This will be my first pack and after seeing some videos and some plans, I think my best bet it to buy a shell. I don’t have the materials for woodworking or fabricating. Forgive me as I haven’t read all the details on pack building, but I think a shell would be the easiest. So are there any plans out there that start with a shell? Or do I have to use some plans and figure it out myself? Also, which plans are currently the most accurate and/or fan favorite?
Well, it depends on who you ask. There really aren’t any instructions on how to assemble a pack, but there are a lot of great threads you can study. We are all here to help!
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20305
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16457
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24965
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26011
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=25642
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20256
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26923
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22683
And of course…
damn you sakai!
I had just spent ages typing out something similar and then it wouldn’t let me pst because you had 
Well…welcome aboard..and good luck!
Sorry, man! And welcome to the boards, Roon!
Start here first:
The parts and their names.
http://www.gbfans.com/equipment/proton-pack/part-names/
Study reference photos:
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22743
Then bookmark the build threads previously posted.
Thank you guys VERY much for the info and the links! Now one other question, I know I have to go to the For Sale board to buy one, but could anyone tell me the big differences between the shells? Like, Fiberglass seems really expensive compared to a Vac Formed shell. And I also see that Aluminum is rather on the expensive side. So I’m guessing “you get what you pay for” ?
Pretty much every single part can be made from extremely cheap and quick materials like PVC. It all cosmetically looks the same.
So are vacuum formed shells alright to use? Do they feel cheap when completed or do they feel good? Do they last a long time? I figure if I buy a more expensive shell (Alkaline or Fiberglass) then I’ll have to wait on building this until I can save up some more money. But if I get a vacuum formed shell, that will save me money and allow me to start buying the other parts ASAP. While I wouldn’t mind waiting, I am kind of excited to get this started since it is my first pack and my friend wants to make his first pack alongside me.
Sorry for all the questions guys!
From my experience, it’s all about personal preference. Vac-formed packs can be really nice, but will require a bit more work. Fiberglass shells are much stronger, easier to work with, and generally more detailed/more accurate.
One bit of advice though…don’t rush. I set out to make my dream pack last year, but made the mistake of setting a deadline. I did all the research, got my hands on some of the best parts available, but ended up cutting a few corners on my build. I still kick myself for this. You should really think about what you want your pack to be before you do anything else. If you are going for a cheap, quick build, by all means, go that route. If you want a museum quality piece, again, that is up to you. Just take your time, and plan everything out ahead of time.
Fiberglass over vacformed anyday!!! Trust me, I’ve owned both.
The best packs don’t have a deadline. If you’re building one for Halloween, expect it to be ready for NEXT Halloween.
Vacc-formed shells aren’t really shells, they are molds of shells…