Scratchbuilding A Booster Frame

[jackdoud]

So I finally got around to building a booster frame and figured I’d do a tutorial while I’m at it.

Parts List:

8"x6" sheet of 1/8" styrene

6"x1.25" strip of Triangle Mat (original or resin cast)

2x Vintage Dixon Ticonderoga Pencils

1.5" square of accurate pattern MDF

I started off like every replica project should by doing as much research as possible. After compairing existing plans, other builds and reference photos I came up with these measurements:

[](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_Boostermeasure.jpg)

That should print out actual size, here’s a copy of the template without the measurements on it as well: http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_Boostertemplate.jpg

The “backing plate” of the frame is 1/4" thick so I printed out the template and cut two pieces of 1/8" styrene to shape:

[](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_IMG_1167.jpg)

The MDF is cut into three strips 1.5" long and 4 “bricks” or about 1/4" high.

[](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_IMG_1164.jpg)

I also cut one more strip of MDF at 1.5"x.5" for the top piece and an additional piece of styrene for the bottom. Layed out the pieces should look like this:

[](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_IMG_1169.jpg)

The rubber mat should be just under seven “triangles” wide. The sides will be sanded down so the outter most triangle is close to cut in half:

[](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_IMG_1166.jpg)[](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_IMG_1171.jpg)

Next the wording on the pencils was compaired to Vince’s Awesome reference pictures and lined up with the MDF pieces for accurate placement.

[](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_IMG_1173.jpg)

The pencils lay on their sides between the inner two rows of the mat. The mat is what holds them on the edge.

A bit of cutting and sanding on the pencils and the booster frame is done:

[](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/jackdoud/Ghostbusters_Booster Frame_IMG_1174.jpg)

I drilled pilot holes into mine as I intend to cast it, otherwise you could just drill right through. Any questions just ask.

[m_burkit]

Why don’t I have a resin cast of this yet?

[ChapterMasterTuShan]

Wasn’t the frame in the movies black?

[jackdoud]

@ChapterMasterTu'Shan

Wasn’t the frame in the movies black?

Common misconception, film processing and lighting effects coupled with the blue-ray transfer changed the color.

[wm6929]

Man, you just saved my bacon. I have the materials lined out, I just had not made the template yet.

Thank you sir.

[Carpeteria]

Nice! Now what do I do with the rest of the pencils?

[jackdoud]

@Carpeteria

Nice! Now what do I do with the rest of the pencils?

[mikenelson1982]

@jackdoud

@ChapterMasterTu'Shan

Wasn’t the frame in the movies black?

Common misconception, film processing and lighting effects coupled with the blue-ray transfer changed the color.

so what color was it in the movies befor they changed for the blu-ray?

[jackdoud]

@mikenelson1982

so what color was it in the movies befor they changed for the blu-ray?

… :sigh:

Sort of a black color.

[Carpeteria]

Pssssh. That’s kids’ stuff.

[jackdoud]

..and cast:


[m_burkit]

Looks about right.

[wm6929]

Proof that it can be done:

[Azgbfan]

Where does one get strips of Triangle Mat?

[PLURKLE_20J]

I was going to ask the same thing, what is this “Triangle Mat”?

[jackdoud]

@PLURKLE 20J

I was going to ask the same thing, what is this “Triangle Mat”?

Exactly what it says, it’s a piece of rubber floor mat with a triangular cross section to the ridges. Used to be a hardware store thing but I’ve yet to find it in a current store these days (lowes, home despot, etc). I did notice that my parent’s ancient pool table has it lining the ball return on both sides so that may be a line of inquiry for finding some but that’s about all I can tell you. You’ll just have to dig around or else hope someone else pops up here who has some like how I got mine.

[scadru]

@Carpeteria

Pssssh. That’s kids’ stuff.

:lol: Is that supposed to be H. Ross Perot ?

[davemurry69]

I know this mat material well, we used to have all over in my old restaurant.

I used to have a huge roll of it but we threw it out

[chevyvan]

you can find that mat material off of organ pedals.hammond, roland, a lot of the companies used it.I move pianos and organs on the side so i grabbed a bunch of em off of old ones

[jackdoud]

@chevyvan

you can find that mat material off of organ pedals.hammond, roland, a lot of the companies used it.I move pianos and organs on the side so i grabbed a bunch of em off of old ones

I recently pulled a bunch out of an old pool table as well.