Eric Ostendorf

Thanks for the compliments! This has been rolling around in head for a while and its really nice to see it getting a lot of hits on Thingiverse already. I'm going to drop a quick edit with the link on my first post of this thread and I'm going to drop it onto the 3d printed parts board too. As for approval, I think the only part that might cause issues would be the flap vent box. I think its the most different looking component of the batch but even then with a screenshot of the game pack and some conversation with your GML I would imagine it would be fine. Also, I think it would be neat to see the parts mixed and matched or have some scratch built parts mixed in too. When I was doing research, I saw lots of variations in the scratch built parts so there's certainly some leeway on these packs anyway in terms to uniformity.

Annnnnnd its live on Thingiverse! If you see any changes I need to make or suggestions for new parts I'm open to ideas. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4462006

Second pack is assembled! I'm *almost* ready to release the files. I need to tweak a couple parts and that's it! Assembly of my second pack went pretty much the same as the first. Cut out the back of the oil can (an oscillating saw worked wonders for this), plug the top hole with my 3d printed plate, attach the side PVC tube with my clamps and 1/4"-20 screws, lay out parts on the can, use doubled sided tape to hold the parts in place while I screwed them in from the back (use a hole saw and/or step bit to cut some access holes for your drill), then attach the straps. And the finished product side-by-side! I'm super stoked with BOTH packs!!! Here are pictures of the new Game Accurate Pack. Almost everything is 3d printed, including the wipe tube. The Memories box was left uncut, the base is still an oil can, and the side tube is still PVC. And this is the first CRL Accurate-ish Pack. It very closely matches the Ukswrath builds and pictures in the CRL with the exception of the tombstone vent box being slanted. (a note about the straps - the CRL pack straps dig into my ribs so the Game pack straps were cut to 46" long total, the longer top straps were cut to 26" to put the buckles further away from my armpits)

Everything is printed so its paint day! The PVC tube was painted and assembled a couple years ago when I did the first one so one less part to paint this time around. I have found a couple parts that need a little tweaking of the files but otherwise everything else is working out nicely. Parts laid out. Don't mind the VW vents or the Mando Gaunts. While this batch of parts were drying I assembled my radio. For the CRL pack, I cut the memories box down to 2.5" tall and glued it together with hot glue. For this more game accurate pack, I left the height of the memories box alone. Per the screen grabs, the radio sits pretty proud of the other components so I think its better this way. We'll see for sure once its all assembled but cutting it down some will be an easy thing to fix if I don't like it. The faceplates are also spaced closer to the bottom of the box per the game and I have an empty strip at the top where I put two screws. I could tweak it a little more to get it closer to the game but I think the way I have it now is simple and still matches the CRL in spirit so I'm happy with it as-is.

I hadn't planned on it since its such a large part to try to 3d print. It would have to be sliced into several small sections, glued together, the seams hidden, and painted. I think it may end up being too fragile and/or too heavy, which is the beauty of building on the pre existing oil can. But if none are easily available then you may have to just make do with whats available or use a different container? The CRL is just a guide, the base doesn't have to match perfectly and maybe Australia just needs a different "standard base" due to availability. Here is this oil can: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Black-Oil-Drain-Pan-15Ltr-Large-Capacity-Perfect-for-Multiple-Oil-Changes/302944282702?hash=item4688e2e84e:g:9B8AAOSwUalb3UAi You could flip it upside down to get the handle on top and then just cut off the U-shaped handle and spout on the bottom and fill in the holes with sheet plastic. It would probably be close enough. Barring that, how about another long flat rectangular container like an under-the-bed storage tub?: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-x-12L-Under-Bed-Storage-Container-Plastic-AU-Shoe-Toy-Organiser-Lid-Box-Holder/184287657434?hash=item2ae8667dda:g:0XYAAOSwCMxeuNIG I'm sure they come in enough sizes to find something that would be close enough and if the lid were glued to the body it would probably be strong enough.

I actually hadn't seen that thread, or at least not recently enough to remember it! He is seeing a lot of the same things that I am. I'm trying to match the game parts but still be sympathetic to the CRL in the hopes that I can still get it approved. If not, I still have the files from most of my gen 1 parts that are very close to the CRL parts so I shoudln't have any trouble. When I release the files I'm going to release it with both variations of CRL and Game versions.

The round back on the wipes container is a little tricky. The best way is to pre drill holes and put just the very pointy tips of screws through to jab into the wipes container, and then screw it all the way down. Only after the wipes container is on the oil can, then is the time to put on the face plate. Its hard to get the wipe bottle on the can straight after the cover plate is screwed on... whoops. The button plate is actually a separate part. I made it that way so that it would be easy to paint because I hate masking parts when I can just let the printer spend an extra couple hours to churn out individual parts. The buttons sit in little square cutouts in the plate. My buttons were modeled after the size and shape of the adhesive buttons so they will still be compatible.

And one more part - the full wipe tube as a 3d printed part. It is 200mm tall to match the height of the button box and modeled to match the game with the full height faceplate but also has four holes for screws/rivets like on the CRL. I know finding cleaning wipes can be very difficult with the coronavirus going around so I went ahead and made a file for anyone that can't find an off-the-shelf tube to use. Or if people just want to print one for style points or because they don't want to buy one or whatever. It is in three parts for ease of painting: body, lid, and faceplate. The back of the tube has a flat section to make screwing it onto the pack straight much, much easier (similar to what I did on the upper section of the drop siphon).

Thanks for the feedback! I've been busy with other things the last few days but I'm almost ready to start printing my second batch of parts. I figure a week or two of printing, tweaking my files if they need it, and then they'll be released. I have slightly changed the lower radio box panel to match the game a little closer. The square on the lower left corner is now raised with holes in it for rivets or screws. I'm saving the original files that more closely match the CRL images for anyone that may have issues getting it past their GMLs or for personal preference. The radio is the least game accurate part I have so I may come back and revisit it later but I'm really not that worried about the discrepancies thus far.

Thank you everyone for the compliments so far! Drawing this in CAD with the aid of build threads and specs from here on FISD and 3D printing most of the parts has really helped me make this a sharp looking pack! I couldn't do it without all the resources available! My local garrison did a social distancing outdoor drive through con a few days ago so I got to try out my pack! Overall everyone liked it and it mostly worked well. I need to move the straps in and up just a hair and tighten them some so the pack rides higher on my back. The buckles are placed too high and they rubbed my rib cage/armpits so hopefully just moving them and tightening them will do, if not I'll make new straps with the buckles moved further down. I think all the pack needs otherwise is the addition of the third MP40 ammo pack and weathering. I'm super happy with it and will start printing parts for Pack #2. Once I'm happy with all the parts and its assembled, I'll release all the files

I have the pack pretty much assembled! I have a troop here in a few hours so I'm going to wear it to try it out. If the pack isn't comfy due to strap placement or whatever, I'll be able to ditch it nearby without any issues. First I bought some nylon straps: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H1D15LZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I then used a regular backpack strap to get a rough idea of how long I needed it and where to put the buckle. After cutting and melting/sealing the ends, I put super glue on about 1" of the strap and folded it over and clamped it. I then used an old soldering iron to burn a hole in the strap for a 1/4"-20 bolt. The straps were then attached to the tank with washers and nylock nuts. I used the mounting position of the straps from a couple other builds but I think the top strap needs to go up and inwards a hair but we will see after I do some trooping. Easy enough to change in any case. I then tried it on. Granted its without armor so I'm not sure how its going to actually sit. After deeming it "good enough" I took a black paint pen and covered up some of the exposed unpainted screws. It needs more touchup and weathering, but for the purpose of having a complete pack to take on a test troop I'm super happy with how its looking. ...keep in mind that this is my "rough draft" pack that I'm planning on giving to a friend. My revised parts, strap locations, improved assembly methods, etc. will all go into a second, more refined pack that I plan on keeping. I'll do a build on it as well and use those photos on my Thingiverse after I release the files. I have other projects and work and real life to take care of, but I suspect files will be available very soon for anyone else wanting to use my parts!

I got my nylon straps in the mail to make the shoulder straps. I also noticed I forgot to cover the hole on the top of the oil can from where I cut the drain spout off of. I just whipped up a simple plate that will just screw or rivet over the hole. Should look spacey enough. Looks pretty good IMO. I did a sloppy job hacking the oil spout off so this covers it nicely. The shine and screw heads will get painted/weathered when I get to that phase, of course.

Tube Stripe - 5 Bumps Edition:

Dang, how did I miss that? Easy enough to fix at least. Thanks! EDIT: You're right that the game model shows 5 but the CRL pack shows 7. Weird! I'm going to go ahead and change it to 5 in the name of accuracy. The tube stripe on my existing pack is 7... but its superglued on so I think I'm just going to live with it on that pack unless its an approval issue. Also, I will indeed be painting all the exposed screw heads black during the weathering phase before submitting. The shiny bits would definitely stick out too much otherwise!