# The V71 Mark X ~ Fiberglass Shell **URL:** \ **Category:** Proton Packs\ **Created:** [November 21, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794 "2008-11-21T21:36:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Exoray)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/21 "2008-11-22T20:14:23Z")
> [@Luke R](#): > > The drill bit guides for hole cutting in the cyclotron rings are a great idea. A ridiculously over tooled tweak… I actually made a custom drill guide on a lathe to accomplish that, and it’s was machined out of some leftover high tempered steel… Way overkill but it got the job done… > [@](#): > > It’s the final rectangular plate identical to 14 others that encircle the cyclotron/ spacer. Well I don’t believe any two of the plates are identical on this shell unlike the common plans… But yeah it’s the often left out and not included on plans 15th plate under the [ribbon cable clamp](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/ribbon-cable-clamp)… ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Richter](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Charlie\_Richter](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Charlie_Richter)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/22 "2008-11-22T20:29:19Z")
well there ya go, I seen that extra panel and thought, hmm looks like there is one too many? ha. Damn, now i have to add another one to my freshly finished spacer. ---
**Author:** ![Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Exoray)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/23 "2008-11-22T20:50:14Z")
> [@Charlie\_Richter](#): > > well there ya go, > > I seen that extra panel and thought, hmm looks like there is one too many? ha. Nope, rest assured it’s there on the real packs, if you look real carefully you can catch a glimpse of it on some of the reference photos on this site… ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Richter](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@Charlie\_Richter](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Charlie_Richter)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/24 "2008-11-22T20:56:42Z")
Heh, i beleive ya man. that was my thought when I first looked at your shell. fricken good job, ive almost finished my first build out of core foam. ---
**Author:** ![takimeta](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/takimeta/32/303_2.png) [@takimeta](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/takimeta)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/25 "2008-11-22T21:47:55Z")
Hey Exo, So, when you mentioned that most MB’s possibly need to be reworked to fit the shell pulls, did you mean that the shells themselves are going to be smaller in some areas and bigger in others? //tomasi ---
**Author:** ![UK\_Ghostbuster\_89](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/b9e5f3/32.png) [@UK\_Ghostbuster\_89](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/UK_Ghostbuster_89)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/26 "2008-11-22T22:14:55Z")
wow! 🆒 good job on the mould there m8, seriously good job. the first pics of the mould look like a chocolate pack, wat u would get out of a ghostbusters xmas advent calender lol ---
**Author:** ![Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Exoray)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/27 "2008-11-22T22:19:45Z")
> [@takimeta](#): > > Hey Exo, > > So, when you mentioned that most MB’s possibly need to be reworked to fit the shell pulls, did you mean that the shells themselves are going to be smaller in some areas and bigger in others? > > //tomasi Since the shell was built with mostly measurements taken from a real pack vs any of the currently available plans it differs in a few areas… Nothing huge, mostly just a smidgen here and there… When I get the mold made and a new pull I will outline it in more detail with pictures… But, before then the laser cut boards made to Stefan’s plans are real close, but there are little areas here and there that are not ‘perfect’ a little shy here and there and a little heavy here and there, the only real noticeable big issue is the little block on the bottom left where the [injector](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/injectors) hoses go into, it’s shifted about 3/16" or so so on one side 3/16" of it will need to be filed off the [motherboard](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/motherboard), and in all honesty the little bit it’s shy on [the other side](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/publications/comics/ghostbusters-the-other-side) is not noticeable unless you really look.. The rest of the shell fit to the motherboard is give or take 1/16" or so, easily as good of fit as the originals… > [@](#): > > the first pics of the mould look like a chocolate pack, wat u would get out of a ghostbusters xmas advent calender lol It is Wal-Mart cheap walnut colored paint, it’s much more ‘orange’ then what I thought it would look like… I let the girlfriend pick the paint as it really had no bearing on any thing at this point and black just seemed too generic for the master… It’s all dull now anyway as it’s in the process of getting a complete surface wet sand, and then a wax job so it’s not going to look all that pretty since I’m not buffing it back to a shine… ---
**Author:** ![Ectofiend666](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@Ectofiend666](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Ectofiend666)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/28 "2008-11-23T01:25:33Z")
**UltimateGBfan wrote:** > [@](#): > > I can’t wait till you start offering these,gonna have to save me some money for this bad boy. \*DITTO…_MAJOR_ DITTO 🆒 … \*Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Ectofiend666](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@Ectofiend666](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Ectofiend666)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 5:45am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/29 "2008-11-23T05:45:43Z")
\*Even though you appear to be finished, do you/did you plan to incorporate this cosmetic piece [that was pointed out by someone else in a different thread]?: \*And if not, does anyone have any better pictures of this piece? I obviously don’t see it hard to replicate it and add it to a pre-existing shell, but need better reference to achieve the best results if I have to go that route… \*Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![cole-funstuff](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/cole-funstuff/32/33_2.png) [@cole-funstuff](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/cole-funstuff)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:13am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/30 "2008-11-23T06:13:45Z")
That’s not part of the shell. It’s an L-bracket used to take the stress off of the [injector tubes](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/aluminum-welded-injectors). ---
**Author:** ![Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Exoray)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:50am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/31 "2008-11-23T06:50:29Z")
> [@Protonguy06](#): > > That’s not part of the shell. It’s an L-bracket used to take the stress off of the injector tubes. Yeah what he said… From a cropped picture taken by member _thegreatgallina_ you can see the back side of the bracket… ---
**Author:** ![Ectofiend666](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@Ectofiend666](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Ectofiend666)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:48am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/32 "2008-11-23T08:48:58Z")
\*Thanks guys…I forgot what the original thread said that was, however I did remember the pictures, and it was driving me nuts, as to what exactly that was…And _yes_ I tried searching for the thread, however I was using words other than “bracket”, as I forgot what the thing was called, as previously mentioned…Not that it would’ve made much of a difference, in the long-run, as it’s hidden behind the ribbon/clamp… \*On another note, Exoray - How much do you think you’d price the shells for, if you are going to do a run of them? Would like to know how much I have to save up for this puppy ;-)… \*And does anyone make resin [N-Filters](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/n-filter)? Don’t wanna have to go the “can-'o-soup” route… \*Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Exoray)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:53am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/33 "2008-11-23T08:53:59Z")
> [@Ectofiend666](#): > > \*On another note, Exoray - How much do you think you’d price the shells for, if you are going to do a run of them? Would like to know how much I have to save up for this puppy ;-)… There will be more on this shortly… > [@](#): > > \*And does anyone make resin N-Filters? Don’t wanna have to go the “can-'o-soup” route… I have the [N-Filter](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/n-filter) as well as the [booster tube](https://www.gbfans.com/wiki/equipment/proton-pack/booster-tube) and HGA covered, just not pictured… ---
**Author:** ![UltimateGBfan](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/ultimategbfan/32/5863_2.png) [@UltimateGBfan](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/UltimateGBfan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/34 "2008-11-23T17:47:54Z")
Man the more I look at this thing the more I want a pull. ---
**Author:** ![loly2kn2](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/51bf81/32.png) [@loly2kn2](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/loly2kn2)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/35 "2008-11-23T21:23:09Z")
I guess this is what I was looking for… Its not the exact one, but it kinda shows the curve on the gearbox and Gun Mount… Lawrence ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_AKA](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/dan_aka/32/5932_2.png) [@Dan\_AKA](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Dan_AKA)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/36 "2008-11-24T17:12:29Z")
Consider the money saved for this baby. ---
**Author:** ![Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Exoray)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/37 "2008-11-24T17:45:15Z")
> [@loly2kn2](#): > > Its not the exact one, but it kinda shows the curve on the gearbox and Gun Mount… Won’t deny there is some curve there but I have to wonder how much of it is the result of warping in the fiberglass from either a bad layup (too much catalyst creates too much heat and polyester resin shrinks and warps with heat) or being pulled from the mold too soon… In the end I have said the shell is still idealized, I didn’t aim for the exact screen accurate finish and blemishes, overall the screen used packs were sloppy… I wanted to go more for the “as new” look… If you want to dirty it up and scratch it up upon building that is always an option, but as built the pulls should have almost a mirror like finish to the surface, with crisp lines… ---
**Author:** ![Lionbush](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/lionbush/32/5987_2.png) [@Lionbush](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Lionbush)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/38 "2008-11-24T17:59:39Z")
Wow, I never knew they used an L bracket to help support the [injector tubes](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/aluminum-welded-injectors)! Now I don’t feel as bad for doing this to my pack, although I feel slightly deflated that my stroke of genius wasn’t all that original! ---
**Author:** ![Crix](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@Crix](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Crix)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/39 "2008-11-24T18:12:05Z")
> [@Exoray](#): > > In the end I have said the shell is still idealized, I didn’t aim for the exact screen accurate finish and blemishes, overall the screen used packs were sloppy… I wanted to go more for the “as new” look… If you want to dirty it up and scratch it up upon building that is always an option, but as built the pulls should have almost a mirror like finish to the surface, with crisp lines… That could make for interesting options with painting, crisp lines with battered paint over it gives the impression of something much more damage resistant than fiberglass, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/d26b3c/32.png) [@Exoray](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Exoray)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794/40 "2008-11-24T18:34:23Z")
> [@Crix](#): > > That could make for interesting options with painting, crisp lines with battered paint over it gives the impression of something much more damage resistant than fiberglass, yes? Yeah you can be creative, using the ‘hammered metal’ spray paint you can build up a rough texture over the surface, and if you want the ‘boogers’ like the real packs had you can mist it with some of the ‘stone texture’ paint, want some scratches and sorts hit certain areas with 40 or 60 grit sand paper or a file and instantly turning it into an ugly weathered pack… [Previous page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/the-v71-mark-x-fiberglass-shell/33794.md?page=3)