Movie accurate replica of the iconic Ghostbusters Proton Pack
This project began as a simple idea for a Halloween airsoft event and escalated into a full movie-accurate Ghostbusters proton pack cosplay build. As a long-time fan of the original Ghostbusters films, and still early in my 3D printing journey, I wanted to tackle a large, iconic prop rather than another small desktop build. The proton pack felt ambitious but achievable, and crucially, it was backed by an enormous fan community and a wealth of reference material.
The goal quickly shifted from creating a passable costume prop to producing three highly accurate proton packs based on the original Ghostbusters designs. Using a well-documented 3D model set, the build became a structured, print-by-numbers process. Each pack was printed, assembled, painted, wired, and mounted to a genuine ALICE frame for authenticity and wearability. Arduino-controlled lighting and sound sequences handled power-up, firing, and overheating effects, with electronics sourced from established fan projects rather than reinvented from scratch.
The finished packs were worn during a night Halloween game as non-player characters and later displayed as wall-mounted trophies. They survived knocks, BB strikes, and field use, gaining natural weathering in the process. While never intended as gameplay equipment, the proton packs achieved exactly what they set out to do: deliver unmistakable visual impact, fan recognition, and a deeply satisfying build experience.