[santropez1973]

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to get a prebuilt Proton Pack and was hoping to get some recommendations. I’m not the DIY type, and honestly, I just don’t have the time or patience to build one myself. I’m hoping to find something that’s already put together, looks good, and is ready to go without needing a lot of work.

I know the HasLab Proton Packs came out recently, but I missed the chance to grab one when they were available, and now I’m seeing them priced pretty high on the aftermarket. So I’m looking for other options that are good quality but won’t break the bank.

I’m not looking for anything too fancy—just something that looks the part and has solid build quality. I want something that will hold up over time without falling apart or looking cheap.

If anyone’s bought one before or knows a good place to get one, I’d really appreciate the advice. I’ve seen a few options around, but I’m not sure which ones are worth it. Any suggestions or tips would be great!

If it turns out there aren’t that many good prebuilt options, I guess I’ll just have to build my own haha, but hoping there’s something out there already!

Also, if there are any red flags I should be aware of or places to avoid, let me know. I’m new to buying these and want to make sure I get a good deal on something that lasts.

Thanks for any help!

[Kingpin]

I'm afraid I don't know a prop builder I can point you towards, but I can advise you stay away from one in particular: Bob Moseley. His props are poor quality and not worth his asking price.

[RealGhostbusterJay]

Right now sadly there are not a ton of prop builders doing runs currently. Most that are active I would HIGHLY advise reading the feedback forum to see if you do find one builder and what the current rate of their work is graded at. Black listed sellers such as the fella mentioned above are a top name to skip regardless of what they may say themselves.

[prodestrian]

You might be able to find a kit for less than the cost of a HasLab, but you'll still need to do a lot of the build yourself. If you pay someone else to do the build, it's going to cost a lot more but you won't have to lift a finger. Proton Packs are complicated and can be time consuming to build, so it comes down to whether your time is more valuable than paying for someone else's.

Another option is 3D printing a pack. It's still a lot of work but can be significantly cheaper than a kit. You could either pay to use someone else's printer, or buy your own (the advantage being that you'll be able to continue using it well after you finish your pack). Maybe find a friend with one, or see if you have a Makerspace/Hackerspace/FabLab in your area. I'd probably advise against buying a 3D printed pack off Etsy or eBay, it's risky because you don't know what the print quality will be like and whether it will arrive safely. ShapeforgeProps is a reputable seller though with a lot of positive reviews, I don't know of any others I'd be willing to recommend. I remember 12thFloorMovieProps selling printed kits but they definitely seemed to just be unauthorized Q-Pack MK1 prints, and also they've completely vanished from Etsy (one of our franchise members has been trying for months to get them to ship him some missing pieces for his HasLab motherboard which doesn't fit but they've gone quiet). Basically, buyer beware here.

Are HasLabs selling for around US$1000 on eBay these days? I think a Proton Props kit works out to the same price but you still have to build it yourself, and there's no wand/frame or electronics included. The price increases dramatically if you pay him to build the whole thing (starting at US$2200 for a 1984 pack with no optional extras). Benofkent kits seem to start at US$800 but again you're doing the build yourself, it's about US$3000 for a fully built one. Plus a wait time of months to years (read the various review threads for more info on that). And if you're outside the UK, shipping could be another big factor as both of those sellers are based there.

You can also buy individual parts from Mack's Factory and/or GBFans, but again it's a major project and I don't know what the final cost would end up being.

[ccv66]

Despite the haslab doubling in price, its still the easiest, best option. There's not a better kit that's cheaper and more durable.

Mack factory is going to take years to complete the pack. But so far everything has been bolt up. Not much skill needed. In my mind mack is ass good as it gets, you'll have no need to upgrade in the future.

Id really wait to see if one of the Halloween stores comes out with a new deluxe pack.

Hardest part of building a pack is the wand, the '84 hasbro wand would make it simple

[santropez1973]

Despite the haslab doubling in price, its still the easiest, best option. There's not a better kit that's cheaper and more durable.

Mack factory is going to take years to complete the pack. But so far everything has been bolt up. Not much skill needed. In my mind mack is ass good as it gets, you'll have no need to upgrade in the future.

Id really wait to see if one of the Halloween stores comes out with a new deluxe pack.

Hardest part of building a pack is the wand, the '84 hasbro wand would make it simple

I’m also hoping that the Halloween stores put out something really good this year. I’ve been looking at the 1:1 Spirit Halloween pack, but it’s just not premium enough for what I want. I’d rather get something with better detail and durability. If nothing cool comes out this year, I’ll probably just bite the bullet and start building my own lol. Would definitely prefer a solid prebuilt option, but I guess we’ll see what happens.

[santropez1973]

Despite the haslab doubling in price, its still the easiest, best option. There's not a better kit that's cheaper and more durable.

Mack factory is going to take years to complete the pack. But so far everything has been bolt up. Not much skill needed. In my mind mack is ass good as it gets, you'll have no need to upgrade in the future.

Id really wait to see if one of the Halloween stores comes out with a new deluxe pack.

Hardest part of building a pack is the wand, the '84 hasbro wand would make it simple

I’m definitely looking into building options now since it seems like the best route. I’ve never built one before, so I want to make sure I do it right. Do you have any good long-form guides that break everything down step by step? I’d love something that covers the whole process, from parts and assembly to wiring and finishing touches. Any recommendations would be really appreciated. Thanks!

[edspengler]

The spirit pack is a great place to start. It won’t break the bank and give you a solid foundation to improve on should you choose to do so. You have something to wear out of the box and there are many talented makers that have already developed upgrades. You can turn it into a really nice build with a little bit of time and effort.

[Belmont78]

I got my pack in the for sale section, if you wanna check that out.

[tobycj]

You are highly unlikely to get a pre-built pack for less than the secondary market price of a Haslab pack, so if that is too rich for your blood then you're going be looking at building yourself. Be warned that even that will likely cost more than a Haslab once you factor in the shell, pack parts, wand, electronics, paint, tools etc etc, so if you're on a budget then either a Spirit Halloween 1:1, or save up a bit and bite the bullet on a Haslab pack.

[ccv66]

viewtopic.php?t=46246

Unfortunately there's not going to be a one stop shop.

First need to figure out GB1 or GB2. Then which buster . I prefer GB2, haven't found a GB1 ribbon I like yet. Definitely check out , "proton pack is not a toy "YouTube channel

Then probably go through the gb fans store and Mack factory

[TheLegendOfMart]

You're not going to get one prebuilt for any cheaper than Haslab.