attempting my first racing simulator build for ps3

[BertoThaMan]

I was looking through some racing simulator threads, and I was inspired by them. Now I want to build one for myself, or atleast try. I want to do a rs1 style simulator, with a 3 screen set up on my ps3 ( if possible. I just dont know how to go about it), the G27 steering wheel, shifter, and pedals. This build my take some time so just bare with me.

I was able to get a seat from one of my buddies. He says its from an s10 truck. It has been outside for awhile and has some mold in the foam. My plan is to get my father-n-law to replace the foam and fabric.. Seeing he makes furniture I figured that would be the best route.

This is the seat I got.




Next supplies on the list is 2x4's and 2x2's for the base of the simulator. I already have some 5/8 plywood to go on top of the framing.

any insight or suggestions on my build would be greatfully accepted.
Wish me luck!!!!!!

 

[Gunstar]

You could just clean it up, spray some anti mold cleaner on it, let it dry then throw a seat cover on it. My first "rig" was a car seat on a 2x4 base, loved it!

 

[lemansfanatic]

Throw that away! If you're going to put some real time into building a rig, go to a junk yard and pull a seat out of a car that has a top... I got a perfect condition leather sport seat from a Honda S2000 for $75. I was going to buy a cloth one out of a Mitsubishi Eclipse for $30 before I saw the S2000. Point being, don't use that seat, its junk. Get your junk in good condition.

 

[bumer]

with a 3 screen set up on my ps3 ( if possible. I just dont know how to go about it)

You do know this requires 3x PS3 and 3X copy of the game?

 

[BertoThaMan]

^^^^^no I didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up. Ill stick to one tv....... for now.

Throw that away! If you're going to put some real time into building a rig, go to a junk yard and pull a seat out of a car that has a top... I got a perfect condition leather sport seat from a Honda S2000 for $75. I was going to buy a cloth one out of a Mitsubishi Eclipse for $30 before I saw the S2000. Point being, don't use that seat, its junk. Get your junk in good condition.

Ill see how much he's going to charge first. Then i'll make a decision, if it is cheap ill get it redone cause then it will be a new seat

 

[Rallywagon]

^^^^^no I didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up. Ill stick to one tv....... for now.





Ill see how much he's going to charge first. Then i'll make a decision, if it is cheap ill get it redone cause then it will be a new seat

Being your father in law, you may be able to get it done cheap, but typically reupholstering isn't cheap. With that said, unless he uses some quality high density foam and good material, a seat from a sports car in the junk yard will be by and far more comfortable. I just finished my prototype rig and used the passanger seat out of my 85 Rx7. It sucks, espeically after a 2 hour league night. However, when I go to build the finished product, I'll be sourcing a seat from a Caddy or lincoln or something nice and luxury, with leather, heat and electric movements!

 

[BertoThaMan]

If it cost more then $50 to get my seat redone then ill just get one from the junkyard.

I picked up three 8ft 2x4s for the base of the rig. I plan on making the the rig 5ft long and 2ft wide. Do you think that will be to long?





Edit....


I got the measurements. I looked it up on the site.

 

[GDII]

Have a look at my rig. Its made from 3x2 (75x45) and some plywood and MDF. Also has a detachable gear shifter mount for moving it through doorways. It lives at one end of the house but gets used at the other. I have measurements somewhere. Will try dig them out.

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=131951

 

[BertoThaMan]

That's a coll simple rig. Thanks but I got the measurements for the rs1 style rig. I'm working on the base now.

 

[left888]

Throw that seat away, there's no way I would bring it into the house let alone sit in it. Go to your local "Auto Wreckers" and pick up a great seat for $50-$100. Next I would consider getting into PC racing which is much funner and the hardware doesn't require 3 PS3's. Games like pCARS, Dirt etc are a good start, when you are ready move up to iRacing.

 

[Rallywagon]

No offense man, but I think hes got that already. He also said that his father in law was going to reupholster it. so long as he foams it up right, could be a good comfortable seat. Just not exactly a cheap job.

 

[BertoThaMan]

Throw that seat away, there's no way I would bring it into the house let alone sit in it. Go to your local "Auto Wreckers" and pick up a great seat for $50-$100. Next I would consider getting into PC racing which is much funner and the hardware doesn't require 3 PS3's. Games like pCARS, Dirt etc are a good start, when you are ready move up to iRacing.

I don't know anything about gaming on a PC. I wouldn't know where to begin. Lol. But it would make sense seeing its going to be just for racing.


I got the base made and sanded.

 

[Rallywagon]

Just something to consider. If you don't already have a pc that can handle 3 monitors and running any race sim in a decent resolution, then 2 more copies of GT5 and ps3's would probably be cheaper then the upgrades that would be required to your pc. If you look around you can find a used ps3 for a little over 100. Consider just upgrading you graphics card/cards, that will easily run you over 250. That its assuming the OP has an upgradable computer.
Then you must consider buying games, which can get outrageously expensive when you have to but more tracks and cars. I racing you get 7 cars and 5 tracks with your monthly subscription. Or, for a one time fee, you have hundreds of cars and 30 some tracks to race. Even buying 3 new copies for gt6 would be a better value then most pc sims. Not to mention gt5 and 6 are in many cases, more complete then whats out in the pc world as well (pcars, rfactor2, simraceway)
I'll degrees though. If you have the income, pc sim racing had the ability to be far more.customizable and immersive.

 

[djslofstra]

Poor dog.

 

[BertoThaMan]

Just something to consider. If you don't already have a pc that can handle 3 monitors and running any race sim in a decent resolution, then 2 more copies of GT5 and ps3's would probably be cheaper then the upgrades that would be required to your pc. If you look around you can find a used ps3 for a little over 100. Consider just upgrading you graphics card/cards, that will easily run you over 250. That its assuming the OP has an upgradable computer.
Then you must consider buying games, which can get outrageously expensive when you have to but more tracks and cars. I racing you get 7 cars and 5 tracks with your monthly subscription. Or, for a one time fee, you have hundreds of cars and 30 some tracks to race. Even buying 3 new copies for gt6 would be a better value then most pc sims. Not to mention gt5 and 6 are in many cases, more complete then whats out in the pc world as well (pcars, rfactor2, simraceway)
I'll degrees though. If you have the income, pc sim racing had the ability to be far more.customizable and immersive.

The pc I got is old and ran down. We had it for 7 years. I didn't think about getting used ps3s, but I also like that you can connect dash gauges and e brake to the pc. But I guess ill do the ps3s cause my income can't afford the pc way. And I decided that I'm goin to get a seat from the junkyard, the one I have now is all rusted on the sliders and the lever to make it slide is off on one side. Now the question is what seat out of which car do I want to get. I want it comfortable but I also want it a racing style seat.


The dog is fine. Lol, that's what she gets for eating cat poo.

 

[Crispy]

I'm not sure what world you're living in that buying three monitors, PS3's, and games would be cheaper than a PC that runs triple screens. Most racing games aren't that intensive, unless you're trying to run pCars at 120FPS and 3 screens...

My advice, go the PC route. Mods, physics, and more content far outweigh GT5 alone with triple screens.

 

[Rallywagon]

No point in factoring in monitors, since you would need 3 regardless. On that note. A 36 inch flatscreen led tv is cheaper then a 36 inch monitor, which your would want to get the best resolution out of your pc. So taking that aspect of the debate out, 250 tops for two more ps3s and and.20 bucks for two games. So 300 on the high end for triple screen gt5, or close to 1000, or more, to build a pc worth using.
Don't think I'm trying to take anything away from pc racing. And further more, a pc is far and away more upgradable, a ps4, not so much. A pc now won't be obsolete in november

 

[left888]

I don't know anything about gaming on a PC. I wouldn't know where to begin. Lol. But it would make sense seeing its going to be just for racing.


I got the base made and sanded.

Just an idea or two. PC racing is the best racing there is, while console racing can be a lot of fun, it just doesn't compare. Take a day or two and step back from your project and check out iRacing. I'm not going to lie to you but iRacing is very difficult to succeed in. It is a true measure of ones sim racing ability but the rewards are incredible.

Usually after a couple 2 or 3 years of sim racing this is where most racers find them self, (iRacing). Other games that you can check out to hone your racecraft are all the Sim Bin titles, pCARS is a good game which is still being developed. With PC racing you can build a sim rig with detail. I am currently working on my dash on my rig, which will house my gauges, tach, speedo, water, oil, fuel.

Check out my rig, there's a link in my sig. My rig has been a WIP for a few years now, it is my third rig I've built, I also purchased one (sold it). So Berto, are you working from plans or just sort of winging it? lol. In any event, I find building a rig is just about as fun as racing is. Don't rush yourself, check out other peoples rigs and design aspects that you like into your rig, good luck.

My advice, go the PC route. Mods, physics, and more content far outweigh GT5 alone with triple screens.

I concur, it's a no brainer.

 

[lemansfanatic]

Tripple screens will be obsolete by this time next year

 

[Rallywagon]

Think rift will take off? I have my doubts. At least as far as racing sims go. And certainly not in a year. For flight and space sims on the other hand (space citizen anyone?) I feel the rift will take off there. Just not sure if its going to take off for racing.

 

[lemansfanatic]

Yeaaaah... but still. I wouldn't invest too much right now in a tripple screen monitor setup. Just sayin

 

[left888]

Tripple screens will be obsolete by this time next year

Not in this universe, you can take that to the bank!

 

[lemansfanatic]

Haha Lefty, the bus is leaving. Get on board!

 

[BertoThaMan]

I think ill go the three ps3 route. I can find ps3's + games on Craigslist for cheap (as low as $100 depending on the amount of games that come with it). Where as a gaming computer will cost close to $700 and up. To me it makes more sense to by 2 more ps3's for $300 ( this is with them at $150 a piece) verses an new gaming pc for $700. I know you can add more things to a pc, but with my budget its out of my reach. I will still be happy with the route I'm goin to take. Thanks for the insight though.

 

[Rallywagon]

Saves you enough that you could even buy 3 copies for gt6 and still be in under a new comp.

 

[BertoThaMan]

Im back with an update. The rig isnt built yet. But I did manage to get the g27 steering wheel kit, and Gt 6.

 

[MSTER232]

I was looking through some racing simulator threads, and I was inspired by them. Now I want to build one for myself, or atleast try. I want to do a rs1 style simulator, with a 3 screen set up on my ps3 ( if possible. I just dont know how to go about it), the G27 steering wheel, shifter, and pedals. This build my take some time so just bare with me.
[...]
Wish me luck!!!!!!

That seat nearly made me sick . I highly suggest that you at least clean it up, throw a seat cover over it or change the seat because I can promise you don't want to be sitting on that...

By the way, if you want a triple screen setup to use on the PS3 then you will need 3 PS3s, 3 copies of GT5 or supported triple screen game and 3 monitors or TVs. Currently GT6 doesn't have an official support for triple screen so once you've built this you might have to wait until PD decides when/if they will add triple screen support.

Tripple screens will be obsolete by this time next year

I highly doubt that triple screens will be obsolete at least anytime soon in the foreseeable future. What would they be replaced with in order for them to become obsolete?

 

[BertoThaMan]

MSTER232 I threw the seat out just 2 weeks ago. I plan on getting another one. The triple screen will have to wait for a long time.


UPDATE ON SIM


I mounted my 42" tv to the wall got two pieces of 2ft x 4ft MDF board and all the washers nuts and bolts. Here's my progress so far. Next on tje list is the shifter stand, medal mount ( I'm going to do the reverse pedals), steering wheel mount, and the top piece

 

[BertoThaMan]

I have a quick question. How wide is the base on this simulator.Mine is 27 inches wide. And if I go 27 then I wont have enough wood to finish.

 

[Gunstar]

Nice. It's starting to come together man!