Thinking about ordering a few and modifying them a bit for accuracy. Is it worth it or are they more trouble than they are worth?
This is my buddy’s pack. It turned out pretty decently. some of the details are a little soft like the ridges on the boxes but otherwise a pretty nice shell for the money
Like all vac-shells they’re an ok start. What you get out is what you put in. I helped mburkit modify another producer’s vaccshell into a decent pack, his build thread is here: The Marvelous Accounts of a "Budget" Pack - Proton Packs - GBFans.com
I have one that I got early this year, intending on building a “close enough” pack. It’s going to be my “stunt” pack now, for use when I wear it on Halloween, around children, etc. Pretty much a pack that if something happened to it, I wouldn’t be too ■■■■■■, while my fiberglass shell-based pack will be my good one to use for conventions and places where I’d expect people to be respectful of costumes.
Pretty much like what was said above, it’s a good starter pack.
What would be the best way to go about strengthening it?
Back it in fiberglass
I was looking at getting one of these but I just can bring myself to buy a vacuformed shell simply because of the soft features. But you could always back it with fiberglass like jackdoud said then sand and file in sharp edges. It’s just a lot of work.
Well part of it will depend on the pull you get, I’ve seen ones that were soft all over (not bad but soft) and others that looked good every where but the fins (they always seem soft). I’ve talked to the studio creations guy about his shells and the details and he said the shell was suppose to be and easy/ cheap entry level type pack so that’s exactly what you’ll be getting but all in all considering the price, they aren’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination, especially if you are a beginner or have a tight budget and can’t scratch build.
Heres a pack I built using a vac formed shell. Its not a studiocreations but im sure you could achieve similar results.
If you end up getting a vacformed shell, use the image above as a guide. Nick knows exactly what he’s doing. 
You can achieve a great pack if you put enough time and effort into it.
here’s my studio creations pack. It does need strengthening. I used thin sheets of aluminum to reinforce it.
Thanks for the help guys. I think I know what I am going to do.
I built one with this vac shell and currently building another. You do need to reinforce it but it its not a bad shell and you can make it look pretty darn good with the time and effort.
I’d get the D-49 (something like that) shell instead, more accurate.
I don’t think he is selling as of now, I think he is in the process of moving or something. I think he will make shells but later or something.
Wouldn’t it be a little better if they formed the shells without the ribs and added them later like in most scratch builds?
Yes. I actually have a vac shell like this. I havn’t worked on it, but I know what it could become, and it’s nothing short of gorgeous.