I wondering if anyone here has got any tips to upgrade lights and sounds of the Spirit packs to look more movie-accurate as I’m interested in making an affordable (and lighter) alternative to what I’ll be receiving in a few weeks.
I’m not very handy when it comes to soldering, but recommendations, pictures and diagrams would be a big help.
Thanks!
Easy lighting upgrade using an Arduino on my github.
https://github.com/CountDeMonet/ArduinoProtonPack/tree/master/Arduino/SpiritMinimial
As with anything diy it gets more complex the more features you add. I’d suggest starting with the lights then add on.
I stripped off all decals and gutted most of the interior of the pack and thrower first. I added some hot glue “welds” where it was necessary and cleaned up the pack as best as I could. A little jb weld on the speaker hole to cover that mess up. I left on all tubing and stock connectors. I may change those out later but for the initial process I just taped them off and painted the whole thing flat black. I then touched up some of the nooks and crannies by hand and very lightly clear coated it. I don’t think these pack look very good with an even sheen because the corners are so sharp and a weathering effect takes some of that down a bit.
The nuts and bolts are just stuff from the local hardware store. Anything close to the original stuff was good enough for me. It’ll drive you crazy trying to find the things you need in 80% scale.
I ordered a 3d printed gun track and vhook from a seller on etsy and I got the gb1 ribbon from Fincher Technologies. They make a scaled down version just for these packs. The mobo is plexiglass. It works great for this and keeps the overall weight down.
The light kit is spongeface’s. These are great kits and are compatible with a couple sound kits including the GBFans and the Matty wand if you choose to go that route.
These can be really great packs if you put a little time in. If you’re looking for an alternative to heavy full size packs because of back problems or just for cons and parades, I’d recommend picking one up.
FANTASTIC! Did you replace the speaker holes somewhere else? My pack looks VERY similar to this one except I haven’t covered the speaker holes yet because I have no clue how to hook up different light or sound. The only other big difference is that you’ve added the blue cable that connects to the injectors. Did you 3D print that bottom piece and replace the red cable? How’d you do that? I’d love to add this mod to my pack as well!
Side note, I LOVE that you took the time and effort to cut the holes out of the N-Filter vent and used mesh underneath. I did the same and it was a huge pain in my neck. And my girlfriend wasn’t too happy about me using her old pasta strainer for the mesh lol!
I only redirected the speaker the other direction for now. The new sound set-up is coming once I settle on a clean (and lightweight) method for doing so. There are compatible sound kits out there but I’m trying to avoid having to use that “blue brick.” I want to keep this thing as light as possible.
The addition of the blue tube off of the rear injector was actually pretty simple. I just dremeled off the bottom part for the red tube and cleaned it up as best as I could with a hobby knife. Once I had it flush with the body I just hand molded some 2 part plumbers putty into the shape I needed and applied it. I kept the texture rough on the body of the cyclotron and overlapped it in parts for better adhesion. I had some spare blue wire so I cut a couple short peices of dowel, glued them on to the pack and wrapped the bases in spare 1/4" loom that is used for the green tube on the front on the pack.
A dremel or any other rotary cutting tool is your best friend on these things. It definitely made everything I’ve wanted to do on mine very simple to accomplish.
The thrower rail and v-hook set you ordered, was it this one from Buster Props? https://www.etsy.com/listing/566559817/v-hook-kit-for-spirit-halloween-proton
I’m thinking about getting it for my pack and was wondering about the quality.
It’s not exactly it and after looking I don’t immediately see the one that I bought. This is the same seller though. The item that you have linked may be an updated model since this is a track made to adapt around the current peg on the wand. I had to remove mine with a dremel and sand it flush.
Everything else is pretty much the same and to answer your question mine has held up just fine and I haven’t had any problems
Great, thanks! Is it easy enough to put the wand back on the pack when you’re wearing it? Or does it take some practice to get it?
Every vhook style takes a bit of practice to re-holster but it’s definitely doable. I added an s-hook to my track as well so if it comes down to it, I can always hang it off the belt as well.
That’s a great idea! I’m going to have to lift that idea from you and do the same. Thanks for the advice!
Always welcome
Who has the best stickers? Are the stickers in the gbfans.com shop available for the Spirit pack?
There’s a seller on eBay that has “upgrade stickers” in regular and metallic. I bought both pretty reasonably price-wise and I’m completely happy.
You have a link? I can’t find the metallic die-cut ones on eBay
Thank you
No problem sir
+1 I upgraded mine this way. I also kept the Spirit “thrower” lights and sound.
http://www.gbfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4902093#p4902093
I also want to have a lighter pack and am working on a sound board and speaker mount for my pack that will work with the spirit battery pack (but could also last longer if you want the size/weight of the blue brick.) Should have an in-form factor prototype done in a couple of weeks, now it is just a kludge of multiple boards…
That’s exactly what I’m looking for! Are you adding any additional sounds from a board or are you keeping the “stock” spirit sound?
For gods sake, if you ever offer this, take my money!!!
