Help a Newbie..

Equipment Ghost Traps
1

I am sure this has been posted here a gazillion times, but as the subject line states I am a newbie to the site. After a great past weekend at a local convention with my 10 year old daughter we decided we need to be part of the Ghostbusters community of costumers. For that to happen though looks like I am gonna need some advise on exactly how to build some of this stuff.

I see lots of plans for things but I am hoping to start with something somewhat simple like the Ghost Trap. So my questions:

  1. What is the difference between a hero and stunt trap?

  2. What is the best set of plans for me to use when considering building a trap?

  3. Is there an existing set of plans that are in a template format?

  4. What are the best materials for making it out of?

For now I’ll confine my questions to the subject of Ghost Traps before I move onto other props and more indepth costuming questions.

Anyways thanks for any help on this and look forward to being a part of this cool hobby.

2

Welcome!! There are some great resources here on the site and very knowledgeable people. I haven’t built a trap so I’ll let them weigh in but a good place to start is the uniform. I have some info about how I did it in my signature.

Best of luck with your builds and welcome!

3
  1. What is the difference between a hero and stunt trap?

Generally the difference is materials. The bigger difference is between GB1 and GB2 traps. GB1’s are longer then GB’s and some of the knobs are different. Most people make GB2 traps as that’s what most of the plans have been based on and the knobs are easier to come by.

  1. What is the best set of plans for me to use when considering building a trap?

I’d recommend using Venkman71’s plans. http://www.gbfans.com/wiki/Sean_Bishop’s_Prop_Plans#ghost-trap-plans

  1. Is there an existing set of plans that are in a template format?

Yup! JT001 did a PDF template version of the V71 plans: http://www.joseballesteros.com/misc/gb/jt001-trap-templates-v1.pdf. I’d recommend using both as they each show details a little differently.

  1. What are the best materials for making it out of?

Depends on your definition of “best” and what tools you’re comfortable working with. For a first build I’d recommend either MDF if you’re ok working with wood or else following my “trap in a day challenge” thread using styrene and foamcore: Build a trap in a day challenge! - Ghost Traps - GBFans.com

4

Thanks for the info jackdoud. I will be looking at these plans tonight and getting an idea in my head on how to do it. I am leaning a bit towards using eva foam as someone recommended in another thread I was reading earlier. But would much prefer using wood, though I must admit I am really intrigued with your foamcore and styrene idea.

And Jay I am also looking at the uniform layout that you put together on your thread, due to budget I am taking some baby steps at first and also trying to challenge myself to see if I can build this stuff well enough to be presentable.

I don’t consider myself very great at putting this kind of stuff together but I did manage to make a rather nice resin replica of a Battlestar Galactica pistol several years ago.

Thanks all for your help. I welcome all suggestions.

5

Another big difference between a Hero and a Stunt will be whether the Trap has any electronics in it at all… this will then depend on what you want to use your Trap for, display only or display and function.

6

Also, the stunt traps didn’t have opening doors