first i just want to say thank you for the helpful comments over the past few weeks on a few questions i’ve asked, especially concerning the alice pack frame. anyway this week i finally started the actual building and here are a few pictures.
i first started with building the motherboard out of MDF about 2.5cm thick and the wood cutting machine at my local DIY was broken, so i had to cut the block of wood down to the right size myself, using only manual saws. the following day i finally completed the motherboard. i was able to pull in an old favour with one of my old technology teachers from school and he was able to cut me out of wood the particle thrower. and yesterday and today i have been drilling holes to place the handles through.
please comment on my pictures so i know im on the right track. many thanks.
Hi, you asked for comments on your progress so here’s mine
The motherboard should be 1/8" thick not 1", it’s going to make your pack really heavy. I’m not sure what you are building the rest of it from (I’m assuming wood) but its going to be heavy on your back.
The dimensions of your gun box look ok but you may want to pre-drill all holes or it will probably split on you when you go to put accessory pieces on, I guess no electronics will be installed?
Eek! :shock: 1" thick?!?! Yes, that will make the pack very very heavy!
Also from the pictures, it looks the gun box is solid wood. How are you going to put electronics in there? I think you should make the gun box 1/8" thick wood and put it together and you will have enough space to put electronics in there.
I agree with secrecyguy…my first thrower was totally devoid of electronics, and now im doing it all over again. I used thick plywood for the main body of the pack, but not for the motherboard. It does make everything quite heavy, but it will provide a sturdy anchoring for the alice frame.
I’m using very thin plywood for my motherboard… its only about… just under a quarter inch thick?
Its that very bendy stuff, practically cardboard! But lets remember, we don’t need EXACT diameters to the screen props because if this is going onto an alice frame (or something similar) the motherboard can be fixed by screws or cable ties etc… at every weak point.
haha oh yeah i was also gonna ask how the “light slots” were gonna be added to that particle thrower body
Making it out of one chunk of wood is a good idea for making entirely solid and “halloween proof” … you could drop that all night without any problem! but it wont be easy adding switches and most importantly… lights!
To be accurate the pack should have a 1/8" Aluminum motherboard but not everyone can afford to do it this way. I’ve made packs with 1/4" MDF and they are strong enough, just might need more mounting points is all. You can also use Luan plywood or hardboard.
hey guys thanks the comments, even though im using a different thickness wood for the motherboard I wanted to make the pack as strong as possible! The gun follows the dimensions similar to that of Norms plans but I have changed them according to what I want, and no electronics will be used here. It has already been said that the real reason why I’ve used solid wood for the gun is too make it tough for halloween and other parties, the girls here in the UK seem to love a ghostbuster
I understand you want to make the pack as trong as possible. I have been building nearly all wood packs for the last 10 years now and I could never go wrong with using 1/4" plywood for my motherboard. My 2004’ pack was constructed out of 1/4" and it was as strong as it could be. In that particular pack, I installed both lights and sound, and it weighed nearly 40lbs. I have spoken with its new owner on several occasions and says that its still in great shape. You want to keep a pack strong and lightweight, my reccomenedation is 1/4" plywood. If you have a brad nailer, then you are set.
I have the same workbench that I’m using at home to tide me through the building hehe
Keep me updated on any parts you find in shops that I may have missed that might look good on the pack! I’m gonna have a post up soon with all the parts and where I’ve bought them so that other folk from this area can get a hold of them
Making your pack strong is a good idea, but you have to temper that with the fact that increasing the strength will increase the weight of the finished pack (that, and a full 1" thick motherboard is awfully far off from accurate). I’d go with 1/4" wood. That will be *plenty *strong, and weigh far less. If you don’t care about the weight, you may want to re-think that, because as many people can tell you, it’s not much fun wearing a super-heavy pack (and packs are heavy enough without a little extra help).
Ive finally found time to add some new pictures of how the pack is coming along. the gun is finished pictures will follow shortly and below are some pictures of the pack, about half way done now.
Hey guys, ive finally finished my first pack and I’m very happy with the results. Its not very screen accurate and i know some things are missing, but to be honest im not really bothered because im happy with the results and it was my first attempt at a proper pack. here are some pictures of the finished pack, id love to hear some of your comments. thanks for your help over the summer
Looks good and I am glad you are happy with it. My first pack was FAR from being accurate, but it only makes building a second one that much more fun!!!
Glad to see you finished this one. I really like the accurate, yet custom look. Reminds me of some of the earliest pack replicas I saw back in the 80s. Nice job on the thrower too.
