advice on building cockpit needed

[supergoop]

My apologies... after replying to another thread, I realized there is already this thread talking about building a cockpit. I want to share my idea but I don't know how to move my original reply here, so I am just doing a simple cut-and-paste. Sorry for the duplicate post.

My Mandate:

- cheap to make
- compact for storage
- sturdy and strong
- light and portable

And I came up with this! What do you think?

Note the crossbar under the chair. The front legs of the chair are actually 1/2 inch off the ground, thus the weight of the driver is holding the setup firmly. I can tilt the chair more if necessary by raising the crossbar.

Note also that the pedals are firmly held with two small pieces of wood under the pedal (can't see this in the pictures) that fits snugly into the bottom of the pedal. The bungee cord is to further secure it.

I used the baseboard to angle the pedals to match a real car, and to hold the pedals firmly. Also, you'll see that the base for the pedals and the chair is detachable for portability.

If you want, you can lower the whole setup by cutting the chair legs and side panels (I didn't do this because I didn't want to waste a perfectly good chair from my kitchen!). You can tilt the chair more and seat low to the ground to simulate a cockpit.

AND... the top is wide enough for me to put my favourite drink! Cup holder is optional 💡

Please tell me what you think. Thanks.

 

[GeeUK]

Looking good. I would prefer to drive lower down to the ground thou for that sporty feel.

 

[GeeUK]

Any other recommendations guys?

 

[mrslick151]

supergoop, looks good, just throw some paint on that bad boy and you're good to go.

 

[MagpieRacer]

hey guys, i going to be starting to build myself a cockpit, but, i dont know what sort of matierials wud be best to use?? any suggestions

 

[Patrik]

hey guys, i going to be starting to build myself a cockpit, but, i dont know what sort of matierials wud be best to use?? any suggestions

Woodplates like Martinmaxxx did, thats what i am going to do...

 

[GeeUK]

Can anyone comment on this? http://www.gameracer.co.uk/common/more_images/rally/picture1.jpg

I maybe ordering it tonite. Any comments/feedback much appreciated, thanks.

 

[Patrik]

Can anyone comment on this? http://www.gameracer.co.uk/common/more_images/rally/picture1.jpg

I maybe ordering it tonite. Any comments/feedback much appreciated, thanks.

That is nice, if I am going to get a projector some time in the future I'll probably buy something like that to Oh man... Imagine GT5 with projector, surroundsystem, and that cockpit right there!

 

[MagpieRacer]

thanks putte_tutte, which kind of wood will you be using

 

[supergoop]

Can anyone comment on this? http://www.gameracer.co.uk/common/more_images/rally/picture1.jpg

I maybe ordering it tonite. Any comments/feedback much appreciated, thanks.

It's not bad, but I just don't think the top plate where the wheel goes will be rigid enough. There seems to be a lot of quick-release type adjustments and the single bar that holds the wheel doesn't look strong. It look like it will twist easily.

I have heard that the DFP has very powerful force feedback. I don't own either setup, so I am not commenting based on experience.

I can tell you that the setup I built is very strong (a couple of posts up). You can have someone stand on it and it won't break, provided that the one sitting on the chair is heavier then the one standing on the top (just to balance it).

 

[supergoop]

hey guys, i going to be starting to build myself a cockpit, but, i dont know what sort of matierials wud be best to use?? any suggestions

My recommendation is not to use plywood. Although it is strong and cheap, it tends to chip and splinter easily. I built mine using plywood simply because I had it laying around in my garage. It does splinter a bit, but is very minor.

I would recommend a lightweight but strong solid piece of wood.

 

[SimRaceDriver]

I would fathom to take a guess that standard ol'e Plywood is what Martinmaxxx used & others like him...

I mean do you really need to go with anything thicker then half-an-inch (1/2) wood when building a simple racing sim/cockpit? I hope not because otherwise it's going to be really heavy!

 

[supergoop]

I mean do you really need to go with anything thicker then half-an-inch (1/2) wood when building a simple racing sim/cockpit? I hope not because otherwise it's going to be really heavy!

I agree that plywood is fairly heavy. At the same time, it is very STRONG. Therefore, I plan to drill/cut out some large holes in my setup to make it lighter. I will cut out holes strategically as not to compromise the strength of my setup.

The reason I haven't cut the holes yet is because I don't have a jigsaw. Trust me, the 1/2" plywood is very difficult to cut by hand.

I used a professional series circular saw to cut mine, and even that required a lot of effort (I think the blade was dull as well).

 

[supergoop]

supergoop, looks good, just throw some paint on that bad boy and you're good to go.

Thanks. As I said above, I plan to cut some large holes to make it lighter (without compromising strength). I may use a router to round the edges a bit, and paint it if I have time. Functionally, it is working 100% for me already. Erogomically, it fits my body perfectly (I carefully custom measured it for my body). The best thing I like about it is that it is strong, functional, and the design was very SIMPLE.

I took me longer to design and measure the cuting lines than it did to cut it and put it together. I think I cutted it and bolted it together in about an hour! The design and measurements took days (if not weeks) just to come up with the idea!

 

[Cheshyrkat]

1/2" MDF or marine grade plywood would be my recomendation. Both have a low tendancy to warp and are quite sturdy. MDF can be found for about $30 for a 4'x8' sheet while high quality plywood can be a bit pricy. If you use MDF just make sure to seal it with some sort of primer or paint.

 

[GeeUK]

It's not bad, but I just don't think the top plate where the wheel goes will be rigid enough. There seems to be a lot of quick-release type adjustments and the single bar that holds the wheel doesn't look strong. It look like it will twist easily.

I have heard that the DFP has very powerful force feedback. I don't own either setup, so I am not commenting based on experience.

I can tell you that the setup I built is very strong (a couple of posts up). You can have someone stand on it and it won't break, provided that the one sitting on the chair is heavier then the one standing on the top (just to balance it).

Can anyone recommend a decent priced seat then that looks RIGID enough to handle the force feedback? I was going to order it tonight!

 

[GeeUK]

Guys, does this not look rigid enough? I need to order a seat tonite....

http://www.gameracer.co.uk/common/more_images/generic/steeringcolumn.jpg

 

[supergoop]

Guys, does this not look rigid enough? I need to order a seat tonite....

http://www.gameracer.co.uk/common/more_images/generic/steeringcolumn.jpg

Must you get it tonight, or can you wait a bit? The other thing I don't like is the post between my thighs. Also, I like my gas and brake pedals slightly to the right (like in a real car). I don't usually use both feet to brake and gas simultaneously.

I DO like the seat though. How much is it the setup? Does it really have a good "price/performance" ratio? "Cheap" is not always the best solution.

Remember, it is always better to spend a little more than to spend too little. For example, if you overpaid by 10%, you only wasted 10%. If you underpaid by 10%, and the item is not what you really wanted, you just wasted 90%!

 

[GeeUK]

Too late, ive ordered it. I wasnt too keen on the the pole either. I have actually have got a better seat that the one in the picture. Looks to be half leather. Pic's aint on the site thou, sorry. Well, I will let you know how it goes! I am just so impatient!

 

[ragundy]

I'll try to make a self-made cockpit...

 

[davejmac]

Hi,
I used 18 mm MDF to build my setup. It is fairly easy to work with and has no grain to worry about it is however reported to be carcenogenic(sp) so wear the appropriate gear when using it and paint it as soon as possible.
It can also be a bit heavy so I used a hole saw to cut heaps of small holes in the flat sections then routed a profile on the holes helps keep the weight down and also makes it look a bit RACEY. There are pics of my seat and wheel mount in this discussion that may help.

Dave.

 

[slydog]

You guys should check out Home Depot, I bought this for $49 and it's very sturdy. It even has tilt steering LOL.... All I need is to get something that tilt's my pedals.

 

[Orbit]

Dave, I've been building the firetooth.net frame with yours as a benchmark, because it looks... well, kick-arse!

I'm also using 18mm MDF, and I'm wondering how you attached all your pieces together. The instructions aren't really detailed enough for a woodwork-newbie like myself.

I tried joining some scrap pieces with 8-gauge 45mm wood screws and it kept splitting, then I read that you can put glue in the split and re-screw it. Not sure whether this would be the best way to go though...

What have you got your pedals mounted on?

 

[sLoB80]

You guys should check out Home Depot, I bought this for $49 and it's very sturdy. It even has tilt steering LOL.... All I need is to get something that tilt's my pedals.

It's Funny !!! How can you be comfortable !! Maybe a good idea, I believe that you have a camera or a kodak.

 

[0100]

Can anybody with Frex pedals answer a question for me.

What is the difference between:

- Pedal kit 34500.00

AND

- PRO pedal outright 42900.00

This is the link they are at the top of the page.

https://www.frex.com/cgi-bin/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=8867126.12510*xO5c-0&product=Pedal

 

[nickmp0wer]

My dad bought a welder and im gunna make myself a real nice cockpit, im going to make my own pedals including clutch (comp use only) also with my act labs shifter i hope to use sequential with gt4 and a racing seat with belts. Have a 5 day weekend ending the 21st so i will report back then

 

[davejmac]

Orbit,
I used screws to join the frame together but you have to drill a clearance hole in the peice of wood the screw is passing through AND a pilot hole in the peice you are screwing into as MDF splits really easily as you are finding out. I assembled everything as a dry run to check angles and the like then pulled it all apart and glued and screwed it together.
As for the pedals they are sitting on an angled peice of MDF the angle is trial and error this is my fourth go and it feels pretty good.
I can put up some more pics if you need them just let me know what you want them of.
Hope this helped,
Cheers,
Dave.

 

[SimRaceDriver]

Can anybody with Frex pedals answer a question for me.

What is the difference between:

- Pedal kit 34500.00

AND

- PRO pedal outright 42900.00

This is the link they are at the top of the page.

https://www.frex.com/cgi-bin/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=8867126.12510*xO5c-0&product=Pedal

@ 0100 To answer your question..the difference between the two is actually quite simple..

If you are a current Logitech Driving Force Pro user, then you want to go with the Pro Pedals, as they are a direct plug-n-play for this wheel...as well as the Logitech Momo Racing (PC Only though)

Whereas, the standard pedals would only be an option if you're using any other wheel...but on a PC.
As an example: If you were using the MS FFB wheel & wanted to use the Frex pedals, you'd opt for the standard Pedal kit, plus the needed pots (potentiometers) that would be required to get the pedals to function correctly.

Feel free to email Mr. Shige Tanaka at Frex (click the link for the email address! ) for any other questions you may have...
NOTE: Frex is currently working at fullfilling all their backorders so a response may take sometime but I doubt it will take more then say 48-72 hours for a response.

Hope this helps?

SRD

 

[Patrik]

Any idea on how long it take to get stuff you order from frexgp? I've ordered my shift+ last week at monday (thats more than a week ago) will i get my stuff or do i have to reorder?

 

[SimRaceDriver]

Any idea on how long it take to get stuff you order from frexgp? I've ordered my shift+ last week at monday (thats more than a week ago) will i get my stuff or do i have to reorder?

Frex just indicated on their website that it's going to take anywhere from 1 to 2 months for products to ship!...There's more to read so I would recommend checking the link out...

I can almost say that once Frex got their own forum over at RSCNet.org and more PC racers learned of Frex, their products have been flying off the shelf...good thing for Frex from a business standpoint but somewhat bad for us gamers because of the inconvenience in unforseen delays in production & delivery times...but considering they're direct plug-n-play for the PS2 & are quite superior in design, I know they're worth every penny...besides, if we can all wait on GT4 for like what..a year...a few months can't be that big of a deal!

All I know though is as soon as Uncle Sam gives me the $500 he owes me, (Tax Return) I'm submitting my order to Frex so I can thoroughly enjoy playing GT4! :-)