I’ll start off by saying how freakin excited I am to start building this pack. Like most of you who are thinking about or have already completed a build, it’s something I’ve wanted to do since the days where I would go to school with my blue plastic proton pack strapped to my back.
I’ve been looking over all the plans and the insane amount of threads on this and I’ll admit all the info is a little overwhelming. So, I figured I’d turn to all of you for some start up advice. I figure getting first hand info from the people who have already been through this would be a great help to me and anyone else who wants to take on this amazing project!
I just got done building an sc pack. My advice to you would be take your time and do lots of research. You have a few different options on how you canbuild your pack. Fiberglass shell, studio creations shell, mdf (wood) or foam. Plus you have a very wide variety of parts available from many different people from all around the world. Research your sellers and read the feedback thread to see what others feel about other sellers from all over. Yes building a pack for the first time can be overwhelming at first. Take your time. Don’t rush it. Building a pack should be fun and something you will be proud of in the end. Not something that’s gonna stress you out. But I will say there are a hell of a lot of knowledgable people on here that will be more then willing to offer great tips and advice and help once you start your build. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice also.
Also, think carefully about what you want to build then set a realistic budget for yourself and stick to it. But don’t wait until you can afford to buy everything all at once. You can build a pack over months or years and availability of parts is subject to ebb-and-flow. Be prepared to grab some parts as they become available even if you are not quite ready to use them. Decide on your shell first and buy a matching motherboard (if appropriate) at the same time so you’ll have a good fit. After that, grab yourself an ALICE pack frame and get the shell mounted. Even without parts, the thrill you will experience as you strap the pack on your back for the first time is sorta like… “I’ve got my frickin’ proton pack on bitches! Yeah!”
Thanks for the tips guys. I noticed the thread with the parts check list and that has already been a big help. For my build I want to go as classic as possible with only a few minor tweeks with lights and sound to reflect the video game modifications but those decisions will come later.
With the research I’ve done so far the resin she’ll seems to be the best choice since I want to manage the weight of the pack so it’s comfortable to wear while I do groceries, mow the lawn or go to most family gatherings. :-p
Careful with resin shells. They tend to be very rigid and heavy. Fiberglass is pretty much the go-to material for the shell as it is tough and lightweight. There are a number of sellers on the site that sell different shells. I used the GBFans shell available in the store for both my builds and am very very happy with it.
I was in the same predicament as you sir. Overwhelmed not knowing where to start. I learned a great lesson from these guys and one thing I learned that definitely stuck. Look at each piece, and take it one piece at a time. If you focus on each piece at a time, It doesn’t become overwhelming.
When you look at the pack and say “omg I have to do this and this and that” then you end up talking yourself out of it. Look and break parts into shapes. Injector tubes are cylinders, what can be uses as a cylinder? Pvc pipe. N filter, hga all cylinders of which pvc pipe can remedy. I heard someone on here say a while back, " By the time your finished, you’ll be very familiar with the plumbing section" and most importantly… Have fun.
Your budget really controls most of it. It determines how creative you will be, the materials you’ll be using and when you finish.
I’ve had to sell off some of my belongings to fund my build.
I’m also pretty much in the same area that you are (the need to get started!). I have everything sourced, it’s just a matter of making the purchases upon availability.
You definitely see tons of photos from these guys, which, helps you AND them. You should definitely consider doing that yourself.
I found it helpful to start with a shell & motherboard and go from there. Purchase and mount a part or two at a time, and don’t get overwhelmed. Each part is a mini-project in itself, so its best to brake it up into sections when working on it. You can scratch build a lot of the tube parts using pvc pipe, styrene, and plumbers putty.
Look through the past 3-4 pages of pack build threads so you can get an idea of the varieties out there, and see what you like best. After all this is YOUR build, and no one else’s.
I’d have a plan. Again, start with your budget and timeline. How much are you willing to sink into this and how fast? How accurate or what version are you planning on building?
There’s a number of really detailed accurate threads, scratch builds, and just junk pack builds (that even look great).
Good luck and we are looking forward to seeing your builds!`
Something that any builder will tell you is 'Do not give up". I had a few set backs when I built my pack but I never gave up and I have had and loved my pack for almost 2 years now. Good luck and check out Hoot’s build thread for some inspiration. Good luck with your build.
Everything said in this thread has been good advice.
For me personally, the worst parts were/are waiting for things to arrive. When I’d finally have time to work on something I’d have two of the three pieces to get it done. And I often couldn’t move on to the next stage of the build without completing this specific part first. Etc.
On the other side of that coin is burnout. When you have everything you need but work on it so much you get tired of looking at it. This can lead to sloppy or rushed work or cause you to dump it in a box and forget about it.
Stay busy on a variety of projects that interest you so you don’t get frustrated, hung up on one thing or eventually start to cut corners and lose interest.
