Well, I had an epiphany since the last update - I didn’t like the look of the pack. After watching n0c00lgamertag’s 80% pack unfold, I decided I didn’t like the 3 gang switch boxes and the layout of the pack in general. So, back to Lowes I go! This time, I come away with something that looks much closer to what the pack should look like.
Now, mind you - we’ve only got the Cyclotron in place, and even that needs the edge around the diameter. But we’re dremeling off bits and pieces of the PCV piping and playing jigsaw puzzle getting the boxes where I like them. we’ll screw them all in place as soon as I get the Cyclotron edge in place.
The fun bit we had to do? The box that houses the LEDs on the upper left? It was EXACTLY a 16th of an inch too short to hold the LED bar that I got from the shop. So I had to buy another one, cut them apart, glue them together so they looked right - and now I have somewhere to put the light strip.
We’ve got a ways to go, but plenty of time before Halloween. We’re still in pretty good shape!
Okay, ignore for a second the screwy colors - my bathroom wall was playing merry havoc with my white balance - here is the business end of my thrower. It’s still the Real Ghostbusters wand, but with an acrylic rod in the end, two hose clamps and a bit of red wire.
On the pack front, I’ve gotten the cylotron installed. Now I just need to put together the electronics for the blinking LEDs, cut out some foam core, bolt everything down and spray paint it, and I’m golden! The clock is running, but I think I’ll make it!
Well, the clock is rapidly running down - but I think we’re in good shape. We’ve cut and gutted and shaped all the blue Gang boxes, got the lights installed and running, have (nearly) everything painted and all the parts assembled. Now we just have to mount everything, attach the wires and add the stickers and mount the whole thing to the Alice.
Screen accurate? Naw, there’s a ton of things wrong with it. Does it say “I’m a Proton Pack”? Unquestionably! I’m pretty happy with the results.
(oh, and the round 'pringles can" that goes just above the thrower holster on the upper right? It’s in the wrong spot - but we’ll move it when it comes time to mount. That;s just where it wound up in the photo. It’s not staying there.)
Alllllmost done! We’ve got everything mounted to the motherboard, the lights work, the wires are strung, the pack is mounted. Now it’s just adding stickers and the bumper. Oh, and get the thrower’s hose attached and not stuck in my back pocket!
I would’ve thought the RGB thrower could be on the small side, but with the added tubing it matches the pack perfectly. I think it really looks great even without the Alice Frame.
I think if the thrower didn’t have the extra length from the clear plastic bit, it would look too short. With those additional 4-ish inches? Not so bad - it’ll certainly get me though Halloween until the Matty one comes out in December.
Two things. First - I’m not quite that fat. we had to use the fisheye lens because the kitchen is just too damn small. Two, ignore the screwy lighting. The white balance on the camera didnt know which way to jump and I made it worse in photoshop.
But details aside, I’m thrilled the way this turned out. I should knock 'em dead (and then trap 'em) at the office tomorrow.
No kidding - I’m all “Well, if I start thinking about it now, I could get a Slime Blower ready for next year. . . .”
So far, it’s been a very successful field test of the equipment. Everyone at the store loved it when I stopped before work to get cider and everyone around the office thought I was awesome. Mind you, a couple of my co-workers have never actually seen Ghostbusters, so tomorrow I’ll have to bring 'em my DVD. And they really love all the bleeps and bloops of the Matty stuff - goes to show that we’re just a touch cynical sometimes.
That’s actually a really cool pack! I like the mixture of ideas. It makes me think of an in-between variation of the pack from the first film and RGB. I’m going off of the Stefan blueprints and it’s been a chore (to say the least).
