Movie Props - Proton Pack

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Proton Pack
Particle accelerating machinery used as the primary tool for "busting" ghosts. It has a hand-held "Neutrona Wand" connected to a backpack-sized cyclotron. It fires a 'semi-controlled' stream of protons that neutralizes the negatively charged electromagnetic radiation of a ghost, thus allowing it to be held in the active proton stream.

This prop was used in
• Ghostbusters
• Ghostbusters II

Fun Facts

The props representing proton packs were created by the prop department at Columbia Pictures. They are made of molded fiberglass shells on aluminium backplates (or "motherboards") bolted to military surplus A.L.I.C.E. pack frames. The basic shape was sculpted from foam; later, a rubber mold was made, from which fiberglass shells were pulled. The "wand" had an extending barrel mechanism and the electronics were quite advanced for the time. They were then finished with various surplus 1960s resistors, pneumatic fittings, hoses and ribbon cable, as well as surplus warning labels and custom-made metal fittings. The overall weight of these props is said to be around 35lbs. The "hero" props were substituted in stunt scenes by flimsy foam rubber pulls from the same mold. The proton packs have a lightbar with fifteen blue scrolling lights in a box on the left-hand side and four red lights in the circular "cyclotron" portion of the bottom of the prop that light up in rotation. The "wand" also featured numerous light features; the most elaborate versions had fluorescent bargraphs, incandescent bulbs, and strobing flashes in the tip for the visual effects crew to synchronize the famous 'streams'. (source: GB Fans)
Some of the packs from Ghostbusters were used in Ghostbusters II. These packs were slightly redressed with a black crank knob and thinner ribbon cable. The angle of the gun mount was changed to pitch foward slightly to make the prop easier for the actor to use. (source: GB Fans)

Outside Links

Ghostbusters Fans' Proton Pack Page

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