Ok so I’ve basically given up making my pack from styrene because most of the plastic places around here are never open when I’d be able to go. So to all of you who make packs from wood, what is the best type of wood to use? Have you had any success with one type over another? Also, will I be able to give it a metallic look even though it’s made from wood? That’s really what I’m concerned about… I don’t want a pack LOOKING like it’s made of wood. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Okay here is my advice… Sand it super smooth, paint it with spray can primer (I’d say 2 or 3 coats, wood tends to soak up paint fast), then use wood putty/bondo or glazing putty to fill in all of the imperfections in the wood. Give it another one or two coats of primer. Then use what ever tone of black spray paint you choose… I used this technique and then sprayed it with semi-gloss black and I’m very happy with the results. I also weathered the edges with silver paint and quite a few people have thought the pack was made of aluminum… Either way it, you can’t tell it’s wood anymore.
Awesome, thanks! I’m also interested in weathering it when I’m done… is there a website I could look at for how to weather things or do you have any tips?
I don’t know if there is a web site. :? I just took a tooth pick and dipped it in silver paint and then ran the side of the tooth pick along the edges of the pack.
There is another technique, that I am NOT at all skilled at. :x It’s called “dry brushing.” It’s taking a brush and dipping it in paint, then brushing it on a scrap piece, of what ever, until it is almost dry. Then you can run the brush across your pack and it looks like fine scratches in the paint… I’m not very good at that yet. 
The other thing that helped me was looking at old car parts and other metal objects that had paint worn off of them and then I tried to duplicate those ware patterns on my pack.
Hope I was some help. 
You can also use a technique to simulate chipped paint. Paint an area bright silver, dab on some mustard or ketchup in a random pattern, paint over it with your black, let dry completely then rub off where the mustard is and you will expose the silver giving it the “chipped” paint look. If you give it several coats of the black to really build it up it looks great. I use this technique to weather my blasters, in addition to dry brushing.
Just takes practice, don’t worry if you mess it up, you can just put more layers on till you get the right look.