPOS headlight flasher


Panasonic CF-29 laptop with Panasonic Dock


Motorola Spectra Radio (VHF)


Motorola Spectra Radio (UHF)


Motorola Speaker


Federal Signal 8 Lamp Halogen Signal Master Traffic Advisor


Gamber-Johnson 2 Shelf Trunk Tray


Police Console


Unity Spotlight


Whelen Liberty Lightbar


Setina PB-400 Pushbumper


Setina Prisoner Partition


Mobile Vision 7 Dash Cam


300 Watt Power Inverter


Pantex PocketJet 3 Mobile Printer


Electric Shotgun Lock


Sierra Wireless GPS Modem w/ antenna

 

[Tom]

Cool project! I wish I could have a few cars to just do projects on

 

[Mrlunchbox]

Here is a link to a guy who makes custom lightbar covers. Sorry if you already know about him... I don't know if you do or don't


Police Svc

 

[Respondcode3]

If your looking for exact info on Gotham cars. Talk to Bob Veto at Veto Enterprises, Inc. - Police Car Sales & Equipment Specialists They did the cars for the Chicago filming . Bob is a huge supporter of the police car hobby and has his own show every year. I have known Bob over 20 yrs and even bought 2 cars from him. Way back when.

 

[cyrix9445]

If your looking for exact info on Gotham cars. Talk to Bob Veto at Veto Enterprises, Inc. - Police Car Sales & Equipment Specialists They did the cars for the Chicago filming . Bob is a huge supporter of the police car hobby and has his own show every year. I have known Bob over 20 yrs and even bought 2 cars from him. Way back when.

Wow, they even have a Gotham car in their gallery. Thanks for the lead!

 

[cyrix9445]

Here is a link to a guy who makes custom lightbar covers. Sorry if you already know about him... I don't know if you do or don't

Police Svc

Hey thanks!


Yea, I've found that before while I was searching. I wonder how much it will cost to make one, seems like they are made to order.

 

[strobecrazy]

Awesome thread already. I'm a fan of the Batman series, Do you attend Dragon*Con? If I had them money and time I would like to replica this on a dodge charger, even tho TDK/TDKR never used chargers.


EDIT: Some links I have in my favorites. Might help ya.


Gotham Set - a set on Flickr


Gotham City Police Department | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[cyrix9445]

Awesome thread already. I'm a fan of the Batman series, Do you attend Dragon*Con? If I had them money and time I would like to replica this on a dodge charger, even tho TDK/TDKR never used chargers.

EDIT: Some links I have in my favorites. Might help ya.


Gotham Set - a set on Flickr


Gotham City Police Department | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I haven't been to DragonCon yet, but it looks like fun. I've already contacted them and I am getting registered for the 2012 parade!

 

[strobecrazy]

I haven't been to DragonCon yet, but it looks like fun. I've already contacted them and I am getting registered for the 2012 parade!

Nice, Maybe I'll see you there.

 

[RL1]

Thumbs up for having a cool hobby and take every step possible to stay legal. Personally, I think if you have 'police' removed or covered and have 'out of service' on the bar, you don't have to disconnect it, but IDK how FL law reads. Be sure to keep us updated with more pictures!

 

[Respondcode3]

It is always best to cover any police markings, lightbars and display an "out of service" or 'Show car' placard in the window while traveling. It is cheap insurance of lessening any hassles with the police. The cencom can be programmed for tones. My suggestion is to put a master fuse for everything in the trunk and leave the fuse out while traveling.

 

[cyrix9445]

It is always best to cover any police markings, lightbars and display an "out of service" or 'Show car' placard in the window while traveling. It is cheap insurance of lessening any hassles with the police. The cencom can be programmed for tones. My suggestion is to put a master fuse for everything in the trunk and leave the fuse out while traveling.

Yea that's going to be the plan. I'll probably just end up unplugging or pulling the fuse to the CenCom, that should pretty much do it. I was considering putting "Show Car" or "Film Replica" or something on the magnetic covers for the markings, maybe also put a description of what movie the car is from and contact email address for inquires about events etc, but I like the idea of a placard, might keep the outside from looking like a rolling billboard.

 

[Reddx911]

I would suggest a reset-able circuit breaker under the hood of the car near the battery as a kill switch for when you are driving the vehicle. A 50 amp would do more then enough to kill all that equipment in the vehicle.

 

[Respondcode3]

Why a breaker under the hood. He has plenty of power for that Cencom in the trunk at the feed on the power on the passenger side

 

[cyrix9445]

Why a breaker under the hood. He has plenty of power for that Cencom in the trunk at the feed on the power on the passenger side

There's a power point in the trunk? I downloaded the 2004 modifiers guide, but haven't had a chance to really look it over. I knew it was an option to have power in the trunk, figured mine didn't have it but now I'll check.

 

[Respondcode3]

passenger side fender inside the trunk look under the trunk liner.

 

[Hoser]

Besides the cover on the lights, Ive seen Out of Service Magnetic signs that you can place on the doors.

 

[108FP1]

Just put all of the show equipment on a Cole Hersee master switch from an ambulance or fire apparatus. I think those things are 190A or something like that.

 

[cyrix9445]

Made a video of my progress, the interior is 95% done, just have to clean up some wiring and figure out a way to mount the VCR vault in the trunk... it's just resting on top of the gas tank area, I want to be very cautions before I go drilling. Any safe ideas?


So far I've installed the prisoner cage, mobile vision camera, pro-gard gunlock, and trunk pack. The police chatter you hear is the Chicago PD streaming from the internet to an amplified Motorola speaker. I figured it would be appropriate since The Dark Knight was filmed in Chicago. lol


Up next week is paint, vinyl, and lightbar. Still have to order a cover for the lightbar, and the Setina push bumper.

 

[Respondcode3]

Mount the base of the VCR on a piece of plywood just larger than the vault, Then mount the plywood to the back wall of the trunk and trunk hinge support with some heavy duty brackets. No drilling into the gas tank. We have done hundreds of cars this way.

 

[FreshDave04]

The kid/man-child within me LOVES this!

 

[strobecrazy]

The kid/man-child within me LOVES this!

:iagree: Looking good, love the siren.

 

[fleetcomm]

It looks like a fun project.

 

[ajccss]

This was a quick picture I snapped while seeing them filming the new Batman movie in NYC on 59th St. and 5th Ave.

 

[RES347CUE]

Pretty cool

 

[ttjustin12]

AWESOME! wish i had the time/money to just play around like this! lol

 

[5309]

this is awesome

 

[cyrix9445]

Well, it took a little longer then I was expected, but it's done! And just in time for the movie opening on the 20th.











Thanks to Len at Mr. Stitch (MrStitch/Home) I got my custom fit lightbar cover, super easy to take on and off. I also have (not pictured) custom fit magnets to cover all police insignia.

 

[FreshDave04]

Very sharp!

 

[uniden278]

That came out awesome!

 

[JennyCop]

Nice Ride! came out great! :thumbsup:


This is what I use on my patrol car along with my lightbar cover while driving it to events. I would do something similar if I were you, to cover the word" Police" on your back doors, hood and trunk. You could go with


OUT OF SERVICE


MOVIE CAR


or


NOT IN SERVICE


MOVIE CAR


instead of historic vehicle of course. The NOT IN SERVICE on mine are reflective for night time driving, it helps the public and the police identify my car immediatly as a none active unit. They are magnetic and I just slap them on my fridge when not in use, as you can see. I would use "Movie Car" its easy to identify, and less confusing than "show car" ,"Film replica" or" Film car" , Trust me, from experience, the average Joe is not smarter than the average bear, so use simple terms!

 

[TritonBoulder47]

Very nice bro... You should contact your local theater and tell them that you'll display this at the opening for the movie... That would be sweet!

 

[EMT-BLS]

Here's an idea for your next project....the Batmobile. With a Vision SLR.

 

[cyrix9445]

Thanks guys!

Nice Ride! came out great! :thumbsup:
This is what I use on my patrol car along with my lightbar cover while driving it to events. I would do something similar if I were you, to cover the word" Police" on your back doors, hood and trunk. You could go with


OUT OF SERVICE


MOVIE CAR


or


NOT IN SERVICE


MOVIE CAR


instead of historic vehicle of course. The NOT IN SERVICE on mine are reflective for night time driving, it helps the public and the police identify my car immediatly as a none active unit. They are magnetic and I just slap them on my fridge when not in use, as you can see. I would use "Movie Car" its easy to identify, and less confusing than "show car" ,"Film replica" or" Film car" , Trust me, from experience, the average Joe is not smarter than the average bear, so use simple terms!

Very true, I have the magnets cut, but I haven't put lettering on them yet. I'll probably do "OUT OF SERVICE - MOVIE CAR" and I'll also put my website on there so people can check it out.

Very nice bro... You should contact your local theater and tell them that you'll display this at the opening for the movie... That would be sweet!

Yea, I'm talking to a few theaters now, hope it works out!

Here's an idea for your next project....the Batmobile. With a Vision SLR.

Haha, that would be an expensive car!

 

[strobecrazy]

EPIC! awesome! I'm jealous.

 

[Phoenix_Rising]

I say this in the most professional,loving, and respectful way I can. I hate you. Seriously, that's sick. Well done,evet get bored of owning it,drop me a line :thumbsup:

 

[cyrix9445]

Thanks for the kind words all!


It's time to move on to another project; I've just listed the car on eBay!


Ford : Crown Victoria Police Interceptor in Ford | eBay Motors

 

[RL1]

Just looked at the photos again and have to say (also again) fantastic job. Love that the radio even have a GCPD channel and the cones were marked property of Gotham.