Author Topic: Racing simulator cockpits? (Read 34356 times)

o2dazone · « **on:** Tue, 04 August 2009, 22:44:32 »

I've been playing a GT4 lately, and will probably pick up a PS3 when GT5 comes out. In the mean time, I picked up a Logitech Drive Force GT, and it's been a blast. I don't have an amazingly huge apartment, so I've been trying to find clever ways to mount my racing steering wheel. I did a couple searches, and found there's a whole world of racing simulator cockpits (both mass manufactured and home made). It blew my mind. My initial reaction was "what in the f*ck", but then I remember how I recoiled in fear when I came across Geekhack, which I've now grown to love. I'm on day 4 of looking at DIY racing sim cockpit threads, and I'm dusting off the arc welder this weekend to manufacture my own.

Playseat (manufactured)

DIY

Is anyone else really big into racing sims and have built your own cockpit? I'd love to pick your brain

itlnstln · « **Reply #1 on:** Wed, 05 August 2009, 07:33:38 »

That DIY one, while looking a little clunky, is pretty nice. I would think that the pedals are a little high, and I would look for a way to elevate the seat to be more inline with the TV (for viewing angle reasons) and ease of getting in and out.

Did the person leave the seat rails on the cockpit so that you can move the seat forward or back?

o2dazone · « **Reply #2 on:** Wed, 05 August 2009, 08:33:21 »

Yeah they did. It was out of a Miata, so they were able to adjust the seat like normal. There's always the issue of how long or high the seating is to your TV. I guess if anything it'd be wise to just build a solid box out of MDF and bolt the frame to that, if you needed elevation (you could also wire up a Buttkicker if you wanted to add reverb, and MDF is great for that)

I asked the guy, and he said he loves the cockpit, very sturdy - but his only complaint is with more robust pedals (one with a clutch) the second bar that sturdies the main steering base is in the way. He said he would move it back if he could do it over again.

I'll be building one similar this weekend, but probably eliminate the bar that extends down towards the feet pedals, and instead build ones that go out from the sides. I'm actually more excited about welding and grinding than I am about using the damn thing lol

itlnstln · « **Reply #3 on:** Wed, 05 August 2009, 08:43:22 »

I was thinking that the center support for the steering wheel was in the way. I like the idea about setting the supports up from the sides. You may also want to consider a support bar that comes up from behind the pedals and over your legs to hold the wheel (thinking about how an actual car is designed). That way, the sides would be wide open making getting in an out easier.

o2dazone · « **Reply #4 on:** Wed, 05 August 2009, 08:52:00 »

True, they do something similar in another Playseat design

if I could get the bar sturdy enough, I'll just do that, ease to get in and out of (especially that low to the ground) would be great

VCheeZ · « **Reply #5 on:** Wed, 05 August 2009, 12:00:00 »

Check out the DIY work from iandh...this guy has built a sweet cockpit!
http://www.overclock.net/other-hardware-mods/543929-what-i-get-do-work-between.html

majestouch · « **Reply #6 on:** Wed, 05 August 2009, 12:41:55 »

Here's another of the sim-chair ilk (ok, maybe a little different)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUm2Im3SvtU

o2dazone · « **Reply #7 on:** Wed, 05 August 2009, 12:42:18 »

Damn! Haven't seen that ,thanks for the link VCheeZ

also majestouch: "This video is not available in your country due to copyright restrictions." lmao...in America?

o2dazone · « **Reply #8 on:** Wed, 05 August 2009, 20:16:58 »

o2dazone · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 02:29:17 »

Update

o2dazone · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 12:42:05 »

I bought it. I had full intentions of making it, but the guy was just trying to get rid of them. And yeah, you're the second person to mention the cup holder lol

InSanCen · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 17 August 2009, 19:41:16 »

I still want to get hold of a Sega Rally machine from an arcade.

I'm not bad at all when it comes to arcade racing games, but I absolutely stomped when it came to Sega Rally in the arcade. Using "Winner stays on", I sat there for hours at a time. The gears were perfect on that.

Ah, mis-spent youth. Just as much fun as the drugs, beer and loose women, but not nearly expensive.

The missus would lose the plot If I had a cockpit at home though... It's bad enough with the comments about keyboards... but that would make me very single, very fast.

o2dazone · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 17 August 2009, 20:36:06 »

InSanCen · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 13:29:24 »

She put's up with a lot to be fair, but that would be pushing it.

The place looks "like a computer graveyard", and I not long ago gave away a load of stuff (4 very large boxes containing pretty much the guts of about 20-25 PC's from Athlon XP's through to early Core 2 Duo's).

The keyboards however, have always puzzeled her, but she rarely types, and when she does, it's a quick line on Facebook or such like.

itlnstln · « **Reply #14 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 13:56:38 »

Quote from: ripster;110391

Must resist, must resist....

I can't.

She must like you for your Wang.

From the sounds of it, she really doesn't like his Wang.

o2dazone · « **Reply #15 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 14:46:30 »

Quote from: itlnstln;110394

From the sounds of it, she really doesn't like his Wang.

Maybe if he spent more time with his Wang out rather than just putting in a box on the top shelf (or taking pictures of it for other people to see)

itlnstln · « **Reply #16 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 14:53:39 »

You're right. Maybe if he learned to enjoy using his Wang more, she would see the value in it.

Maybe even she would enjoy his Wang.

megarat · « **Reply #17 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 15:28:01 »

Wangs ... cockpits ... stick controllers ... seat mounts ...

What forum am I on again?

itlnstln · « **Reply #18 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 15:29:08 »

Quote from: megarat;110412

Wangs ... cockpits ... stick controllers ... seat mounts ...

What forum am I on again?

FreakHack.

InSanCen · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 18:02:47 »

I'm selling the damn Wang now ;-)

o2dazone · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 20:19:25 »

You putting your wang up for grabs huh?

wheel83 · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 18 August 2009, 21:14:12 »

don't sell your wang short. god gave you it for a reason.

InSanCen · « **Reply #22 on:** Wed, 19 August 2009, 04:34:27 »

Quote from: o2dazone;110470

You putting your wang up for grabs huh?

Yeah... need to clean it off first though, they get dirty when you use them a lot ;-)

o2dazone · « **Reply #23 on:** Wed, 19 August 2009, 08:44:54 »

I'm sure if you use a brush and some toothpaste it'll clean up all the yellowing just fine. Or you can do what a few people here do and throw it in the dishwasher, but make sure it's a cold cycle, heaven forbid your Wang gets warped

InSanCen · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 19 August 2009, 16:54:00 »

I'm thinking this will be a job for Retr0brite...

As a quick query, any idea's what I should ask for this? it will be pristine once done. A quick google show nothing at all.

itlnstln · « **Reply #25 on:** Thu, 20 August 2009, 08:07:32 »

Quote from: InSanCen;110684

I'm thinking this will be a job for Retr0brite...

As a quick query, any idea's what I should ask for this? it will be pristine once done. A quick google show nothing at all.

I would just use toothpaste, preferably "whitening" toothpaste. A few members have used it here with fantastic results.

bsft · « **Reply #26 on:** Fri, 26 November 2010, 06:41:15 »

Hey there, I found this from site from a google search on racing simulators
This is something I built at home

It cost about $75 for materials, as i had the seat already.
Pc powering it is
AMD Phenom 965
4 gig 1600 mhz ram
GTX 460 gigabyte factory OC
3dmark basic 18500.
Needless to say , it cranks perfect graphics at full HD res and all settings maxed out.
Cheers, David.

NamelessPFG · « **Reply #27 on:** Fri, 26 November 2010, 13:25:23 »

I've thought about how to turn my desk into an adaptable cockpit, but one that keeps the keyboard and mouse in a usable position.

For starters, my Thrustmaster needs some solid mounting, especially with the way the stick is modded-quite stiff and not flaccid at all. Too easy to rock it off its base when applying maximum pressure.

In terms of wheel mounting, I'll probably flank my monitor with a couple of walls, then attach some swing-up arms to the walls, then connect the arms with a plank that the wheel itself attaches to. (Or maybe I could do without the walls, depending on how the arms are designed.)

I also need a better seat, though I don't know where to find any cheap car seats around here...

RoboKrikit · « **Reply #28 on:** Fri, 26 November 2010, 14:55:42 »

I have an Obutto cockpit. Mine is from the owner's original 2008 preorder and is of a slightly different design (better, worse, I don't know) than the current one. I paid only $259 back then, but prices have gone up.

This guy's looks like mine.

liist · « **Reply #29 on:** Mon, 18 April 2011, 19:57:41 »

I was just looking for something like this. Right now, all I have is a Logitech Driving Force for playing GT4, and no cockpit yet. When I start saving up money in the summer, I'm looking to get either a PS3 or Xbox 360, and then a racing setup. I don't think I want to spend so much more for the cockpit, so I would love to have ideas for setting it up. Well, if it's cheap enough, I would love a cockpit for my current Driving Force and PS2 setup.

Thinking of getting the G25. I really want the G27, but it doesn't allow sequential shifting for simulating touring and rally cars, and this might just kill it for me, although I don't know yet. Less of a learning curve since my current wheel only allows clutchless sequential.

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Author Topic: Racing simulator cockpits? (Read 34356 times)