Is buying direct from Mack’s the best source?
Yes. He actually just put a full wand kit up today: NW100B2 - Ghostbusters Neutrona Wand Kit (1989) – Mack's Factory
As for the question about the Clippard, the big difference is that the Mack’s Clippard has no embossed “CLIPPARD” text on the base like a real one does. If you don’t care, they are otherwise identical to the real deal for much cheaper, and are lighter.
That wand is so beautiful! The price scares me a little but so is the cost for perfection.
Hi @ecto90 in terms of getting one built, I’ve not done this myself, but I’m in the UK. There used to be Ben of Kent, but he seems to not be around any more, and there also used to be Proton Props UK, though if you look more into that, I think some people have had some bad experiences. I’m not commenting on that myself and I don’t know what happened, I’m just relaying what I’ve seen other people say.
Probably the best advice is that, if you’re going to pay someone else to do it for you, just be careful and do your research before you part with lots of money.
There’s a guy on Etsy called Simone / Workshop Props. He’s based in Milan, Italy, I think. I’ve only bought parts for my Hasbro pack though and not a full pack, but what I have got from him has been really good quality and he seems like a really good guy. I think he makes a lot of the parts himself:
Looks like he does a full pack build for around £1,700:
I think there might be other sellers on Etsy who also do full screen accurate pack builds like this.
The good thing about somewhere like Etsy, or even eBay, is that you’d probably have more buyer protection if something did go wrong. I think the lead time on custom builds like this is usually around six months, so you’d probably need to factor that in too.
Or like others have said, Macks Factory are pretty much the gold standard when it comes to screen accurate parts.
I’m kind of the same though. I’ve only done Spirit and Hasbro packs, but there’s a big part of me that would love to just drop £3-4k, get as much as possible from Macks Factory, and then build a fully screen accurate pack.
Not sure I’d get it past my better half though!
I’m trying to keep things within the US but thanks for the advice. And wow I haven’t heard of Ben of Kent in forever. I guess that says how long I’ve been absent
Yeah he definitely seemed like the guy to go to for a long time. I think he actually lived near me, and I only ordered some parts from him a couple of years ago, but perhaps he’s just decided to call it a day.
I can’t see you having too much trouble finding good pack builders in the US though, I’m sure there are plenty!
Thanks!
I’m beginning to feel like this is really happening. To be honest, I originally asked because I thought the number was gonna be so outrageously high that it would scare me off from wanting a superhero pack, but I guess Mack’s factory has swooped in to save the day.
Yeah and the good thing about Mack’s Factory is that they’re so well known, companies like GPStar who do the light and sound kits do kits specifically for their packs and wands, so you can get pre-wired, ready to install lights and sound effects.
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Who makes electronics anyway? I see this forum has a wand kit but don’t see a pack kit.
And for those who have made a Mack’s pack: What did it cost you? and which options did you go for?
Wow, quite the selection. Gonna take some reading!
Yeah they have quite a few options, but Michael on their customer service is really helpful so if you tell him what you’re after, I’m sure he can help. Plus @nomake-wan is one of the devs there I think.
I think messaging them is a good idea. I was trying to understand it on my own but there are too many terms i don’t understand.
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I’ve come down with a cold, so my response times are going to be longer than typical for a week or so. But I am indeed one of the software devs on the project, and am more than happy to chat about the project.
Feel better. I am not uptodate on all the terms on GPstar electronics. do they all have sound included?
Admittedly, I love the affordablility of the GBFans wand lights but love the emitter bulb LED kit from GPStar. by any chance is that emitter bulb compatible with the GBFans wand lights?
Yes, all GPStar kits come with sound included.
The emitter bulb LED kit from GPStar should work with a GBFans wand kit using the AUX connector. The DIP switch settings for the AUX connector are here (you want the ones that say “Flash at the start of 2nd fire”):
That seems like an easy enough adjustment. Either way, both options are very tempting to me. I’ll have to really think about this.
I also sell a flashbulb via my etsy store, using a real vintage flash bulb and LED. https://wertheimershardware.etsy.com/listing/1485299991
It was originally designed and spec’d to work with the gbfans kit as fully plug and play, no soldering etc required.
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Do you know if they work with Mack’s factory emitter tubes?
Oooh! So just wanted to +1 on the Mack’s Wand choices. I’ve built three now, installed GBFans Wand Electronics in two, and the GPStar 2 Extreme kit in the third. They’re lovely little kits. Just the bare assembly, without electronics, is actually incredibly easy to do. Everything comes with a series of booklets that give you an exact breakdown of how everything fits together, all the screws and hardware you need AND the correct Allen wrenches to go with them. Plus, the mounting kits for both electronics kits I mentioned are really cool. I’m a big fan of the way they both manage the wiring in their own ways, and really impressed with how much the GPStar kit manages to pack into such a small space.
Ok, so with that out of my system I’m going to address your original question. Cost.
While I think there’s been some really good advice I just want to point out if we’re talking a commissioned assembly on a SUPER Hero Pack, after the cost of materials you’re gonna be looking at somewhere in the $3500+ range in the modern day. I recently built a Hero quality pack and it came out to somewhere around $3000-$3500 in cost of materials, and some of that was purchased pre-tariffs. Take the cost of Labor into account and that number inflates fast.
Also if you got this far, yes that flashbulb will fit one of Mack’s emitter tubes.