Hi everyone,
I’m headlong into my first pack build and getting close to needing a motherboard to bring it all together. I was wondering what everyone’s experience has been in choosing the right materials. I originally wanted to use a sheet of aluminium (aluminum to some), but I’m somewhat conscious of the price given it’s only first build. I have a spare sheet of dense 5mm fibreboard.
Interested in hearing what others have used.
Part of it will depend on what you’re planning to build the majority of the pack from. Fibreboard would probably be fine if you’re building a Pack like your namesake, though you’d have to remember it wouldn’t hold up all that well if it got wet, or if there was a lot of weight suddenly put on it.
Aluminium is definitely the way to go if you’re aiming to make a Pack replica with a fibreglass shell - that’s what was used on most of the screen-used Pack props… A wooden motherboard was used on some of the screen-used Stunt pack props.
My first build was EVA foam and I use 1/4” MDF board that held up well.
The only drawback is that the proper width of the motherboard is 1/8”
Thanks for the replies. I probably should have given more info about my build, as I can see how my forum name might be confusing haha.
I’m 3D printing my first pack build using DancinFools models from Thingiverse (Ghostbusters Proton Pack and Wand by DancinFool82 - Thingiverse), with some modifications here and there. My forum name is a reference to my “first” proton pack, which was made out of a breakfast cereal box that I stapled to the back of my favorite Ghostbusters t-shirt when I was a kid 
You can likely see the early hints of my Ghostbusters fanhood haha.
Thanks for the tip about using MDF. I was planning on making my first build wearable, but it’ll likely get less wear than my second build which will follow in time, so fibreboard might be strong enough. My first build will be where I learn all my lessons, make all my mistakes and then spring-board into making my second.
You and I are in the same boat. My EVA foam pack was my first built where I learned a lot and I’m also in process of a 3D print build for my second.
Have you looked at Q Pack for the 3D print files? His files have become the standard of choice for 3D printed packs.