da Burgh Pack (lots of pics)

Equipment Proton Packs
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Hey all!

been sick, so i haven’t worked on the props in a little while. Here are some pics. I took the Mac Pack 2.0 and made it into my Burgh Pack. I tore a bunch of stuff off it, and remodeled it.

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I got sick and tired of dragging the Nutrona wand along with the pack. The green part is a hose connector from an Avon garden set. It links with the male black part on the conduit so I can separate the two and focus on them separately.

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This is the right side. I made a custom holster for my Nutrona Wand from a plastic dixie cup, foam, a metal bar, vacuum cleaner parts, Metler scientific scale parts, a tube from a desk organizer, and other misc. junk : )

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close up of holster

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nutrona wand battery pack 4 C cells (was 3 D cells–heavy!)

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inside the pack. CD/MP3 player is blue circle on top. I saved 1.3 lbs by ripping off heavy tube on left hand side (bare wood on motherboard)

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rear of chromatograph. small blinking LED button glued to inside of an old HD case with 1/8 wood panel scrap walls. I soldered wires so I can put a AA pack instead of those #$#$ button batteries that cost a fortune.

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front side of the chromatograph. To the right is a bank of high yield capacitors (slide containers) The black base is 1/2 of a multi-port ethernet box I found in the trash. It fits together, hiding the CD/MP3 player (see above) the left side is the Ion array box (plastic box for a tape drive tape) the top dome shape with white label is from a lint shaver (I used it for sound FX on my son’s pack) other parts of the shaver are on the pack in other places. The acrylic cylender is a shipping container for microscope lenses.

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view of the whole pack. I added a plastic circle with a GB symbol over the 4 angled rectangles (mirror glass eteched to allow the blinking lights to show through when they blink) You can see the water pump and filter (middle right) and Sony Fuel cell with silicone tubing. (parts over a wipe container with black foam cushioning it.

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this blinking bank of ten LED’s is from the old Mac Pack and sits above the Supercritical Water-cooled Reactor (down where cyclotron would be in regular pack)

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a later shot of pack. I’ve added an empty cardboard box, and took a Pringles can, an old frosting plastic tub, piece of wood paneling, and filled in the blank spot on the motherboard(this is the steam turbine and 10 MW generator) The Pringle’s can holds the flashlight battery pack from the old MacPack 2 D cells to run all the electronics (except for chromatograph, amplifier, and CD player that have their own power)

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closeup of Chromatograph with aluminum from cage inside a trashed monitor.

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closeup of the generator that sits on top of the turbine. Simply Delicious Orange juice lid and fun foam, aluminum with holes from old monitor (also used to cover large circuit board to right of turbine

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closeup of left side of pack. The chrome rod is a THz comm antenna (from old toilet paper holder and piece of my son’s toy) the aluminum cap on top of the generator is lab junk, but looks really cool!

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ion array box with part from smoke alarm added (covers holes that I put in for Legris elbows. I thought there were too many wires, and I pulled all the Legris elbows from the pack) on the left, you can see the multicolored cables coming from the generator (more lab junk) chromatograph is on the left

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this is an ocilliscope (old cell phone found on ground broken) between ion array and chromatograph. In the fron of the pic is a double-ended makeup tube (still full) I found on the ground. this is a ceramic rod resistor to replace the Dale Resistor.

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capacitor array with small control knob below (vitamin bottle cap with camera shot dial) clear box in upper right is from lint shaver

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view of condenser for steam motor from a medical printer with glued on knob (disposable microfilter from work)

lot of work. Still working on it a bit. I have nylon straps to cinch to hold on the front of the chromatograph/ion array cover. I know what you’re going to say–the colors are crazy! Still a work in progress. I ran out of black fun foam, and am using other colors from the fun foam pack since 95% of the stuff you see will be flat black.

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This is hot ray!

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See, i told you i would paint over the hideous colors. Found some old Bin waterproof primer from the previous owners. It’s a little lumpy, but it coat well, waterproofs, hides woodgrain, and was FREE! Haven’t decided if I’ll use spraypaint or slush latex/acrylic paint mixture.

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what a mess, dont take it personally, but damn

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It’s like a magic eye poster, if you look PAST the picture you may see a proton pack in there.

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Ouch! Well, nice to see some negative posts, too. I still have to paint it black yet. If by “looking past to see a proton pack” you mean to see an old school proton pack, you won’t see one. This is a different design that achieves the same effect. Thanks for looking! : )

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I am in no way trying to be a dick, sir. But c’mon, If you would have posted that, and not told us it was a proton pack, nobody would ever know otherwise. There’s a fine line between artistic interpretation and just slappin’ shit together. You may have leapfrogged over that, sir.

There’s been plenty of people around who have put their own “spin” on the proton pack. Those people also generally have some sort of respect to the source material. By that I mean you can look at it and kinda tell that they were working around an established design, that design being the proton pack.

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Well, thanks for the “sir” : ) So, you’re saying that I don’t have the right to interpret things in my own way? The sci fi tech that made those packs is 24 years old (and the parts, like Dale Resistors, are older than that). If you were to build a modern pack today (like mine), would you really spec 1970’s electronic parts? The props department at Columbia did a great job, don’t get me wrong. I would find it odd if they did a 3rd GB movie to still use the same packs with the original parts. They were always tweaking things in RGB. My son has a green pack (his favorite color) and when he went trick or treating at the Mall and a senior care home where my wife works, everyone under 55 knew exactly what he was. I take it you mean the people HERE won’t know what it is (which doesn’t make any sense, since I’m posting under the proton pack section, so they know what it is by the section.) Oh, well. I guess you can’t please everyone, right? : )

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Hmmm…well I guess I have something to say to that. I enjoy building props. It is a hobby of mine for when I get free time. As a prop builder I spend a lot of time looking as others “work.” The best part of making your own props is the fact that everything you build is unique. Even when you are building off the same plans there are always things that seperate your props from others. If you take a look across this site, you will see props of different designs all made with different techniques and different interpretations. I am curious to know when it became mandatory in prop building that all work must reflect the exact same design. Creativity is the hardest challenge in this hobby.

Bradboss has shared a few different examples of his work. All have been different and I will all agree that they are all far from the norm of our designs but that is what he is going for. His design is meant to be different. I enoy seeing props like Boss’s that show the creative side to prop building. Some people enjoy building a props off a set of plans and some people enjoy making their own. How do you draw a line on “putting a spin on it?” There is no right and wrong when it comes to making your own props ecspecially when it is of your own design and interpretations. Bo, If that is really how you stand then I can only assume that you are not a prop builder yourself. Let me go on record to say that I enjoy your designs Bradboss and think you offer a great view of “artistic building.” Keep up the good work.

-■■■■■■

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Thanks, ■■■■■■! Budget is a factor, too. Must be nice to be able to shell out a few grand for awesome looking gear, but I have 2 mortgages and bills to pay (oh to be 20 and living with Mom and Dad! : ) I don’t want to take away from the purists. There are some awesome props that would make any Hollywood set proud. But, I like to see people encouraged to do their own thing, too. Bo has a right to his opinion as much as anyone. I’d rather him be honest than kiss my butt (why anyone would kiss my butt, I’ll never know.) : P Ironically, I’m toying with the idea of doing a (cheap) old school pack (since I have the hard parts like Legris elbows and Dale Resistors (the real ones). Maybe after I do these and make my son’s Bumblebee costume (that’s going to take a LOT of work). As far as respect goes, I’ve been a GB fan for 24 years. I think it’s great that we have a place that people worldwide can talk about a movie/franchise that is so near and dear to us. I never dressed up for Star Trek cons, but I don’t mind dressing up as a GB. I read a lot of scientific articles and try to stay current on the latest nanotech, and base my designs on today’s experimental equipment (like ceramic rod resistors, Supercritical Water Cooled Reactors, and Terrahertz frequency lasers) : )

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Sorry, but that doesn’t look like proton pack. Even an interpretation of one. If you didn’t say it was a proton pack, I probably wouldn’t of know. Looks like you just took stuff and threw it together without thinking of how it would look. In terms of accuracy, well, there is no real accuracy. But it’s good improvise, just doesn’t look right.

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Many smoke detectors contain a small amount of americium-241. Yours could very well be the first proton pack to actually be radioactive!

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I keep looking for the Big Red Button of Doom. :cool:

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LOL! I used to have a self-destruct on the Mac Pack, but I don’t think it would work on the newer, safer Burgh Pack. I needed space for the steam condenser anyway. : )

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Whoo hoo! The detector is ancient, but, I guess it could be a little radioactive. : ) Don’t worry, I have my “Radiation” caution tape on there, so I’m covered.

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I think Luke Skywalker said it best upon viewing the Millenium Falcon for the first time. :smiley:

“What a piece of junk!”

http://www.galaxyfaraway.com/Sounds/Whatjunk.wav

Ehh I dunno, guess it’s just not my thing. Like Bo said, not trying to be a dick! At least it has a GB logo on it. :whatever: It looks very dangerous lol Interesting interpretation to say the least! Just it doesn’t look very stream-line or high tech or remotely functional or mechanical to my eyes. Keep it up though! :slight_smile: Keeps things interesting around here! Maybe it’s the colors like you said that will help being flat black.

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First off I can’t say anything as harmful as people have already said to this pack.

I will say its non-traditional, interpretive and unique.

I could also say CONSTRUCTIVELY that it is unpolished, unrefined and prototypical. Which I assume it is because you’ve stated MANY features that a ‘standard’ pack doesn’t have. In as much, I applaud you for advancing thought behind the pack.

However, you’ve clearly caught some flak from the rest of the board here, and while I am only a novice and usually a lurker I feel like I should defend someone else who is aspiring to make something in relation to their favorite little sci-fi comedy…

I recall you said you were going to paint it black still, so this first suggestion may be out of place… but your sticker placement seems hectic (And if you were going to paint it, why the stickers now?). I too am making something else that is ‘relatively’ new (my ‘trap pack’), but before you start constructing you should really sketch things out and start with ‘stand out’ features you want your pack to have. As is the ‘magic eye’ comments sum up (a bit harshly, i might add) the pack has WAY too much going on for it.

I notice you’re working on a budget, and like you I too feel the financial pinch looming overhead. I’m not sure what time constraints you have but scrounging around a bit at Radio Shack or any junkie Toy Stores dollar bins (especially dollar stores!) you can find a MYRIAD of things to make your pack out! For example one of the Real Ghostbuster Packs (Made by XxectoxX, I believe) used a pumpkin light for cyclotron lights! There is also a literal dollar store pack on the board somewhere that is labeled out with every time it used a PENCIL BOX!

I feel as though you will be better off starting with an ALICE pack (around $20 on ebay if you shark it well enough), and some plywood. From there take the design in your head and work on it.

I can tell you’re good at creating new functions - you made your neutrona wand holder out of three separate items… but I recommend just getting the dixie hooks from the store, its like $15.

But seriously:

  1. Plot the pack out, give it DEFINITIVE characteristics. If you show a picture of it to someone, they’ll still think “Ghostbusters” and not “leaf blower”

  2. Shark for parts! “Found parts” are the cheapest, but not always the best choice or the easiest to work with. I saw several of your other props and saw that you had trouble seperating certain parts from found stuff you were working with. I know buying items isn’t always a choice, especially for $$ strapped folks like myself, but the Dollar Store proton pack on this board is an example that you just need to LOOK to find the right parts!

  3. Slow down on the additions of things - I will not lie, there are LOTS of things going on with this pack and I don’t have much of a clue what you’re talking about when you reference all of your ‘newer technology’. I know you want to add new tech for a new generation (since if we were to make GB today, we wouldn’t be reaching for 1970’s electronics…) but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need a smattering of everything that makes it look new. Sometimes just looking ‘strange’ makes it look futuristic. Honestly if you showed a proton pack to someone in the 70’s they’d swear it was from the future - BUT it remains simplistic and representative of that period’s available parts!

Look even at the Real Ghostbusters Pack! They are VERY much more simplistic than the live action movie, but still amazing!

  1. Zoom out from the photos, and use Microsoft Paint to label the parts we’re looking at. Maybe its the lighting, maybe its the zoom, but we can’t really see what you want us to see.
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Agreed with HuntedWumpus. Didn’t want to sound harmful at all by any means. But definetly agreed with the definitive characteristics comment.

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Thanks! It’s ok if you don’t like it. Not everyone likes Picasso (I don’t), but, hey, that’s art. No offense taken! : )

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I don’t want to take anything away from the GB packs, or RGB packs (which are based on the GB packs anyway). I supposed if I had a vacuum former, I could make casings for stuff. But, I don’t, so I just glue on parts that feel right, and that I feel fit in with the design. I keep what works for me, pitch what doesn’t. The thing is, when someone builds a proton pack, and post pics, everyone here knows what they are doing. They give tips, critique their progress, because we all know what comes next. That’s why my stuff throws people for a loop and ruffles feathers. Even I don’t know what it will look like when I’m done (but I’m wrapping up soon to work on my son’s Bumblebee costume)

I’ll be taking more pics, and I’ll have to put on some labels. Wow, thanks for all the advice and positive comments! : )