UKGB clearance - The UK Ghostbusters

the uk ghostbusters
clearance guidelines
and costume/prop guide
UK GHostbusters 2015
Contents.
Pg 4. Clearance guidelines
Pg 6. Guide
Pg 7. Uniform
Pg 7. Flight Suits
Pg 8-9. Belts
Pg 10. Belt Gizmo
Pg 11. Elbow Pads
Pg 12. Patches
Pg 13. Leg Hoses
Pg 14. Belt Fobs
Pg 15. Radios
Pg 16. Lifegards
Pg 17. Flashlights and Trap Holsters
Pg 18. PKE Meter Holsters
Pg 19. Boots
Pg 20. Chemical Gloves
Pg 21. Rubies Costumes
Pg 22. Additional Movie Costumes
Pg 23. Proton Pack
Pg 24-25. Differences Between Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II
Pg 26. Alice Frame Padding
Pg 27. Alice Frames and Makita Battery Holder
Pg 28. Pack Shells
Pg 29. Scratch Build Packs and Neutrona Wands
Pg 30. Neutrona Wands Kits and The Matty Collector Neutrona Wand
Pg 31. Examples of Clearable Packs
Pg 32. Examples of Non Clearable Packs
Pg 33. Parts and Electronics
Pg 34. Pack Tips and Links
Pg 35. Ghost Traps
Pg 35-36. Difference Between Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II
Pg 37. Building a Ghost Trap
Pg 38. Ghost Trap Kits
Pg 39. Matty Collector Ghost Trap
Pg 40. Kenner Ghost Trap
Pg 41. Trap Pedal
Pg 42. Ghost Trap Tips and Links
Pg 43. Ecto Goggles
Pg 44. Ecto Goggle Kits and Parts
Pg 45. Differences Between Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II
Pg 46. Matty Collector Ecto Goggles
Pg 47. PKE Meter
Pg 47. Iona Shoe Polisher and Electronics
Pg 48. Matty Collector PKE Meter
Pg 49. Surplus Equipment
Pg 50. Radiacmeter and Monitor 4 Radiation Detector
Pg 50. Realistic Sound Level Meter and KUD Meter
Pg 51. Bacharach Sniffer and Slime Scoop
Pg 52-53. Gigameter
Pg 54. Slime Blower
Pg 55. Ecto Containment Unit
Pg 56. Expanded Universe and Custom Props
Pg 56. Real Ghostbusters Uniforms
Pg 57-58. Real Ghostbusters Proton Pack
Pg 59. Real Ghostbusters PKE meter
Pg 60. Real Ghostbusters Ghost Trap
Pg 61. Extreme Ghostbusters
Pg 61. Extreme Ghostbusters Uniforms
Pg 62. Extreme Ghostbusters Proton Pack
Pg 63. Extreme Ghostbusters Ghost Trap
Pg 64. Kylie’s Proton Pistol
Pg 65. Extreme Ghostbusters PKE meter
Pg 66. Ghostbusters The Video Game
Pg 66. Video Game Proton Pack
Pg 67-69. Video Game Proton Pack Modes
Pg 69. Useful Links and Tips
Pg 70. Examples of Video Game Proton Packs
Pg 71. Video Game Ghost Trap
Pg 72. Video Game PKE Meter and Lifegard
Pg 73. IDW Comics
Pg 73. Boson Dart Pack and Proton Cannon
Pg 74. Janine’s Mini Proton Pack and Winston’s Proton Pistol
Pg 75. Arm Mounted Proton Pack
Pg 76. Ron’s Secondary Neutrona Wand and Ghostsmashers Uniforms
Pg 77. Ghostsmashers Atomizer Pack and Gun
Pg 78. Ghostsmashers Logo
Pg 79. Custom Uniform and Equipment
Pg 79. Custom Uniforms
Pg 80. Girlbuster Uniforms
Pg 81-82. Examples of Custom Equipment
Pg 83. Examples of Customized Movie Proton Packs
Pg 84-85 Examples of Steam Punk and Era Costumes and Equipment.
clearance
Why do we have clearance?
There are a number of reasons the UK Ghostbusters has clearance. First and foremost, certain
events request our participation and we aim to give them the best Ghostbusters experience we
can . By having good equipment and uniforms and best representing what has been seen in the
movies, cartoon and comics, we can assure event organizers that we will deliver a true
Ghostbusters experience for their events. Clearance also helps you, by using this guide it will help
you get correct parts and equipment. The last thing we want to see is someone spending time,
effort and money on something that isn’t clearable. This guide outlines what is and isn’t clearable.
WHAT Does clearance mean?
The large majority of events are open to all UK Ghostbusters members, both cleared and
non cleared. Now and again, the UK Ghostbusters will be requested to attend a particular event.
These events are cleared members only. We aim to give these events the best Ghostbusters
experience we can. Clearance also means that you can contribute to and operate the group table
at an event. We regularly collect for Vasculitis UK and as such only cleared members are permitted
to man the table.
how do i meet clearance?
Each section of this guide outlines clearly what is and isn’t clearable. The main clearance staple
is that your gear shouldn’t look visibly cardboard. We aim to make replicas that look like actual
pieces of equipment, seeing cardboard ribs and sticky tape ruins this illusion. Cardboard can be
used, but isn’t a recommended build material. Plating cardboard in styrene sheet can really have
superb results.
To become a cleared member of the UK Ghostbusters, all you need is a cleared uniform. You do
not need a proton pack, trap etc. All you need is the base uniform.
Each replica you make must be submitted for clearance. These will be approved by the UK
Ghostbusters admins and moderators.
You can find information on the various uniform and equipment parts in the guide section,
starting on pg 5. This way, you’ll ensure that your gear is clearable.
ok i want to get started, how long will it take to make?
Really, that’s up to you and the build materials you choose. A proton pack can take anywhere from
a few months all the way up to a year! This also depends greatly on your experience of building
and the level of detail you’re striving towards. The absolute best piece of advice we can give is
do not rush. The temptation to see your uniform and equipment ready as fast as possible is big,
but taking your time and researching other people’s builds will ensure that your replicas will be
superb. We understand that these props take time and care to build, this is partly why all you need
to become a cleared member is a clearable uniform.
how much will this cost me?
Again, this depends greatly on your budget. The guide will help you in determining what route to go
down with your builds and outlines the cost of each option. We’ll freely admit that overall, it is not
cheap hobby to get into. Some members have spent thousands of pounds making their gear. We
suggest you take your time as this will help spread the cost. It also helps before starting your build
to create a shopping list of all the parts you need. You can then prioritize what you need first and
see your overall cost.
IF I GET MY UNIFoRM CLEARED, WILL I HAVE To BE CLEARED AGAIN FoR
EQUIPMENT?
Only if you want to bring the equipment to a cleared event. You can only bring the cleared parts of
your costume to cleared events. If you want to have your equipment cleared, it will need to be
submitted for clearance the same way you submit your uniform (see below).
WoULD I LoSE MY UNIFoRM CLEARANCE IF I HAVE A NoN CLEARABLE
equipment?
Not at all, your uniform would still be cleared. It would only mean that should you choose to attend
cleared events, your non cleared equipment would have to stay at home. At non cleared events,
youʼre perfectly ok to wear your non cleared equipment.
I BELIEVE I HAVE A CLEARABLE UNIFoRM, WHAT Do I Do NEXT?
You will need to take some photographs of your costume. This must include:
1 full body shot of you in just your uniform from the front
1 full body shot of you in just your uniform from the back
1 full body shot of you in just your uniform from the left
1 full body shot of you in just your uniform from the right
When submitting equipment for clearance, please include photos from different angles so we can
see the whole prop.
We recommend you post these on our forum or our Facebook page first so we can give you helpful
tips if you are not quite there yet.
When you are happy and ready, submit these photographs to
[email protected].
If your costume is clearable, congratulations! You will inducted into the Cleared Members section,
have your cleared photos on the cleared members section on www.theukghostbusters.co.uk and
will be invited to any events which are Cleared Members Only (CMO).
useful tips
1. Take your time and go slow. Building these replicas takes time and patience, don’t try to rush
and put unachievable deadlines on yourself. These things get done when they get done. Rome
wasn’t built in a day, neither was a proton pack!
2. Use recommended sellers where possible.
3. Research research and more research! Read build threads to learn techniques and building tips,
use photos of the screen used props and film stills to help you when building.
4. Budget as best as you can and make a list of the parts you need. This will help you keep track of
the cost and what parts to buy, it’s very easy to forget pieces!
5. Sign up to the forum at www.theukghostbusters.co.uk/forum and start a build thread. Other
members can see your progress, offer advice and furthermore, your thread will also help in
aiding other members in the future!
About the guide
This guide was written to help existing members and new members of UK Ghostbusters put
together their own uniform and equipment. In this guide, you will find helpful advice, links and tips
to help you build your own Ghostbusters uniform.
The guide includes pictures, diagrams, recommended build threads, website links and
recommended sellers. This way, you can be assured that the costume that you’re putting together
is of great quality and affordable. The guide also includes examples of what will meet UK
Ghostbusters clearance and what will not. You will find reading through that there is little that The
UK Ghostbusters don’t accept for clearance but this guide should help you and your equipment to
getting cleared.
You will find the guide is separated into chapters and categories for convenience, each section
outlining the particular elements that will help you when building your replicas. Each section has a
number of photos from screen used props and screen grabs from the films to help you better
understand how to build your replicas. You’ll find overviews and comparisons of different materials,
different brands and their pros and cons.
uk ghostbusters clearance guidelines
uniform
The start of any UKGB membership is putting together a uniform. You’ll need to get a US style
flight suit. There are a few options to choose from;
NOMEX CWU-27/P
The Nomex CWU-27/P style flight suits are generally the most
favoured and most used flight suit for replicating the Ghostbusters
uniform. The material is very similar to that used on the the screen
used flight suits. The pocket placement is near identical to that
seen on screen, the left arm has an additional flap over the pocket
that can be removed for added accuracy. These suits are hard
wearing and are great for keeping warmth in. These suits are
available in Khaki and Navy for those interested in Ghostbusters 2
suits. PLEASE NOTE there is a British Nomex suit variant used
by the RAF. These are non clearable. The British one can be
easily identified by the pointed collar rather than the rounded
one seen on the US flight suits. The nomex suits are made of a
specific material that makes dyeing them to other colours nearly
impossible. The screen used flightsuits were made by Gibson and
Barnes.
TRU SPEC
The TRU SPEC flight suit is another alternative to the Nomex. It
runs slightly baggier and replicates well the baggy look of the
screen used suits. These too have the rounded collar. The TRU
SPEC does have a few missing pockets on the legs. The material
is a poly cotton blend and takes dye very well for those interested
in tinting their suits. The TRU SPEC also runs at larger sizes than
the Nomex.
ROTHCO
The Rothco flightsuit is a cheaper alternative to the uniform. The
colour is slightly lighter than that seen on the NOMEX and TRU SPEC
and has a slightly yellowish tint to it. The material is a poly cotton
blend and is also great for dyeing to other colours. The material itself
is a lot thinner than the TRU SPEC and NOMEX suits, almost that of
tshirt material. Though it has the round collar and the correct number
of pockets, itʼs chest pockets are placed lower on the chest, more
toward the stomach area. The zips are also plastic instead of metal.
BELT
Next on the ghostbusters uniform, you’ll need a belt. As it stands, there are 3 variants of the
ghostbusters belt.
Ghostbusters pistol belt.
The GB1 belt is a pistol belt that has a series of 3 eyelets around the belt for adjusting the size.
The colour is off white to grey.
Ghostbusters 2 pistol belt.
Same as GB1 style belt but Khaki in colour
Ghostbusters 2 Black belt.
Seen on the blue suits, the khaki suits at the end of Ghostbusters 2 and the yellow water proof
suits in the subway. These belts have a plastic quick release buckle and only have 2 eyelets. The
black belts were custom made for the film but an LC3 ALICE belt is a brilliant alternative.
All 3 belt styles can be found easily on ebay or through www.gbfans.com/shop
White/ light grey belts in GB1
Black belts seen on the subway waterproofs
Black belts on GB2 suits
Khaki belts on GB2 suits.
BELT GIZMo
The belt gizmo is seen on every Ghostbusters belt in both films and the video game and is
therefore a standard piece of the uniform equipment. Whilst not essential for clearance, it does
help fill your belt out and make it look more technical. The belt gizmo was made from a Sanyo
ICC-808D calculator. These are incredibly difficult to come by and are expensive when they crop
up. The main board is connected to a smaller daughter board via a black electrical coil. There are a
number of people who offer kits to make replicas. www.nickatronprops.co.uk offers a resin kit to
build a belt gizmo, Spongeface on www.gbfans.com also now offers replica printed circuit boards
and all the correct components to make as accurate a gizmo as there is available. You can chose
to use real IV-9 nixie tubes or clear rod to create your gizmo. Here’s a template you can use to
make your gizmo http://www.tk2441.co.uk/buster/Jairuswhitley-beltcircuit-gizmo.pdf
Ghostbusters belt gizmo and the Sanyo circuit board.
In Ghostbusters 2, the belt gizmo got an update (or downgrade depending on how you look at it)
The screen used gizmos simply are the gizmo pouch modified into the shape of a gizmo and
painted. Most fans opt to make an actual gizmo to place into their gizmo pouch. You can make one
of these from foam board or styrene sheet very cheaply, parts won’t cost more than £10. A
template for the GB2 gizmo can be found here GB2StuntGizmoVer3MASTERpreview-SMALL.jpg
Screen used belt gizmo, notice how
it is made from the actual pouch
A fan made replica of the GB2 belt gizmo
The belt gizmo pouch is made from a tape measure holster. You can get these from DIY store or
from ebay though there are people such as TygerCheex on both the UKGB forum and
www.gbfans.com who make accurate replicas of the leather pouch.
Elbow Pads
The ghostbusters elbow pads are modified volleyball kneepads that are worn over the sleeves of
the flightsuit on the elbows. The elbow pads should have 3 “bubbles” on the back of them and be
grey in colour. Most volleyball pads that are made these days are either black or white so spraying
them with primer or dyeing them works well. On the Ghostbusters 1 pads, black squares are on the
crease of the elbow. Defender Kneepads, Century Kneepads and Cannon Sport Kneepads are all
very accurate to what was seen on screen.
Venkman’s elbow pads, notice the black square in the crease of each elbow. Also the bubble of the
elbow pads are surrounded in black too.
Patches
No Ghostbusters uniform would be complete without the no ghost logo on the right arm above the
shoulder and a name patch on the left chest pocket. Ideally your no ghost patch should not have a
black outline around it and be around 3.5-4” in diameter. If you’re replicating the uniform as seen in
the video game, the patch does have a black outline to it.
The GB1 logo is only seen on Khaki coloured flight suits where as the GB2 logo was seen on both
the Khaki and Navy Blue flight suits.
There are also 2 variants of the name patch. The font changes from GB1 and GB2. Please ensure
you have the correct name patch for the uniform you are replicating. Your name patch can be
your surname, nickname, username on the UKGB.
Ghostbusters name patch, notice the slightly
angular lettering
Ghostbusters 2 name patch, lettering is slightly
smaller and more rounded
LEG HoSE
The leg hose is only seen on the khaki suits and does not feature on the Ghostbusters 2 Navy
Blue suit. The nozzle can be either grey or khaki coloured and can be either rubber or resin,
these are widely available through www.gbfans.com and www.nickatronprops.co.uk . For
Ghostbusters, the hose is yellow, for Ghostbusters 2 the hose is clear.
Yellow GB1 Hose
Clear GB2 Hose
GB2 Navy Blue no leg hose
BELT FoBS
The belt fobs for Ghostbusters are made of leather and metal parts, typically consisting of a leather
flap that has a snap press stud to hold them in place. The type of fobs used vary from actor to
actor so if you’re replicating a particular character, here is a simple guide to help you. If building for
yourself, any of these fobs are acceptable on your uniform in any configuration. Fobs are available
through www.gbfans.com and can also be found on ebay.
The Ghostbusters 2 belt fobs vary greatly from the fobs seen in the first film. The majority of these
are made from from cloth rather than leather, some made from seatbelt material and other nylon
straps. These fobs are harder to get hold of though they do occasionally crop up on
www.gbfans.com. Those attempting to make their own, the loops are made from varying materials,
seatbelt fabric, harness fabric etc. The rings are named by their shapes. O ring, D ring, V ring etc.
These are all widely available on ebay.
RADIo AND HoLSTER
The radios were seen only in GB1 and there are two models that are used. Peter and Egon are
seen with the Motorola MT-500. These radios are vintage now, though come up quite regularly on
ebay. The correct model has three dials on the top of the radio, the radio body is the older, longer
model and has a short, stubby antenna. Any MT-500 variant is acceptable though. Ray uses a
similar radio, a Motorola HT-220. Which variant of the HT-220 he uses is hard to discern, some
models have a keypad on the front similar to a mobile phone. Any HT-220 is also acceptable.
MT-500
HT-220
The video game also introduced a new radio worn on the left pack strap. This radio has been
identified as the Motorola HT1000, though the MTX838 and GP900 have the same bodies and
would be perfectly fine.
Radio holster can sometimes be found on ebay though there are sellers on www.gbfans.com who
offer replica holsters made of leather.
LIFEGARD
The lifegard was introduced on the black Ghostbusters 2 belts. It’s a PASS alarm, used by the
emergency services and will start to let off a high pitch noise if the wearer is still for more than 30
seconds, this helped find firefighters in trouble etc. The model used in Ghostbusters 2 was the
Lifegard II. Real Lifegard IIs are getting increasingly difficult to find and the knowledge that they are
part of the Ghostbusters uniform has only meant that the price for them has grown dramatically.
There are a number of sellers who offer resin copies of the Lifegard II such as nickatron.
Alternatively, the later models of the Lifegard line are also acceptable as their appearance is
largely unchanged
A Lifegard II
A Lifegard IV, notice the identical shape to the II
A Lifegard V on the right, notice how it is slightly shorter
and rounder than the Lifegard II
Flashlight
On the Ghostbusters The Video Game uniform, a L shaped flash light is seen attached to the right
pack strap. These come in two sizes, C battery and D battery. You’ll want to get a D battery sized
one. These are plentiful and can be found very cheap on ebay. To attach to the strap, you can
either sew a loop of fabric to the pack strap or use a large safety pin through the strap, both work
well.
The flashlight as seen on the GBTVG suit
The correct angle head flashlight. Notice the
ribbing on the body and the clip on the back.
trap and pke holsters
To keep your trap on your belt, you’ll need a holster. These are made from aluminium plate,
covered with leather with a V hook to hang your trap from. A number of sellers on the gbfans for
sale section sell these, most coming with the v hook attached. There are two variants. The
standard and the Venkman. The standard has a pop stud strap that wraps around your trap when
holstered helping keep in place, the Venkman holster does not.
Venkman’s trap holster
A replica of the Venkman and standard trap holsters
Throughout the film, we’re never shown where the PKE meter is stowed on Egon’s uniform. It
appears and disappears when not in use. It’s far too big to fit comfortably in one of the pockets.
Some fans have remedied this by creating PKE holsters. Tyger Cheex on gbfans and the UK
Ghostbusters forum offers a fantastic holster very in keeping with the gizmo pouch and the radio
holster.
BooTS
The screen used boots are vintage Vietnam Carolina paratrooper boots. These boots are incredibly
difficult to find with the correct vintage and style. There are many alternatives. Bates boots and
Corcoran both have very similar styling and sport the side zip seen on the screen used boots. So
long as you have black leather shin high boots, they will be clearable.
Carolina Boots with correct flat sole
A pair of vintage Corcoran Paratrooper boots
Bates Paratrooper boots
CHEMICAL GLoVES
While not a deal breaker in terms of clearance, a good set of chemical gloves will really finish off
the look of your uniform. GB1 gloves were much shorter than their custom made GB2
counterparts. GB1 gloves vary from just going over the wrist to half way up the forearm. GB2
gloves go all the way up to near the elbow pads. It’s recommend to buy gloves with inner gloves.
Wearing just the rubber gloves and holding the thrower etc can give your hands blisters, definitely
not fun!
GB1 short gloves
GB2 long gloves. Notice the join around the wrist area where the arm portion created meets the
original rubber glove.
rubies suits and inflatable packs
Rubies Costumes released a very cheap Ghostbusters costume, a polyester flight suit and
inflatable pack for men and a “sexy” Ghostbusters uniform for women, complete with proton pack
handbag/ backpack. Neither of the adult suits or the packs are clearable. As we attend many
events where children are present, we feel the female Rubies costume to be inappropriate.
The only exception is the Rubies children’s flight suit for children wanting to dress as
Ghostbusters.
additional movie costumes
Fancy doing something a little different? There are many costumes other than the boys in grey that
you may wish to replicate. Here are some excellent examples.
A superb Walter Peck costume
Louis Tully complete with colander helmet
A Dana/Zuul costume
A Janine Melnitz costume
PRoton pack
Arguably the most identifiable part of the Ghostbusters equipment, the proton pack has many
components to it. Although it looks complicated, when you break it down to it’s component parts,
you’ll find it a relatively straight forward build.
It’s recommend that you familiarize yourself with the various components of the proton pack. This
will make it easier when it comes to buying parts and also researching certain construction aspects
of your build.
differences between ghostbusters and ghostbusters II
There’s some subtle differences between the packs from ghostbusters 1 and 2. Most noticeably,
the ribbon cable changes from the first film, which was from the wiring for a light aircraft landing
gear to a off the shelf strip of fine wire ribbon cable.
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters 2
The angle of the thrower on the V hook also changed from the first and second film. This was to
allow the actors to grab and unholster the thrower much easier.
A Ghostbusters 2 angled vhook
The crank knob on the gearbox changes colour from grey to black.
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters 2
The clippard fitting on the ion arm goes from a square fitting that’s mounted on the ion arm cap to a
hexagonal fitting that sits just after the cap.
A fan made GB1 ion arm
GB2 ion arm
Dale resistors on the ion arm also change, gb1 having horizontal ribbing, gb2 having vertical.
Vertical ribbed GB1 style resistor
An example of the GB2 style resistor
Heat sink on the thrower is rounded off at the top and bottom.
Rounded Heatsink as seen on the Harold Ramis hero pack
Padding on the top of the ALICE frame is attached via electrical tape wrapped around the foam
and frame in Ghostbusters. In Ghostbusters 2 the foam is much thicker and attached via cable ties.
GB1 style, the foam is wrapped around the frame, then black electrical tape wrapped around to
keep in place
GB2 style, using cable ties
Additional layers of foam added for comfort
GB2 shoulder straps in certain scenes were custom made padded straps for additional comfort
ALICE frame and straps change from LC-1 to LC-2
LC 1 frame, notice the much thinner waist
strap and smaller kidney pad
LC 2 frame, notice the quick release thicker
waist strap and larger, thicker kidney pad
Additional Makita Battery and housing added to GB2 packs. These were used to power the circuits
All these differences are marginal, if you wish to go all out on a particular style pack, feel free to,
though if you wish to pick elements of which pack you like, that is perfectly acceptable too. Many
builders find getting certain parts quite difficult. Remember, a lot of these parts are vintage now, so
they’re only become more scarce. Picking elements from ghostbusters 1 and 2 for your pack build
is absolutely fine.
pack shells
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to get a pack started by buying a shell. There are a number of
different materials to choose from.
Fibreglass is what the original packs were made from and is strong and durable material. Many
pack shells have a number of the details moulded in saving you a lot of build work. As you can see
from the pictures, fibreglass shells have plenty of room inside them for mounting your speakers
and electronics. There are many reputable sellers of shells on www.gbfans.com.
www.nickatronprops.co.uk offers fantastic shells, both hero and semi hero. It is strongly advised
NOT to buy from bobspropshop on ebay. His shells are thin to the point of cracking and the
parts are of very poor quality. What you save in cost there you’ll spend in repairs.
Vacuum formed shells, such as those offered by www.studiocreations.com are a cheaper
alternative, but aren’t as strong as fibreglass. You will also notice that the details, whilst there, are
soft and rounded rather than being sharp and pronounced. Sometimes, due to the process in
which these are made, there are small wrinkles in the plastic where it hasn’t completely adhered to
the mould
Scratch building can work out being your cheapest option. This is where you build the pack from
the ground up. Recommended materials are MDF, styrene sheet and foamboard. All are easily
shaped and have a great finish when painted up. Scratch building allows for some great use of
innovation, look at the above picture using a pringles can for a N Filter. It is advised NOT to use
cardboard for a pack build. Visibly cardboard props will NOT meet clearance. Cardboard is
also a very flimsy build material and will not last long in a convention environment,
Ghostbusters get a lot of knocks and bumps in crowds, the last thing you want is anything
coming loose ;)
If scratch building, it’s also highly advisable to bolt things together wherever you can. This will help
keep the pack together and also make it easier to swap parts out should damage occur. This is
also applicable to shell builds, bolt where you can! It makes for a much sturdier pack ;)
neutrona wand
What’s a pack without it’s gun? There are many different people offering full kits for neutrona
wands now, www.nicktronprops.co.uk, Throwing chicken on www.gbfans.com offer some of the
best resin gun kits you can buy. Recently, aluminium neutrona wand (also called throwers) kits
have been made available. The screen used hero packs had aluminium throwers so those wanting
to go all out on their build may want to consider this. The kits are a lot more expensive but you
pretty much guarantee that nothing is going to break off. Sellers such as Vincenzo330 and Anhcon
on gbfans offer aluminum throwers as well a variety of metal parts. www.freekygeeky.biz also sell
superb parts.
Throwing Chicken thrower kit
Nickatron thrower kit
An example of an aluminium thrower kit.
An example of a completed thrower
In 2013, www.mattycollector.com announced that they would produce a replica ghostbusters
neutrona wand. The mattycollector thrower is clearable. It is strongly advised though to
build your own thrower. The gun requires extensive modification to hook onto your pack
and electrical knowledge to get the sounds to play out of your pack, all of which can be
more difficult than building one from scratch. You do this at your own risk. The plastic is thin
and could easily break. Whereas fixing a self built thrower is relatively easy (let no less annoying
when it happens ;) ) a replica such as this would prove to be very very difficult should the very
worst happen. Parts and kits for neutrona wands are plentiful, replacement matty throwers are not.
Any electrical issues would be almost impossible to fix or resolve too.
The Mattycollector replica
examples
Here are some examples of packs that would meet UKGB clearance.
A fibreglass shell build with aluminium thrower.
This pack uses real parts such as clippard
valves and barbs
Another example of fibreglass shell pack,
subtly weathered and scuffed to look used
A scratch built pack using wood, styrene and
resin parts. Real parts are used on this build
A studio creations shell pack, showing what
can be made with a modest budget
Both these packs are examples of what wouldn’t meet clearance with the UK Ghostbusters. Whilst
elements of the packs are there such as the cyclotron and bumper and certain stickers, many
elements are missing and instead replaced. The packs are also visibly cardboard and electrical
tape, which is not accepted. Provided that your pack is built to a good standard and isn’t made of
cardboard, retains much of the look of the movie packs, your pack should be cleared.
If you’re interested in making a custom pack, please refer to the Expanded Universe section of the
guide starting on pg 73.
parts
Finding parts for your proton pack has never been easier. There are numerous places to buy parts
from but your three main ports of call should www.gbfans.com, www.theukghostbusters.co.uk and
www.nickatronprops.co.uk. With Nickatron being a UK seller, your delivery charges will be
significantly less and there’ll be no import charges too. GBfans offers parts for sale out of their
shop but it’s highly recommended checking out their for sale section within the forum. Likewise, the
UK Ghostbusters for sale thread can also be found on the forum. For both sites, you will need
register as a member to view the for sale sections. Most sellers on the for sale sections link to their
person website shops, well worth checking out what they have in stock there too.
A lot of sellers offer resin casts of parts which is a cheaper alternative than buying actual parts.
This can be very helpful to those building on a budget and with such an active community, you can
find pretty much any part you care to think of. Alternatively, you may wish to go the ultra accurate
route and buy aluminium or stainless steel parts. These are usually a bit more expensive but they
will last you a lifetime. Screen used hero packs had metal HGAs, Booster tubes, injector tubes,
beam line tubes, N filters, ion arms, vac tube and throwers.
The ALICE frames that your pack is mounted to are vintage Vietnam era military spec. These
usually crop up on ebay though expect to have shipping from the states, with them being US army
spec, the majority of them are from the US. Some have known to have cropped up from the UK.
It’s also worthwhile looking around military surplus shops, you may just get lucky and find one!
ELECTRonics
There are numerous options for electronics with your pack. It isn’t necessary for your pack to have
sound or lights, though undoubtedly the effect is very much welcome.
In terms of lights, there a few sellers who offer superb light kits. www.gbfans.com offer their own
electronics kits with the beauty of these being that they simply clip together, requiring no soldering
at all. They offer lighting and sound kits, both of which interact with each other and offer a number
of modes for you to tweak and tailor your pack to your liking. These include all the video game
sounds and modes, colour changing barrel lights ( in order to get colour changing pack lights, you
will need to buy the expansion kit from the creator of kit, Spongeface. You’ll find him on the for sale
section on gbfans) and an interactive mode is also and additional feature on the board. A random
ghost sound will play and if you’re quick enough to fire, you’ll get a quote from the movies, how
cool is that?
Prop Forge offer what some consider to be the most screen accurate lights available. Some
soldering knowledge is required but for the most part, the kit is plug and play. You’ll find his for sale
thread on www.gbfans.com
Jupiter electronics operates out of ebay and offers some fantastic and very affordable light kits.
Most of these kits can be installed with very little soldering.
Crix, who also operates out of www.gbfans.com also offers both sound and light kits. These require
a little bit of electrical knowledge, but nothing overly taxing. His for sale thread shows how to wire
his kits up correctly.
The mightymicro kit can also be used to make pack lights and sounds. This kit is highly
customizable, allowing the user to add their own custom sounds to the chip. So if you have a
particular firing sound you prefer or a switch on sound you like, you can add this to your pack and
tweak to how you like. The kit does require a little bit of adruino knowledge, guides of which can be
found on gbfans.
These are recommended kits, but is by no means an exhaustive list. There are other sellers
who offer kits too and if you are skilled enough to build your own electronics, fantastic!
pack tips and links
www.nickatronprops.co.uk lots of UK based proton pack parts, fantastic quality and reasonably
priced to boot.
www.gbfans.com/shop you can find a number of items helpful to your build here too. Remember
it’s US based, so expect import charges and extended delivery times
www.gbfans.com/community here you’ll find an absolute TON of information regarding the props.
The Proton Pack section has active proton pack builds for you to follow, get ideas from and get
your head around how to build your own. It’s highly advised to read through a few of these, it really
does help with understanding how all the pieces come together. The For Sale section is where
you’ll find the Ghostbusters marketplace and a plethora of parts for your build
http://www.gbfans.com/equipment/reference/ here you’ll find photos of the screen used props. That
way, you can see how they were built, the subtle differences between the different actors packs
and details such as sticker placement.
http://www.gbfans.com/equipment/plans/ detailed plans on how to build your packs. Sean Bishop’s
plans are a blow by blow account of how to put together your own equipment. Stefan’s are the
most accurate to date and will show you precise measurements of where certain parts sit and line
up.
1. No two packs are alike. Every pack is different, even the screen used props. Try not to get too
held up on making it absolutely identical to what was seen on screen. If that’s what you’re going
for, fantastic! But we all build differently, it’s to be expected that there’ll be subtle differences with
your own pack.
2. Try to bolt or screw wherever possible. The temptation to glue is great, and whilst glue does
serve its purpose during a build, think to yourself “is there a way I can bolt this instead?” It’ll
make for a much stronger pack and far more resistant to damage from knocks and scrapes,
which is inevitable with this hobby.
3. Use allen bolts where you can. If you check the reference pictures over on gbfans, you’ll see
allen bolts used pretty much exclusively throughout the pack, to hold resistors in place, the ion
cap on, on the HGA, on the gun etc. Whilst regular screws will do the same job, the allen bolts
are much easier to screw on and off should you need to unbolt something down the line.
4. When it comes to the painting stage, try to paint individual pieces, wait for them to dry, then
reassemble. You’ll find in doing this that you won’t have missed any areas with the paint.
Additionally, the screen used props didn’t have a layer of primer added before being sprayed
black so you don’t necessarily need to do so with your own. This is your own personal
preference though.
5. If deciding to weather your pack, less is more. Don’t go overboard with adding rust, dust and
paint chips. While at the end of the day it’s your pack, a little goes a long way with making it look
like you and your pack has seen action.
6. Pack to gun hose length is entirely up to and should be what feels comfortable for you. On
average, the length is around 5-6 ft.
7. If scratch building, make sure that you make your gun mount as solid as possible. You don’t
want your gun taking an unexpected trip to the floor!
8. Research research research. Look over other peoples pack builds, look at photos of the screen
used packs. You’ll find in doing this you’ll find neat tips on building and little details that you may
have overlooked! The devil’s in the details with the proton pack!
9. Make sure you straps are properly adjusted for you. Your pack whilst heavy should fit you
comfortably. A handy guide for adjusting your straps correctly can be found here http://
www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10227
10. The throwers had twisting front barrels for comfort and an extending clear barrel. It’s not
imperative that you have these on your pack, you can choose to add these if you wish.
11.The pack shell has a hammered metal look to it. To replicate this, you can use textured paint,
lightly sand it back and then spray black. You should have a fantastic finish to your pack. Again,
this is all down to personal preference, some prefer the flat clean look.
ghost trap
What’s a Ghostbuster without anything capture ghosts in? The Ghost trap is again one of the most
recognized pieces of equipment in the Ghostbusters universe. Around 6 traps were built during the
course of the two films. There were hero traps, made from metal and had full electronics, servos to
open the doors and lights. Not all traps had opening doors. The hero traps were also the only traps
to have the removable cartridge that goes into the Ecto Containment Unit. Stunt traps were built for
various purposes. There were trap specifically built to smoke, with strips of fabric that would be
soaked in the smoking agent. Other traps were built from foam and hung on the belt, the foam
helped keep the weight down for the actors. These traps were known as “belt hangers”.
From Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2, the ghost trap went through a number of subtle changes,
similar to the proton pack. The differences are;
1. The side rods on the trap change from being red in Ghostbusters to silver in Ghostbusters 2
2. The battery box is significantly longer in Ghostbusters than it is in Ghostbusters 2. The battery
box also had an additional sticker on it, next to the switch and behind the handle. This sticker is
the same one which is seen on the top of the EDA on the top of the proton pack, cut down to
size.
3. Because the ecto containment unit isn’t seen in Ghostbusters 2, none of the Ghostbusters 2
traps had removable cartridges. Because the handle on the hero trap contained the latching
mechanism used to keep the cartridge in place, the Ghostbusters 2 trap handles are slightly less
detailed.
4. The side dial on the heatsink side of the trap changes between the two films. The first film is a
small black plastic dial whereas the the second film, it’s a metal knurled dial.
Ghostbusters hero Ghost trap. Note the red side rods and the removable cartridge
Label seen on the battery box of the Ghostbusters 1 style trap and an example of the complete
sticker as seen on the top of the EDA on the top of the proton pack.
Ghostbusters 1 hero trap, as seen in
the Sedgwick scene. You can see here
clearly the black side dial. Compare the
battery box at the rear of the trap to the
Ghostbusters 2 trap below, you can see
it sticks out much further from the side
walls.
Ghostbusters 2 trap, with silver side
dial. Notice too that the prongs on the
golden CAL resistor have been cut off.
Ghostbusters 2 “belt hanger” trap. You can
clearly see the silver side rods on this
image. Because the trap is one piece foam,
the front of the trap where the cartridge
would usually hang over is flush with the
cartridge walls. The handle is made from
aluminium
building a ghost trap
There are many ways to go about making a ghost trap. Essentially the trap is two boxes that slot
within each other, so many opt to scratch build. A number of materials can be used to create your
trap, aluminium, MDF and foam board are regularly used to create very clean looking replicas.
An outstanding example of a aluminium
ghostbuster 1 hero trap.
This trap is made from foamcore board and
styrene. These are excellent materials if
you are planning on making your trap
lightweight. Perfect for a belt hanger.
An MDF trap. Though much heavier than
foamcore and styrene, it’s far stronger.
Moving through crowds at a convention or
event, it’s important that your trap be built
as strong as you can make it.
Alternatively, there are a number of people in the Ghostbusters community who offer trap kits. The
majority of kits are made from resin though there are some sellers who offer aluminium trap kits,
though these are pricey.
A nickatron resin trap kit, available at www.nickatronprops.co.uk
Another example of a trap kit. You can find many sellers offering kits on www.gbfans.com within the
For Sale section.
ELECTRonics
Electronics for the trap are relatively easy to come by. Jupiter electronics offers some excellent trap
light kits and can be found easily on ebay. Crix on www.gbfans.com also offers ghost trap light kits.
The majority of these kits are powered off one small 9 volt battery and require little electronics
knowledge to mount inside your trap. Jupiter electronics also offers lighting kits for the ghost trap.
Making the doors open, however, is a difficult task. There is no known seller of trap electronics kits
that incorporate the opening doors. There are a number of examples of Ghostbusters fans making
custom electronics using adruino boards and Raspberry Pie boards but these require knowledge of
these boards and how to make the servos work alongside the light kits. In addition, the Foster
connectors that connect the trap loom to the trap pedal and trap have to be hollowed out. As they
stand, you would not be able to run wire through them.
mATTY Collector ghost trap
In 2012, Mattel in their MattyCollector line released a 1.1 scale ghost trap replica. In terms of
dimensions, the trap is closer to being a GB2 trap than a GB1 as it sports the smaller battery box.
The replica comes with the trap pedal and has full lights and sounds. The doors open with a push
on the pedal and even shakes as if the trap has a ghost caught in it. These replicas have become
very expensive to buy, the only avenue for getting one being ebay seeing as MattyCollector has
ceased production of them. The Matty Collector trap is perfectly acceptable for UK
Ghostbusters clearance. Whilst a solid replica, please remember that should it break, it would be
very difficult to repair or replace. To make the matty trap hang off your belt holster, you will
need to replace the battery door with a metal one and add a vhook. Anchon offers these on
this thread http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28003
The Matty Collector Ghost trap, pedal, lead and packaging.
Kenner ghost trap
The Real Ghostbusters cartoon series had a number of merchandise for the show back in the
1980s and one such product was the ghost trap. This toy trap was made of plastic with a rubber
pedal with a pneumatic system that would open the doors.
Some fans take these original toys and paint them up to look like movie traps.
Unfortunately, the Kenner ghost trap does not meet UK Ghostbusters clearance. The reason
for this is that it is scaled down for children and looks too small next to a full scale trap. The
only exception to this rule is children wishing to dress as Ghostbusters with the UK
Ghostbusters.
trap pedal
The trap pedal, much like the trap itself and the proton pack went through several subtle changes
between the films.
The most obvious difference with the
pedal seen in Ghostbusters is the
inclusion of the 20 pin grey header as
seen on the larger relay box.
Certain GB1 trap pedals had black Dsub connectors. On this particular
replica, it is grey. It’s situated on the
smaller project box, near the
connector that attaches the loom to
the trap.
Here is a Ghostbusters 2 replica
pedal. You can see the lack of the 20
pin header, the ribbon cable is
instead held in place with a 20 pin
card edge connector. As stated, the
differences are very minor with the
pedal.
Construction of a pedal is relatively
simple, probably one of the easier
props to build. From the the base
plate, two project boxes are screwed
in place, with numerous holes to fit
the various components. A hinge is
added to the rear attaching to the
pedal vector plate. For the bellows
under the pedal, there are many
alternatives to what to use. Some
use air conditioning tubing, others
have used rubber suspension
covers, similar to that seen on
motorcycles. Many of the trap pedal
parts can be bought here http://
www.gbfans.com/shop/trap-parts/
ghost trap tips and links
1. Detailed plans on the ghost trap and the pedal can be found here on http://www.gbfans.com/
equipment/plans/ Sean’s plans are particularly helpful in understanding the build process.
Stephan’s plans give a detailed overview of the trap to scale, so you can get your
measurements spot on.
2. http://www.gbfans.com/equipment/reference/ the reference section on gbfans has some of the
best images of screen used traps available, makes sure to check them out!
3. http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=28716 this thread details some of the
best trap build threads, definitely worth reading through and checking out. The list also outlines
what trap has been made out what material so if you’re building from a specific material, you can
find hints and tips to help your build.
4. Aluminium side plates really add a touch of industrial and reality to a trap, it makes it look like a
real piece of technology. You can find sellers on the for sale section on gbfans who offer laser
cut plates. A cheap alternative is to use door push plates and cut them down to size.
5. Your trap doors don’t have to open. If your trap is being built for a belt hanger, it’s advisable to
make them one solid piece.
Ecto goggles
The ecto goggles were worn mostly throughout the films by Ray though can be seen to be worn by
both Venkman and Spengler. The original goggles were built on AN/PVS-5a night vision goggles
used in the US army. These are ridiculously difficult to get hold of and the fact that they are US
army means that many sellers are unable to ship them to the UK. The original goggles had all
internal components stripped out, as well as the padding around the back. This was replaced with
foam strips, similar to that of insulation foam or mouse mats.
An unmodified pair of the AN/PVS-5a goggles.
Only recently have the goggle lenses been identified as being real world parts. They are
combination of vintage camera lenses and microscope lenses. Again, with them being vintage,
these are very difficult to source and extremely pricey when found.
The larger right side lens is seen here on this Mirax camera.
Because of the difficulty and scarcity of these parts, many people use replica resin parts and kits.
www.nickatronprops.co.uk offers a full kit, minus the head straps.
There are many other sellers on the gbfans For Sale thread who also offer goggle parts. Sellers
such as Anhcon offers aluminium lense replicas.
Much like the pack, trap and pedal, the ecto goggles got an overhaul for the second film. Both
lenses appear to be silver with black detail. Additionally, a small cog was added in between the two
lenses on the back plate.
Goggles as seen in Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters 2 Goggles, both lenses are
clearly silver with what looks to be a ring of
rubber grip around the left.
You can see the small cog at the top in
between the two lenses.
mATTY collector ecto goggles
In 2012 MattyCollector offered a replica of the Ecto Goggles. These were lightweight and offered a
number of interactive modes. Combined with the MattyCollector PKE meter, images of ghosts
would magically appear within the lenses. These are a solid replica and well built, but many argue
that they are incorrect on some of the details. They have a very plastic look to them and lack the
danger and warning labels seen on the movie versions. To incorporate the electronics, the lenses
are made slightly larger than accurate lenses and the colour of the frame isn’t quite the olive drab
colour as seen in the films. The Goggles are closer to resembling the GB1 style goggles rather
than GB2. The MattyCollector Goggles are absolutely fine for UK Ghostbusters clearance.
Please remember that any damage that could occur could be difficult to repair and the goggles
hard to replace seeing as they are no longer being made.
pke mETER
The PKE meter, whist being one of the most instantly recognizable Ghostbusters props is
unfortunately one of the more difficult to build. The PKE meter was built from a heavily modified,
vintage Iona shoe polisher. These are getting harder to find though sometimes crop up on ebay.
The innards were all stripped out and the body extensively modified.
The electronics set up inside was completely custom, incorporating servos to push the PKE arms/
wings out. a roller was added where the motor vent on the body to control the speed of the lights.
The original PKE electronics. As you can see, extremely complicated and very tight on space
There are very few people who have offered PKE electronics kits and making your own would
require extensive electronics knowledge. www.hyperdynelabs.com offer PKE circuits but they are
expensive.
MATTY Collector pke meter
In 2011, Mattycollector released a 1:1 scale PKE meter. It incorporated lights and sounds, moving
arms. It had multiple screen functions, the ability to increase the speed of the lights and also to
change the pattern of the lights (this changed between Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2). These
retailed at $80 but with MattyCollector no longer producing them, the price has gone up somewhat.
These can be found on ebay and also show up from time to time on the gbfans For Sale section.
The Matty PKE is absolutely fine for UK Ghostbusters clearance. Please remember that any
damage that could occur could be difficult to repair and the PKE meter hard to replace seeing as
they are no longer being made.
The MattyCollector PKE meter.
SURPLUS EQUIPMENT
There’s a lot more props in the ghostbusters arsenal than just the pack! This section will cover
some of the lesser seen and lesser known props. Some of these props are just found real world
items, others are actual prop builds. Same as with the other props, as long as they are built to
a decent standard and aren’t made of cardboard, they should be fine for clearance. These
props are rarely replicated but add some variety to your uniform.
Radiacmeter IM 179 Gamma Rate Meter
The radiacmeter makes a very very brief appearance in Ghostbusters. Seen on Egon’s belt, it is
used for measuring background radiation. You can see Egon using it in the sedgwick scene, right
after they first fire their proton streams. Egon uses it again on the rooftop battle at the end of the
film. The radiacmeter is a real world radiation detector and was used by the US navy. They are
fairly difficult to find and usually pricey though you can get lucky when searching on ebay. A few
sellers on gbfans have offered resin cast copies of the radiacmeter for very reasonable prices.
Monitor 4 radiation detector
Another real world found prop, the Monitor 4 is another radiation detector, though in Ghostbusters
2 is used in measuring emotion. These regularly come up on ebay though are pricey, though on
occasion you can snag a bargain with one. The Monitor 4 is used by Egon in his laboratory at the
start of GB2 and can be seen on Ray’s belt during the montage sequence where they capture the
jogger ghost.
A Monitor 4 and it’s leather pouch
The Monitor 4 being used by Egon
REALISTIC Sound level meter
Seen in Ghostbusters 2, this is another found prop. Egon again uses this to monitor emotions. The
Sound level meter is a relatively easy and cheap prop to get ahold of on ebay, these were sold in
Radioshack in America and Tandy in the UK so finding one shouldn’t be too difficult. Prices are
usually around the £10-£20 mark.
KUD METER
Named for it’s use of kitchen utensils, the KUD Meter appears in Ghostbusters 2 and is used by
Winston when the Ghostbusters first investigate the museum. The main body is made from a
Micronta 3001 metal detector. These are regularly on ebay, the 4001 is almost identical in shape
with an additional red button on the top of the handle. The scan head is cut off and a strainer and
potato masher are added in place.
A fan made replica of the KUD meter.
bacharach sniffer 300
The Sniffer is seen in Ghostbusters when Peter first goes to investigate Dana’s apartment. This too
is a real world found prop with some modification. The sniffer is a very difficult prop to find, and the
300 model usually goes for a lot of money when one shows on ebay or gbfans. The brass rod is
extended in the film.
slime scoop
By far one of the hardest props to build due to part rarity, this was seen in Ghostbusters 2 during
the river of slime scene. Parts can be extremely expensive, especially the yellow fishing reel which
is vintage and highly collectable in fishing fan clubs. Jackdoud over on gbfans has built a superb
replica, the build process and part list can be found here http://www.bloody-plastic.com/props/
gbslimescoop.html
Jackdoud’s slime scoop replica.
gigameter
One of the holy grails of Ghostbusters props, this device was seen in Ghostbusters 2 and used by
Egon. The main body is made from a Redman Scrub n’ Buffer, a shoe and furniture polisher from
the early 80s. These are quite difficult to get hold of, though appear on ebay and gbfans on
occasion. Some fans have been able to cast resin copies of the main body with some success.
Due to the complicated shape, very few of these casts were made. These occasionally show up on
the gbfans.com for sale section
A Redman Scrub n Buffer.
The main body was extensively modified, sanded and smoothed. An addition portion was added to
the top of the body to house the microphone scanners and the gears to move them. The
microphones are from a found part, a Realistic Stereo Microphone. These can be easily found on
ebay.
The electronics are completely custom for the gigameter, and require some electrical and motor
knowledge. The Microphones move from a geared system that pulls them back and forward. The
dome is lit and works on the principle of fibre optics with colour tint sheets to make the different
colours seen. If you’re thinking of replicating this prop, check out cyland props build here http://
www.cylandprops.com/gigameterpage1.html and also, read Bob Wobbaz’s gigameter build here
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=37290
Bob Wobbaz’s Gigameter replica
SLIME Blower
A screen used slime blower
Making a grand appearance in Ghostbusters 2, the slimeblower is bigger and bulkier than the
proton pack. Like the proton pack, the slimeblower is mounted to an ALICE frame. For a long time,
the parts for the slime blower were unknown and not many people were making replicas of them.
Thankfully, this prop has started to get the recognition it deserves. Irricanian on gbfans.com in the
for sale section sold aluminium slime blower gun kits, although pricey, these were as accurate as
you could possibly get. On www.gbfans/shop you can find many of the smaller pieces used to
create your slime blower. In the For Sale section, people are beginning to offer 3D printed versions
of the parts making it easier than ever to put together your own slime blower.
The main tanks are completely custom, many opt to use piping and and semi spheres either end.
Crix on gbfans offers some superb slime blower light kits. Jupiter Electronics on ebay also offers
some very nice slime blower kits too.
Many parts for the slime blower are now offered by www.nickatronprops.co.uk
Nickatron made this superb replica and detailed the build and parts used. You can find his build
thread here http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=26670
ecto containment unit
One of the biggest Ghostbusters props (next to the Ecto 1) the containment unit is seen in
Ghostbusters.
The Ecto Containment Unit as seen in Ghostbusters.
Many replicas are just of the Red wall mounted unit itself and generally built out of wood. There are
a number of real world found parts such as the cage lights above the ECU. Replica Props sound
chips and Crix both offer sound kits for the ecto containment unit. There is, as of now, no one
offering light kits for the ecto containment unit so some knowledge of electronics would be required
to make your own.
Examples of fan built Ecto Containment Units
Containment unit builds can be found here. http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewforum.php?f=7
expanded universe and custom props
The Ghostbusters universe doesn’t end with just the movies and your props and costumes don’t
have to either! With two cartoon shows, The Real Ghostbusters (RGB) and Extreme Ghostbusters
(EGB), Ghostbusters The Video Game and the IDW comic book series there is a TON of props and
costumes that you can choose to replicate! We love variety in our group and some expanded
universe and custom props really stand out. We would ask that when replicating these props you
take the same care and attention you would if replicating a movie prop. As with the movie props,
visibly cardboard replicas will not meet clearance. Suggested materials would be styrene,
wood and metal. This section will show pictures of the props as they are seen and examples of
fan built replicas
THE REAL GHostbusters
The Real Ghostbusters cartoon drew heavily from the look and technology of the films yet edited
them and streamlined them for the show.
The uniforms for each actor was colour coded, this was to make it easier for children to identify
which character was which in busy action scenes.
Here are some excellent examples of tru-spec flightsuits dyed and customized to replicate the Real
Ghostbusters look.
The proton pack has many of the same elements that the movie packs do, they have a cyclotron,
bumper, gearbox, ion arm etc. With them being cartoons, a lot is up to personal interpretation,
which can lead to some very creative ideas of replicating what was seen in the show.
Production image of the RGB proton packs
As seen in the show, note the colour scheme
A great example of an RGB style proton
pack. Notice too the RGB trap hung
from the left side
A RGB Proton pack shell as offered by Joe Luna
on gbfans.com
Please remember that when building anything from the Real Ghostbusters universe, virtually
everything will have to be scratch built as you’re replicating a cartoon. This does allow for some
inventiveness and innovation to replicate what’s seen in the cartoons.
Some excellent RGB style proton pack builds
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30017
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21091
These should give you some ideas for your own builds.
The PKE meter had a dramatic overhaul in Real Ghostbusters. A much larger screen displaying
much more information and multiple functions
As seen in the cartoon
A beautiful example of a fan built RGB PKE meter
The Ghost trap retains a lot of what made it iconic in the movies yet tweaks it to make it it’s own
beast in the cartoon.
Production images for the RGB ghost trap
A stunning example of a fan built RGB ghost trap and pedal replica, complete with custom
electronics.
Extreme ghostbusters
In 1997 a new Ghostbusters cartoon hit the small screens, with an array of new characters, new
uniforms and new equipment. In EGB, the packs and traps got a major overhaul. Each character in
the show had their own uniform.
Notice how each character has their own uniform and distinct look
Some superb examples of fans replicating both Kylie and Eduardo from EGB.
The proton pack is radically different from what has come before it. Gone is the cyclotron and the
independent power source, the pack is powered by canisters that are plugged into the back of the
thrower. You can see one of the canisters hanging off the back of the pack in these production
sketches.
JoeLuna’s fantastic EGB pack build, the build thread can be found here
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2688
The Extreme Ghostbusters trap is also a far cry from the box with a handle we’re used to seeing in
the films. The EGB trap, nicknamed the hubcap trap, is dome shaped and bright yellow. It has
three hinged doors that open outward in a pie segment fashion.
As seen on EGB
A fan made replica. This EGB trap was made using a ceiling light, a brilliant example of innovation
when replicating these props
Kylie in the show also had a unique weapon, the proton pistol. This was a belt worn proton pack
with a small pistol style gun.
A fan made replica sprayed in movie style black.
The PKE meter also saw some upgrades too
As seen in the show and below a fan built replica.
As with the Real Ghostbusters props, the Extreme Ghostbusters props would require scratch
building and thinking cleverly about what parts could be used for what. Props like these really let
your imagination go wild with what you can do to achieve the correct look.
ghostbusters the video game
Released in 2009 and set in 1992, 3 years after Ghostbusters 2, Ghostbusters the video game
feels like the 3rd film through and through. As to be expected, the ghostbusters had heavily and
extensively modified their equipment in the 3 year period. Whilst still retaining the overall look of
the equipment, add ons and upgrades are bolted onto the equipment increasing it’s fire power and
capabilities.
As you can clearly see from the picture to the left,
the pack had some major overhauls done to it.
Most noticeable is the large green tank attached
the left side of the pack. This is the packs slime
blower attachment, essentially infusing the pack
and slime blower into one ghostbusting piece of
equipment.
The pack has additional tubing running from the
beam line tubes up to the HGA, running to the ion
arm and in cases using alligator grips to bodge
the connection. The gearbox has a heat warning
light and vent, the crank knob is completely
missing. The ion arm sports 2 ion arm rods now
and an addition power cell box is situated next to
the sync gen at the right side of the pack.
The thrower too has had
a major overhaul,
doubling in width. Notice
the separate slime tubing
that runs alongside the
loom into the new plasm
distribution system on the
thrower. A large
cylindrical drum wraps
around the the middle of
the gun with glass valves
protruding from the sides.
On the front, a slime
blower cone runs
alongside the standard
thrower barrel.
A detailed overview of the changes from movie pack to video game pack can be found here
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26312
The 4 iterations of the pack as seen in the game. A new lot of equipment is added each time the
pack is upgraded. Starting left, standard proton pack, stasis stream upgrade, slime blower upgrade
and meson collider upgrade. Notice that the two ion arm rods move upwards and separate on the
meson collider.
The biggest noticeable difference with the game pack is that cyclotron lights change colour
depending on which mode it is in.
Standard proton pack, red cyclotron lenses. Here you can also see the addition lights in the gun
mount that display the overheat level and player health.
Here in stasis mode, you can clearly see the cyclotron lights are blue. The ribs on the gearbox and
powercells fold out to display additional blue lights.
Slime blower mode, the lights on the cyclotron are solid green. Additionally, a slime tank pops up
from the booster tube
Meson Collider, the cyclotron lights are an orangey yellow colour. The EDA discs pop out to reveal
two orange pulsing cylinders. The two ion arm rods move upwards and separate to create a
Jacob’s ladder, you can see this on the top of the pack.
If you’re wanting to replicate the game pack, it’s highly recommended for you to start with a
movie pack as a solid base. A fibreglass shell is also recommended or wooden scratch build
seeing as the frame needs to be able to hold the additional parts.
For the light kits, the gbfans light kit offers the different video game modes and sounds and is
highly recommended. An additional kit must be bought to make the cyclotron lights change colour.
The base gbfans kits can be bought here http://www.gbfans.com/shop/electronics/ and the
cyclotron upgrade can be purchased from Spongeface here http://www.gbfans.com/community/
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34749. For the additional lights seen on the slime blower tank, gearbox, and
gun mount, Jupiter electronics kit is the go-to for this http://www.jupiterstore.com/GhostBustersProton-Pack-Add-On-Light-Kit-VIDEO-GAME-VERSION_p_22.html
Some examples of video game pack builds
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38341&hilit=pack+mold
http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26312
These should give you some idea of the process of building a game pack and the parts that can be
used to replicate the look.
Here are some examples of fan built game packs
The Ghost trap also had upgrades in the game. Overall, the trap remains much how it appears in
the movies at the start of the game. The traps are proximity controlled and no longer utilize the trap
pedal. The front dial plate on the cartridge has some new dials and knobs.
Throughout the course of the game, the trap much like the pack receives incremental updates to
improve it’s performance.
From the looks of it, there appears to be an air filter fitted to the side, along with what appears to
be a vacuum cleaner head. Blue and green nycol tubing and clippard barbs are attached to the dial
plate and forward indicator
It is not necessary for you to have a game style trap to wear your game style proton pack.
You can choose to wear a movie trap seeing as the trap at the start of the game closely
resembles the movie trap.
The PKE meter also got a major overhaul for the game.
When pausing the game you can see that the PKE flies
toward the screen sideways, suggesting that the PKE
meter is now some sort of touch screen device. It also
appears to store information on the ghosts on a
database.
You can also see that the handle appears to be wrapped
in a rubber grip.
The PKE meter also displays in 3 different colours. Blue
indicates that you’re close to a cursed artifact. Green
means that you’re in an area of neutral or high level of
PKE. Red means that you are honed in on a particular
ghost or entity.
So far, no one has successfully replicated the game PKE
meter, it would probably require programming knowledge
to replicate the screen and functions seen on screen.
People have attempted this using their iphones or smart
phones.
As with the ghost trap, it is not necessary for you to
have a game PKE meter when wearing a game style
uniform. A movie style PKE is perfectly acceptable.
The Lifegard seen in Ghostbusters 2 also makes a
reappearance and appears to be modified. This is one
of the easier modifications to make with the game
equipment. The lifegard now sits in a pouch similar to
the belt gizmo. In front of the lifegard is a small circuit
board. Two green nycol tubes or wires lead into the
holes on the front of the unit. A red tube or wire with
what appears to be a nixie tube runs into one of the
speaker outlets. Additionally, the knob on the top of
the lifegard is painted black rather than it’s standard
yellow colour
Again, it is not necessary for you to have a
lifegard when wearing a game pack.
idw comics.
The IDW comics introduced new characters, uniforms and new equipment that you may wish to
replicate.
Egon is seen wearing a much bulkier version of the pack, the boson dart pack.
Peter is seen using a proton cannon. This weapon is actually an updated call back to a weapon
used in Real Ghostbusters
Janine and Winston are seen wearing a smaller version of the proton pack, known as the compact
pack. The thrower is arm mounted. Throughout the course of the comics, the pack adds an
additional arm mounted thrower, one for boson darts, one for standard stream.
Winston also uses a proton pistol, which appears to be attached to his proton pack and is a
secondary gun to the standard neutrona wand
This is also used by Melanie Ortiz in the The New Ghostbusters
The arm mounted proton pack appears to use the same thrower as the compact pack
A fan made replica of the arm mounted pack.
Ron Alexander customized his proton pack by adding a secondary over the shoulder cannon to it.
This operates much in the same way that the neutrona wand does. It’s fitted next to the proton
pack’s ion arm
Ron also started the Ghostbusters rival company, Ghostsmashers. He also developed the uniform
and equipment for the team
A look at the Ghostsmashers atomiser pack
And the thrower. It bares a striking resemblance to the Nintendo NES light gun
The Ghostsmashers logo.
These are just a few ideas for props you may wish to replicate from the expanded universe but
there are many more. Please remember that visibly cardboard props will not meet with
clearance. As with any prop, take time study your references, think carefully about the parts
you may need. With replicating something from a comic or cartoon, get creative in thinking what
certain parts resemble and try them out!
custom uniforms and equipment
Because Ghostbusters regularly update their equipment in the films and comics, you may also feel
that you wish to have a go at making your own custom equipment too. Custom packs, throwers,
ghost grenades, containment units, uniforms are examples of what you may wish to try.
Here are some excellent examples of clearable custom uniforms. Note how although unique, they
replicate elements of the established uniform. This really does help make it feel part of the
Ghostbusters universe. Please ensure that you have your name patch and the no ghost logo on
your uniform. You can use the UK Ghostbusters patch or alternatively if part of a regional
franchise, you can use your franchise patch if you want to.
(left) A replica of one of the multiplayer flight suits seen in the video game. (right) A replica of Rays
flight suit seen on one of the Real Ghostbusters action figures
Please remember that if going down the custom route, you won’t be as easily identified as
being a Ghostbuster. Most of the general public simply identify Ghostbusters as wearing
Khaki flight suits. Even the Ghostbusters 2 navy suit gets questioned some times by
people! Just remember to be prepared for questions.
Many of our female members opt to make a custom uniform in the style of the film used uniform.
Here are some fantastic examples of what is clearable. Notice that the patches are in the correct
place, black boots are worn and the pistol belt. These all help create the illusion that these custom
pieces belong in the Ghostbusters universe. Please note that female members are free to wear
the suggested flightsuits outlined in the uniform section. A custom uniform is merely
personal preference. Wear what you feel will be most comfortable.
Custom equipment always looks best when it draws influence from the existing equipment. When
making your own custom gear, try to incorporate parts or elements used on other props in
your own. The majority of the Ghostbusters equipment is painted black so black should be the
primary colour. Try to add danger stickers and labels from the proton pack and trap to decorate
your own props. These will help make your custom gear feel like a real piece of ghostbusting
equipment!
Here are some excellent examples
This proton phase cannon was built off a Nerf gun and heavily modified. You can see many
elements from the established props incorporated in this build. Caution striping similar to that on
the ghost trap has been used on the cartridge case. Nycol tubing, split loom, trigger tip ring,
clippard valves and heat sinks from the proton pack really set this piece off as well as the danger
and warning labels seen on the trap and proton pack.
A proton rifle, notice how numerous elements of the proton pack are incorporated in the design.
We see a cyclotron, HGA and ion arm. Numerous nycol tubes and labels make this feel like a true
piece of equipment.
Examples of custom PKE meters and Gigameters.
You may wish to take the existing equipment and do something radical with it! Here are some
examples of customized equipment.
The infamous Hello Kitty proton pack
The proton Pacman. This pack has custom
sounds from the Pacman game.
A St Patrick’s Day themed proton pack
A gorgeous movie pack/ RGB pack hybrid
You may also wish to build a proton pack from a different era. Some fans have built Ghostbusting
equipment as it would have looked in the 1950s. Some have built steampunk packs, using
Victorian styling as a guide.
A 1940/50s style Ghostbusters, complete with custom pack and uniform.
The League of S.T.E.A.M. Steam punk proton packs and uniforms
Superb examples of steampunk proton packs. One thing to keep in mind when beginning a
steampunk build is that the pack is steam powered, not nuclear powered as with the standard
packs. The use of piping and valves really sells this idea. Add fake rivets to make certain areas feel
like boilers and pistons. Varnished wood and brass fixtures also help to really sell the idea that
your pack has come from the Victorian era. You can use a lot of plumbing fixtures and piping to
great effect when making packs like these.
It would also be worthwhile to read up on Victorian electronics, that way you can incorporate
particular elements into your build. Victorians built most things with care, pride and extravagant
detail, it’s worth keeping this in mind when creating your steampunk pack.