Inactive Project: Cheap Foamboard Proton Pack for Halloween

Equipment Proton Packs
1

Okay fellas, I’ve been seeing a lot of posts popping up lately like “I need a pack right now!!” or “I need (this many) proton packs by Halloween!!” and I’m sure there will be tons more within the next few months. AND, from the sounds of things, no one is willing to pay an arm and a leg (especially if your a college student) for fiberglass/vacuum-formed-super-movie-acurate-proton-packs. WELL, if your a ghosthead on a budget (like I am, constantly) then this may be for you.

Heres a picture of what I made last year starting the end of august until a week before Halloween (when it was finally finished). The only reason why it took so long is because I ran short on funds (I basically bought the materials with pockect change). Heres what it looked like finished:

Working lights? You betcha!

It wasnt entirely movie acurate (notice the “ion arm” is fat and stubby…bleh) but keep in mind I was in a hurry (dont know why, I had 2.5 months, lol). So this time I will try and make it more “movie acurate” (but also keep in mind you are free to do what you please with YOUR pack, i.e. finding alternatives for the pack frame). This will be my second time building a foamboard/cardboard proton pack, so bare with me fellas.

I will start building it next week (monday the 28th, if sooner I’ll let ya know) because its my payday. We’ll be doing one section a week on the pack (ie: just the motherboard one week, then the base of the cyclotron another week, etc.) so others who find this thread can catch up (also give the rest of us time to trial/error and get more supplies). Heres what you’ll need for the motherboard:

-3 sheets of black (or white, it will be painted) foamboard (most of the materials I use are from Wal-Mart because its cheaper).

-A glue adhesive to glue them together after cutting them (but dont worry about cutting them yet, just worry about getting the materials first). Personally, I use “GOOP”.

-Utility knife or X-Acto knife.

-about 2 cans of “Touch N’ Foam” or foam in a can which you will find in the hardware section of Wal-Mart (we’ll use this later for the base of the cyclotron) Heres a picture so you know what it looks like:

-Oh, and keep a cardboard box or boxes lying around (we’ll use them for the base of the cyclotron also).

All of this should cost you LESS THAN $20. There she be fellas, if your interested just get those materials and we’ll get started on the 28th!

-Mike

2

Hmm, I might be interested. Bout how much do the completed packs weigh? Because weight is a factor for me unfortunately. Being foam they sounds like they might not be that heavy. A friend of mine makes foam swords and such for Cosplay. He might help me make a proton pack from foamboard if I ask. :slight_smile:

3

im in, ive worked with foamboard before so ive got a nack for cutting it.

4

Hey that sounds great. Are you going to have a proton gun as part of the AP?

5

Last year I made the proton gun out of styrene plastic (aka went to the hardware store and bought a few plastic signs). Its really easy to work with and cuts like butter, but yea I’ll take ya through that too :slight_smile: I know somebody around here built a foamboard proton gun using bondo, but he’d have to post how he did his cause it was pretty neat lookin’. Heres what mine looked like:

http://cmgponline.com/go/dmgproductions/protonpack2.bmp

EmeraldAngel-

These things are pretty light. I dont know the EXACT lbs but its around 5, maybe less. Its also pretty sturdy i.e. wont fall apart when you bump into something. I think the only thing that took a beating last year was the ion arm on one of the packs because it wasnt on there flat enough.

6

I built 3 proton guns that were based off of sean’s plans, includes the curve on the box and everything. Mike, you inspired me last year to to the same thing so I’m willing to help out as well during this process. This should definatly be a good how to thread for thos of us who are on a budget. And we should encourage others who have used similar techniques to join in on the fun. Let the building begin :lol:

7

so mike, whens this gonna get started, I have been waiting all week for this thread especially.

8

I’m in too… this is exactly what I’m looking for. I intend to use the foam pack as a dry run for my hero pack.

9

Let’s do this thing! I’ve been looking for alternative packs for my up-comming fanfilm. Finally, I find one that isn’t going to weight a million pounds.

10

Sorry fellas for the delay, unexpected financial issues have arisen last week so now we gots to wait until next monday (not this monday meaning tomorrow, but NEXT monday). :cry: This is DEFINATELY gonna be a proton pack on a TIGHT budget, LOL.

OH btw for those of you who want to know, we’ll try and use Stephan’s Plans for this project (it looks a little complicated but maybe we can work this out together).

11

Wow. This almost sounds too good to be true. Is it too late to join in? (I’m kind of new, so I don’t really know how these active project things work.)

12

im new at this and i need a pack before october 31

13

Mike’s foamboard pack is probably the best cheap alternative pack on budget I’ve seen in a while.

If you think things through good enough you can come up with some good alternative packs like Brit_GB’s Hazzard Pack,he did a good job on his,it didn’t look like the typical pack but neither did the EGB packs.

So guys,use your imaginations and have fun with it,my first two packs were sh*t but me and my best friend had a blast with em.

But give it time and eventually you will be able to afford those super movie accurate packs.I never thought I would be able to and then last year I was able to afford one of Javamonky’s packs,and BTW his pack is friggen sweet.

14

Yeah, I can’t wait to get started on my first pack. I’m lucky because I have no intention to finish before this Halloween, so I have plenty of time to look around and think up good ideas and be creative.

I hope this active project starts soon, though, 'cause I have some questions. For instance, when building a foamboard pack, is there some way to “reinforce” it. I mean, you would think foamboard would dent easily. Is there any way to harden it and make it stronger? It’s probably a dumb question to most hard-core builders, but I’m a noob. :oops:

15

now i would be interested in one of these for my wife. She needs one for halloween and the regular pack is too heavy for her.

How long does it take and is it possible to send funds to help make one? I have all the tubing and parts, just would need a shell

16

Thereis no shell really. You just take the measurments from the plans, cut some foamboard to match the measurments, you glue it together, paint it and presto, you get a great lookin pack that will fool the average person. Looks like Mike has been pretty busy lately, and I know that one of his last posts he said he was a lil low on the cash front (can relate to that all to well) but I’m sure that he will have this project up and running within the next couple of days

17

Not to thread jack from Mike, especially since his was my original inspiration for doing mine, but take a look at the thread ‘Junk Pack Version 1’ for mine. I have the parts list posted and will be doing a more comprehensive tutorial on what I did within the next few days.

Bob

18

OMG fellas, I know its a little late but im TERRIBLY sorry. I should have posted a link to the original thread that showed how I built the original . My plans fell through for the tutorial (my gf didnt have a job and we just moved in together for the first time, so my funds were slow then I had to make cut-backs such as internet. Then my laptop kicked the bucket).

http://www.ghostbustershq.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2923

^^ right there is the original thread on how I made my first pack. I plan on going as a GB again this year (because I had so much fun doing it back in 2005), I might just cop-out and get a shell but I dont know yet. I’ll keep you all updated if I decide to go back to foam board again.

Travis The Geek-

I reinforced everything using the “foam in a can - Tough Stuff”. I just cut the measurements, glued them down onto the foamboard and filled it halfway with the foam (half-way beacause it expands).

-Mike