Jet Pack: FINISHED!

Hey guys!

In the coming weeks I'll be looking to buy a Boba jet pack. I was wondering if I could get some recommendations from y'all on what are the best ones that are currently available to look into purchasing, and also some contact information for the makers (PM'ed to me if you wish).

I'd like a good balance between accuracy, weight, and of course, COST. I'd rather trade accuracy for a cheaper pack, as I can always "improve" upon the design if I don't like it. The big thing is, right now I have more time than money. I can afford to invest as much labor as needed, but money, well... that's another story!

I'd even consider buying someone's unfinished kit, broken pack, or another type of "pack in need of some TLC". I don't mind fixing a pack, repainting an ESB pack (I need a ROTJ one), etc., though I'd rather buy one that's "ready to rock".

Any comments, suggestions, and opinions will be appreciated!

THANKS!

Why not try making one from scratch?

I think I'm going to be busy having all of my teeth extracted that day...

Seriously, there's a LOT of things I'd like to do in my life. Custom-building a jet pack is not one of them.

I made 90% of my costume myself, including my gauntlets, and I did a good enough job that noone has ever pointed out that my parts aren't "professionally made", so I must have done a somewhat decent job. I'm no stranger to labor and construction (my left gauntlet alone took 160 hours to design, build piece by piece (it's not vacuformed), and paint). That said, I STILL don't want to make one myself!

At this point, I wouldn't mind a "fixer upper", or building a kit, but I just don't want to do the scratch-building thing anymore, ya know?

Yep, I know where your at.
I did all my Jango from scratch, short of the bucket and ammo belt. Scratch blasters- no problem. Scratch jet pack- bring it on. Scratch gauntlets- give me a kit.

MLC- hands down! Not 100% accurate- well maybe for Boba, not 100% for Jango. But it weighs less than 4lbs, really no prep-light sand, primer, paint! Nothing to assembpe- the rocket and thrusters can be easily removed for travel and storage, and the back compartment can be used for storage And is $300- a bargain for what you're getting I think!!!

Thanks for all of the recommendations, guys (and gal)!

I just bought a fiberglass Mandaloriancostuming jet pack that someone started building, then backed out of. It's mostly assembled, just have to install the rocket, nozzles, and other resin pieces, sand, paint, etc.

The best part? It was only $150!!! They sell for $400 on their website!

I couldn't say "no" to a $150 fiberglass jet pack!

It may not be 100% accurate either, but for $150, I betcha I won't lose any sleep over it!


Thanks!

Mate, I've got 30 words for you....

"Make your own from scratch," "Make your own from scratch," "Make your own from scratch," "Make your own from scratch," "Make your own from scratch," "Make your own from scratch,"

No thanks. See my comments above for the reasons why.

In any event, I think I'll be happy with the new pack. If the fiberglass it's made from is anything like the fiberglass of my MSH, it should hold up well. I've done over 20 events in my MSH and it's a VERY durable piece. With lots of people and kids always around, durability is a GOOD thing!

<---Agrees with Mirax.

I've got an MLC pack as well, and it's great. Like she said, it's not 100% accurate, but if you plan on toting your pack around (and why wouldn't you? :p), you simply can't beat the weight of an MLC. Only 4 pounds!

Yeah, but I couldn't beat &#36;150 for a fiberglass pack!

Maybe my 2nd jet pack will be a MLC.

Ive got a MLC JP and its great I recomend it
heres my link to see the finished MLC JP painted.
http://www.uk-scout.co.uk/test/MLC.htm

cheers

Neil
uk-scout TB7290
www.uk-scout.co.uk
ukbikerscout@hotmail.com

Im gonna be the odd man out and say Bradleyfetts is the most accurate pack out there...its a b*&%&#36; to put together though - so the MLC beats it in that category!
Seriously its a very nice kit.
sean

I'm with Sean on this one. MB's newer pack that came out last January is hands down THE MOST ACCURATE Boba Fett jet pack out there (IMO). Its sculpted from looking at reference shots of the real thing, not from a toy and the price is better too! Once its all built, its not really that heavy either.

New MB!

RA fg.... It is a lot bigger then MB's new pack.


Lynn

Ok guys. Lay off the sugar and caffeine! :p

Like I said, I've already decided on AND purchased a pack. Thanks for your rabid enthusiasm regarding your personal favorite jet packs, though. They have been noted!

I MAY buy something different in the future IF I absolutely end up hating this one AND if money permits. Like I mentioned, it's fiberglass and normally sells for &#36;400 in kit form. It was offered to me for &#36;150 partially assembled, so I couldn't turn it down. It needs some work, but I'm no stranger to that!

Worse case scenario, I'll fix it up, sell it, and buy a better one! 8)

Now I guess I just need a BKBT harness.


Thanks for all the input.

Fetthunter wrote:
Ok guys. Lay off the sugar and caffeine! :p

Like I said, I've already decided on AND purchased a pack. Thanks for your rabid enthusiasm regarding your personal favorite jet packs, though. They have been noted!
Thanks for all the input.

I know you got your pack now, I wasn't posting it to help you out.

Just to let others know other options who may be looking as well.

Lynn

Who says we care?














































Just kidding!

judz dwedd wrote:
Who says we care?
Just kidding!

Ooooh wise guy....

I'm also debating on a new pack in the next few weeks...I like the lighter, 'no-assembly-required' MLC fiberglass pack, but it appears that MB's detailed thrusters and and top rocket may be more accurate. Aside from the open venting in the top of the central cylinder (MLC), what other areas of concerns are there?

Would it be better to buy the fiberglass pack and use MB's resin parts, creating a hybrid pack? I've built one of the earlier MB kits, and really don't have the desire to do it again.

Talk about sitting on the fence...

The new MB pack is a nice looking pack, somewhat a pain to build. My biggest complaint about it was the size, way to small. If you have a small build and not real tall it would be perfect, but for me it looked out of proportion. I sold mine and have an MLC pack soon to be on its way

hey guys where do you a mlc jet pack from.

austin

i have to re-iterate that building the MB pack is a pain in the ***!!!!!!!!!!
LOL
sean

fett-texas ranger wrote:
hey guys where do you a mlc jet pack from.
austin

This thread should fill you in on what it is.
http://tdh.prop-planet.com/viewtopic...c=4738&forum=6
Most of the pics don't work anymore but it has all the info you need on it.

Hope this helps.

thanx bh185

Lynn TXP 0369 wrote:
I know you got your pack now, I wasn't posting it to help you out.

Lynn,

It was just a general comment letting everyone know that there's no further need to expend the energy of trying to convince me of which pack to buy.

Of course, if you guys just LOVE to type...

Lynn TXP 0369 wrote:
RA fg.... It is a lot bigger then MB's new pack.


Lynn

Is that RA's or GA's?
It looks great.

Baddblood wrote:

Is that RA's or GA's?
It looks great.

thanks!!

It is RA's fg pack.

It rocks! It is much bigger then GA or MB packs. The fg body came pre built and primed, I just had to clean, prime the resin castings. It also came with the harness as well. It weighs about 12 lbs.

Lynn

WOOHOO! My pack came in today!

As expected, it's going to need some work. I've contacted Ely regarding decals already.

It appears that the connectors and greeblies on the bottom of the body have been molded (poorly) into the pack itself. I may sand those off and Bondo that area so I can add the *real* connectors. Anyone know where I can GET "real" connectors, and which ones I need?

I need the "piano keys" too. They were likewise molded into the body. I want to sand that area down and replace it with replica piano keys. Again, any leads would be great!

The resin rocket and thrusters are usable, but will require a fair amount of work to clean up.

The resin upper and lower tank caps look odd, but I can work with them.

The resin "ring" that the rocket/grappling hook sets on top of doesn't look right to me. This one doesn't have the "vent holes" in it. Any leads on a replacement version?


Thanks in advance for helping me locate these few pieces I need!

Fetthunter wrote:
WOOHOO! My pack came in today!
It appears that the connectors and greeblies on the bottom of the body have been molded (poorly) into the pack itself. I may sand those off and Bondo that area so I can add the *real* connectors. Anyone know where I can GET "real" connectors, and which ones I need?
Thanks in advance for helping me locate these few pieces I need!

Here are my pack greeblies....


I got these parts at Radio Shack over 2 years ago, they are in the electronic sections. The two square plug connectors are close, although one of the real ones is supposed to be a male connector instead of female. I havn't been able to find a male connector that looks the female one, so I just used two females.

The silver jack connector looks really close to the real one.

The other two detail parts are just push switchs I got for it, they used to have red and black push buttons, but they broke off over the years of sitting around and what not.

HTH,
Lynn

Mine has the 2 mic connectors molded into place, and what's worse, they're in the WRONG places!

I'm desperate for some "piano keys". Mine are molded into the pack, and there's little detail.

Well, after working like a madman on my jet pack for part of the spring, and then almost throwing it away, I decided to get into high gear last week. I've spent close to 12 hours a day (confirm that with my wife!) on this pack over the last 9 days. Lots of Bondo, sanding, spot putty, sanding, then repeating.

This pack looked like utter **** when I bought it. The original owner sprayed about 12 coats of silver paint on it and *tried* to assemble some of it. I had to strip the paint off. Unfortunately, the stripper removed some gelcoat that had to be replaced.

The original rocket was SOLID RESIN and seemed too large to me. I bought a MLC rocket from Seeker to replace it with.

The upper and lower tank caps were poorly cast in heavy resin, so I fixed one of each, molded them, then made casts in low-density Urethane resin.


The pack is NOW a hybrid:
<UL>
<LI> Jet Pack body: MandalorianCostuming fiberglass
<LI> Rocket: MLC
<LI> Resin tank pieces: Fetthunter Designs
<LI> Resin piano keys: RuffkinToys
<LI> Resin beacon: bought from Seeker (origin unknown)[/list]


Onto the pics:

After it arrived, I stripped about 12 coats of silver paint off of it, sanded, fixed the gelcoat, and drew lines on it with a Sharpie where edges SHOULD be on a "normal" jet pack.






After much Bondoing, sanding, and filling with spot putty, I ended up with this (rocket placed on pack for reference use only):






More sanding, prepping, and Bondoing the gaps between the resin parts and the pack itself, and you get:






A day spent weathering and detailing, and finally I arrived at:



Don't ask about the "stabilizer"!


The pack is actually not as bright as the photos show. My camera just has a REALLY strong flash on it.

Anyway, it's DONE. WHEW! Next time, I'll probably buy one a little closer to being "ready to wear"!

It's not the MOST accurate jet pack I've seen, but I've seen worse. And the important thing is the whole thing *only* cost me &#36;150 & 6 months of my LIFE!!!

The kids enjoyed it on Saturday though, so I guess it was all worth it.

Quote:Why not try making one from scratch

You want the BEST jet pack....That's easy, it's the one you build yourself

I think I may have just done that...

The pack looks great Jamey and your new ammo belt....but those poutches are the tops!!

Tambo Fett wrote:
The pack looks great Jamey and your new ammo belt....but those poutches are the tops!!

Thanks, bud.

I still have to put the black stripes on the thruster nozzles, but I figured the kiddies wouldn't notice, and it was already 3AM Saturday morning (got 2 hours of sleep before getting up for the Best Buy event), sooooo....

That new ammo belt *looks* good, but it's not very durable (like my last one). I think ammo belt 3.0 is in my future...

Yeah, those pouches rock, don't they? I hear the guy that makes them is the COOLEST!