I would like to go ahead and start a thread documenting my progress building a Proton Pack using a well known Pep File.
I wanted to build a really clean and detailed pack using styrene or PVC board. I wanted to build use exsisting plans, readily available materials, and a little know how.
First, I scored some free 1/8 and 1/4 PVC boards from my old work. Alot.
Then I printed Stefan’s plans, Sean’s plans, and the thrower plans from Hprops. From there I started the Thrower. Just as I was humming along with the thrower, something hit the internets. Thats when Protoncharger posted his build thread.
Protoncharger posted a Pep file that he created from scratch. He worked a very long time on it and is very detailed and the most accessible that I have seen that would fit my means.
So with the files in hand, I decided that I was going to use the Pep files as TEMPLATES. Then I was going to transfer the TEMPLATES to PVC.
First, I started small, and printed out the smaller parts one section at a time. Once I printed the file, I cut the tabs off, and (if I used 1/8 board) compensated by removing 1/8 off the approriate sides.
This is were, for some reason, I started slacking on documentation. But I should leave it on the Cyclotron. 100% scratch.
First I cut two disks with a 8 7/8 dia. On one of them I cut a inner dia. meter of 8 3/8. From there I cut a strip and wrapped it around the ring and disk. This created the pan. Then I stacked smaller diameter discs on top of that, coated the edge with bondo then routed it with a round over bit. Similar to the way Bigi71 did his.
Do you have an estimate of how much pvc you have used so far? I’m about to start building a pack using pvc sheets and I don’t know how much to get. I’d hate to buy too much, especially since the price for the sheets sky-rocket the bigger they get.
I got a bunch of this stuff from my old work, they were going to throw it away.
Once upon a time, someone here said they bought direct from Evergreen Plastics instead of going through their local hobby shop. You could try the same. Fast Signs will also sell you some PVC sign material. I got scraps from them and I used must of it on my original thrower.