"Listen.  Do you smell something?"

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For those who know me, it’s no secret that I’ve had a lifelong obsession with filmmaking—especially when it comes to props, costumes, and practical effects. Over time, that passion evolved into something more hands-on (and hands-glued, burned, and painted): I began researching and recreating original film props as a form of creative therapy.

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One of my favorite builds to date? The iconic Proton Pack from the original Ghostbusters films.

To get it just right, I went deep into the ectoplasmic archives—combing through old behind-the-scenes articles, studying fan forums, and obsessively pausing scenes from both movies like a nerdy detective. Once I had gathered enough intel, the build began!

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Determined to make this thing feel like the real deal, I started with a resin shell and paired it with an aluminum “motherboard”—the heavy-duty baseplate that everything mounts onto. From there, I tracked down as many original 1980s-era components as possible: actual Clippard R-331 and R-701 valves, Dale PH-25, RH-25, and RH-50 resistors, Legris fittings, and a vintage Alice pack harness, just like the originals. The final beast clocks in at a hefty 20 pounds.

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Now, for the detail-obsessed among you: this build is technically a hybrid between the GB1 and GB2 packs. It’s got a GB1-style ion arm (left unpainted, giving it more of a GB2 look), a GB1-style crank knob, and a GB2-style ribbon cable. I also opted for a cleaner, less-weathered finish—my personal preference—figuring it’ll naturally pick up some “battle damage” at Halloween parties and ghost-hunting excursions.

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And to top it all off? The pack was signed by none other than Dan Aykroyd himself—an absolute class act who seemed genuinely impressed with the build.

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All said and done, I’m really proud of how this pack turned out. It was an absolute blast to make, and I’m already itching to tackle another one in the future.

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Oh—and yes… this sucker lights up.