However when it comes to the LEGO DC Batman Cowl (76182), which is a great set in its own right, you can read our review here. There was something not quite right about it, I think you know which part I’m referring too… Yep the transparent mouth cover piece!

LEGO DC Batman Cowl 76182

Don’t get me wrong I know exactly what they were going for and it does look good, but I knew something had to be done about it.

I remembered seeing a modification on Instagram, a guy called @let_them_fly_lego to be precise. He had created the prefect Batman face mod that I knew I had to implement, luckily he had documented the whole procedure and very generously offered the entire additional parts list (PDF and Bricklink XML file) for free, which can be found via the link in his Instagram bio or here.

The mod itself replaces the large transparent piece for part of Batman’s jaw, chin, and mouth, it also rearranges two narrow parts on each side of the Cowl. This is all achieved quite easily with the help of @let_them_fly_lego’s handy instruction guide, which he also shared for free via his Tiktok and Instagram Reels!

Sourcing the parts was also quite straightforward, if you use the XML file. Simply head over to Bricklink, login (or register) to your account and upload the file to your ‘wanted’ list. From there you can search for sellers, please be weary and take notice of how much the total is and how many parts they have in stock, with the top few usually being the ones to go for.

When I sourced the parts for myself I went for a seller that had 36 out of the 40 unique elements needed, as I carry a few spares and I rummaged around before hand to see what I had already. With the mod consisting of 90 parts, the price varies somewhat from as low as £7 up to £30+, so it really pays to try a few first. Even spreading the parts over multiple sellers may work out cheaper!

Once the parts turned up I sorted them into colours and made sure everything was present & correct before I got started. Laying the parts out on the table in a somewhat organised fashion works a treat especially when working from Tiktok instructions.

Luckily you can pause each video and take your time building, there’s nothing worse than feeling rushed.

The instructions were quite straightforward and easy to follow, although I personally prefer paper copies, although reading from a screen worked just at well.

The technique used for the mouth section makes for a nice surprise as it is standard brick construction, one on top of the other. The over lapping of the tan plates, slopes and tiles is so satisfying and the end result looks amazing and works so well, I especially like the angled plate that creates the ‘snarling’ expression!

The next two parts you construct are the long, thin, strips each side of the Cowl, this is where you start to reuse parts from the original set. @let_them_fly_lego has included instructions for one only, you simply have to repeat it but in mirror image, it sounds complicated but it’s very straightforward. Holding it up with the Cowl in the background helped me picture where parts should go and which way.

Please use the image below if you’re struggling. 

Following on from that we build the small chinstrap section, which consists of only a handful of parts but the usage is stunning, SNOT piece here, a curved slope there and hey-presto, a cool looking chinstrap that pops into a 2×2 plate located under the Cowl.

Now that we have all the sections built and ready to go we first need to strip the original LEGO DC Batman Cowl back somewhat, removing the narrow side panels, the large transparent mouth shield and some of the inner pieces behind all of that.

Don’t worry, it’s actually really simple and far more straightforward than you might think. I’ll be honest and say that I was dreading this part of the mod and held off for a day or so and muster a plan of attack. Mark from @brick_beat helped me out a great deal as he also aquired the mod and fancied a bash at it. He was the one that tackled the implementation first and said how easy it was, thanks Mark!

Carefully remove the Cowl from the display stand, hold the bulk of the head firmly in one hand and the stand in the other and gently ease them apart, you should end up with two parts that look similar to the image below.

Next you remove the parts I call the ‘chops’, they’re the pointy bits located each side at the base of the Cowl. They’re held on by two studs so should just drop off with a gentle nudge. Removing these parts allows you to safely pull out the group of SNOT bricks and the plates attached to them more smoothly and importantly together. 

Not pictured or documented is the removal of the nose section, this is also paramount to the successful application of the month modification. This whole section also pops off with ease. 

Again the image below shows you which pieces need taking out, before you can replace and insert the small tan plates that result in filling gaps either side.

From here you can pop the group of SNOT bricks back in, removing the top two 1×4 plates which have now been replaced with the tan coloured ones. After that reinsert the ‘chops’ and you’re now ready for fitting the mouth, two narrow sides, and chinstrap!

You can’t go wrong from here as everything fits snugly back into place, the mouth piece sits just under the nose and can only go in a certain position, the two narrow side panels fill the gaps either side of the Cowl, and the chinstrap fastens into place under the mouth, simple, right?!

An optional extra, as I see it, are the eyebrows, as these can be changed out too. Replacing the strange hinged ones we get with the original!

This involves removing the entire brow section and placing the two black angled plates directly above the eyes. I must admit I rather like the simple way these look and chose to implement them on my Batman Cowl.

Overall the modification is great and well worth implementing, it makes a cool set ever cooler whilst keeping the whole look and feel the same.

Granted sourcing the parts is the hardest part and takes the most time, but the end result well outweighs that hard work and you’re left with something that is awesome and unique.

I’ve enjoyed every second of this build by @let_them_fly_lego and it has spurred me onto look at how I can enhance other sets, not just from the Helmets line, but all sets. Adding a little creative license to your builds is what LEGO is all about!

Checkout our Instagram Reel here.

If you fancy reading our review of the LEGO DC Batman Cowl 76182 please click here.

As far as Superheroes go, be it Marvel or DC, I have two favourites, one from each comic giant. Marvel is of course Iron Man but when it comes to DC there’s only one clear choice and that’s Batman!

I’m a big fan of the newer incarnations of Batman with the likes of Christian Bale and Ben Afflect, yes that’s right I said Bat-fleck, his portrayal of the Caped Crusader is how I picture him being; big, brutish, and doesn’t back down. The warehouse scene in Batman Vs Superman is my all time favourite, the smack down he dishes out is incredible.

But anyway, where was I, ah yes the LEGO DC Batman Cowl (76182), that I picked up from an Amazon Daily Deal recently at a bargain price of just over £36, that’s a whopping saving of almost £20!

Box art front & back

The box art has the now typical 18+ branding with its all black background and minimal design efforts I’m not grumbling however as I actually prefer this and think LEGO are really onto something here,itndoes state the piece count which is a decent 410 pieces. Flip the box around and you’ll see a couple of shots which inspired the Cowl and a measurement telling you just how tall it is, which is 22cm.

Inside the box

Within the box are three numbered bags and the instruction manual, as you’d expect.

The manual features a couple of pages dedicated to Batman, the character, and the LEGO designer of the LEGO Batman Cowl itself Junya Suzuki.

It’s a great little read and gives you an idea of how the design came about…

The team and I really wanted to create something that wasn’t specific to any one version, but still captured that unmistakable essence of Batman.

Great insight into the character and the design process

Bag one:

If you’ve built any of the other LEGO Helmets, or any LEGO set for that matter, you always start with constructing the base, it’s no different here and the display stand is built first.

There are two long Technic pieces that form the central support column and gives it that sturdy feel. The base itself tents to crumble somewhat if a tiny pressure is placed unevenly upon it, which is what happened twice to me whilst building.

The basis of the Cowl is also started here in bag one with a lot of SNOT (studs not on top) elements used, these will of course come into play later.

I like LEGO’s use of the window frames to build up the interior quicker, instead of upping the cost and using unnecessary bricks, wise move!

Bag one – display stand and Cowl supports

Bag two:

We seem to be flying through this set, but containing only three bags in total its hard not to.

Bag two has us build the sides and back of the Cowl, giving it that rounded head shape which involves a lot of plate layering.

It’s not too difficult and you’ll soon have both sides of the Cowl formed and stuck onto what you built in bag one.

The most interesting and enjoyable part of this bag was putting together the ears, being such an iconic shape and part of the character it was great to see them come together and finally added to the Cowl base. 

Bag two – Bat ears and Cowl shaping

Bag three:

Once the sides and back have been added we can crack open bag three and ultimately finish the set.

This bag focuses on building up the front and ‘face’ part of the Cowl, adding two large 2×4 white slopes where the eyes would be, the nose bridge, the mouth opening, and iconic frown.

There are multiple parts I love about this design, the nose shield has to be top of the list, it just works so incredibly well and looks cool from any angle. The ears are a close second, the way they’re built and again look is so cool, combining them with the rest of the set makes it a joy to behold and display iny collection! 

Bag three – finishing off the cowl

Conclusion:

Overall both the build and design of this set is stunning and I couldn’t ask for anything more, even the transparent opening I like, as I know a lot of fans have shared their disagreement with the way it’s been done and that it looks ‘weird’, I couldn’t disagree more and I actually love how it looks and works, it’s a Cowl after all, how morbid would it have been if they included a head inside!

The inclusion of the printed plaque is a nice touch and keeps in style with the previous Helmet releases.

Printed 4×6 plaque

Apart from the odd base crumble here & there I would say LEGO have out done themselves and captured the essence of Batman extremely well. If I had to pinpoint which incarnation of Batman it most resembles I’d have to say Christian Bale’s portrayal of him, purely because of the more slender look it gives off.

I for one cannot wait for the LEGO DC Classic TV Series Batman Cowl to become available and will of course be nabbing that as soon as possible!

Do you have this set? What do you think of it and would you recommend it to friends, fellow collectors, and family? Let us know in the comments below.

If you register for an account you can also leave a short review in the section below, just hit the corresponding button.

Thank you for reading our review of the excellent LEGO DC Batman Cowl (76182) set!

‘I’m Batman!’

The 410 piece set is now available from Barnes & Noble, although not much help if you’re not US bound.

The official release date is 26th April, which coincides with the release of the new Star Wars and Carnage sets. 

Official description:

Capture forever the unique style of Batman with this challenging and rewarding LEGO® build-and-display model of the super hero’s distinctive cowl. With transparent bricks to represent the face and a stylish fact plaque attached to the base, the iconic helmet belonging to the protector of GOTHAM CITY will make an eye-catching centerpiece, wherever it is displayed.

The LEGO® DC Batman: Batman Cowl (76182) captures forever the unmistakable style of Batman in a captivating build-and-display model created with adults in mind.
Measuring over 8.5 in. (22 cm) high, 4 in. (10 cm) wide and 4 in. (12 cm) deep, this captivating model provides an attractive conversation piece, whether displayed in your home or workplace.
The collectible LEGO® DC Batman Batman Cowl offers a hands-on, stress-relieving building experience, as 410 LEGO bricks gradually transform into a stunning display model.
This authentic LEGO® brick recreation of the iconic Batman helmet includes transparent pieces to represent the face and a stylish fact plaque attached to a sturdy base.
Indulge your creative construction superpowers. This collectible piece of Batman memorabilia will provide pleasure and satisfaction long after the hands-on work has been completed.
This build-and-display piece is ideal for any model-making enthusiast or adult fan of the Caped Crusader. It makes a great birthday gift, Christmas present or personal treat.