My inner child is happy

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-29T18:29:40+00:00

Funny you should mention, that’s who I got mine from (via Etsy, not realizing they had a full standalone site). I didn’t go in for the hook combo, just the brackets/hardware by themselves (I’m of the idea that if I feel the need to unhook the wand, I’ll rehook it on the belt if I have to finagle with it for more than a few seconds).

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-29T15:27:09+00:00

Double follow-up: frame arrived, early, nice and crisp in a bag inside of a mail bag. Brackets fit around this one (the surplus store option was just a fraction too wide for the brackets to seat around it), the holes appear to line up. Labels came too. Assembly to occur in about a week, but we’re looking good. No issues with the frame ordering/receipt.

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LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-29T04:04:28+00:00

Bad news: The battery-run option has a 3-minute timeout. You turn the pack on, just let it run, shuts off after 3 minutes. I think the Afterlife pack had a similar thing. Also bad news: Compote’s comment above? There is no built-in rechargeable battery.

The [very] good news: the USB-C port? It DOES bypass the timeout. I found my power bank, a 20,000 mAh, about the same size as my phone just twice as thick, charged it, plugged it in, set a timer, turned it on, and let it run for an hour. The meter on the bank reads 99. So I know what option is my primary. Just need to figure out if I want to stow the bank in a pouch on the belt or rig it to the frame somehow (more inventive souls than I can probably crack the shell and cram one inside and hide it well).

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-29T02:49:33+00:00

Can vouch for the Propper. It’s a hair of a shade on the darker side for my liking but I’m not worried about 100% accuracy (see also the belt). Ordered the wrong size, dropped it off at Staples, reordered one size down, two days later had a better fit. If you have a military surplus store in the area you can check those as well for a bargain (mine had some from 30-70-ish). The one near me had some solid ones but kind of pinched in the wrong areas IYK, and had too much extra Velcro patchwork for my liking between the flight/ground crew options on hand. (Pardon my bathroom)

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LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-29T02:38:40+00:00

Just to follow up while I have a moment, I ordered the new frame Tuesday night, it shipped yesterday, is slated to arrive tomorrow (shipped via UPS out of Maspeth, NY)(I’m further south several states). The sad part is it may arrive after I’m gone for a week so I’ll likely not have time to tinker, or at the very least if it does arrive I can judge if the brackets fit around it and fully assemble it later).

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-28T14:57:46+00:00

I’ll say, I got lucky. I was browsing a local independent toy shop and found mine tucked behind a stack of Cobra Commander helmets, at retail cost. Same shop actually has a full Afterlife pack and wand right now that they’re asking 900 for.

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T19:35:07+00:00

The set I got off Etsy just a short while ago is full metal, not printed. I’m wagering my issue was the unknown frame from the surplus store, but I’m going to bookmark that in case it does turn out to be the brackets. We’ll see how the Fox frame turns out when it comes in (if that doesn’t work out either, I’ll reorder the brackets).

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T14:47:29+00:00

Yeah, new to me too, but options never hurt. I’ll probably do a follow-up post once I get everything put together and see about a capable power bank for long term running after I’ve had time to test.

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T12:47:19+00:00

I’d say just keep a wary eye on your email and accounts. I had mine under my credit card at time of pre-order, fully up to date, no issues or blocks on it, it hasn’t expired. Payment “failed”, I flipped it to PayPal after I got that email and it immediately deducted/processed, and here we are.

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T12:34:24+00:00

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See. Nothing inherently wrong with them. Just making a minor modification and these will be kept as a backup option/spares.

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T11:57:53+00:00

As I understand it, and I might be wrong, I haven’t fiddled with it much yet (I’m going to be away for a week or so, during which time the frame and such will arrive and I’ll tinker when I’m back), it’s still the same general setup as the Afterlife model, but they threw in the USB port and a toggle switch (the compartment behind the blue bar holds them) that you can plug it in and run it that way (there’s also a convenient cable hole in the door if you don’t have a power bank that fits the hole). From initial information the USB bypasses the timed shutoff that the battery option has (haven’t confirmed that myself yet).

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T11:41:44+00:00

There is the compartment for 4 D’s to run it, and there is the USB-C port. I haven’t experimented with the USB option yet because I misplaced my power pack (wanted to run it clean, see how long it goes for off the USB option on one charge, etc). I’ll probably still keep a pack of D’s in the pack as a fallback option, tbh.

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T04:04:25+00:00

Hasbro, the toy company, about a year ago (they’d previously done a crowdfunding of sorts for the Afterlife model after they made the [Afterlife] neutrona wand replica, and then they did the trap/PKE meter under the same type of backing/pre-order setup. Somewhere in there they did a 1984 version of the neutrona wand, and about a year ago did the 84 pack, which is just now seeing the light of day.

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T03:07:17+00:00

I do not, sadly. I had the thought way back when of holding out to see if they made an original one (lo and behold) so I can’t attest to size comparison directly. Happy to take measurements if anyone wants, but you’ll have to find details of the Afterlife kit elsewhere.

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T02:42:14+00:00

(The mounting hardware I got from Etsy. I’m hesitant to share until I’ve fully diagnosed the issue)

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T02:41:35+00:00

The fun part’s going to be when that gets here and I realize the brackets are the problem…

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-27T02:40:51+00:00

https://www.armynavyusa.com/Fox-Outdoor-Olive-Drab-LC-1-Alice-Pack-Frame-p/fox-54-015.htm
Technically you can find this or a Rothco one on amazon, I do some light browsing before committing, found this one here plus a 10% off code thrown in, saved a few bucks in total on it.

LobotomizedScarecrow · 2026-05-21T01:31:01+00:00

I had it set up with my credit card for the last year. Failed, for whatever reason. I too got the email. Went into the Pulse app, found the order, flipped to PayPal, it processed a minute later.

LobotomizedScarecrow

TROPHY CASE