I think I need a cockpit... (7th November 2012)
- Thread starter the_greeze
- 347 comments
- 72,134 views
- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
Thanks very much for the kind words guys! 
Much appreciated 👍
@VRracer & Stega: The welding isn't that hard to be honest; you could soon pick it up (any welding courses in your areas? It's a handy skill to have). I have a background in fabrication and welding anyway so it's second-nature to me now after all these years! It only gets a bit tricky if you have gaps in the set-ups (it welding arc blows through and you're left with a big hole to fill, if you're not careful!)
@OAB4nd1t: Powder coating for both frames is going to cost me £95. I'm happy with that price 'cos it's harder wearing and more resilient than paint. (Price also includes an undercoat of zinc).
Much appreciated 👍 @VRracer & Stega: The welding isn't that hard to be honest; you could soon pick it up (any welding courses in your areas? It's a handy skill to have). I have a background in fabrication and welding anyway so it's second-nature to me now after all these years! It only gets a bit tricky if you have gaps in the set-ups (it welding arc blows through and you're left with a big hole to fill, if you're not careful!)
@OAB4nd1t: Powder coating for both frames is going to cost me £95. I'm happy with that price 'cos it's harder wearing and more resilient than paint. (Price also includes an undercoat of zinc).
skymeat the frame itself weighs nothing much at all, i was lucky enough to have a spot for my rig that didn't require it to be packed away, but all up including the seat , wheel and frame i'd say mine weighs 30 to 35 kg, and if you can infact weld and/or have a mate that can help i'd recommend using steel, the open part of the rig i just went out and tested and i sat all my 80kgs of fat ass on it without any problem, he's a part of the article i wrote explaining the difference in materials.
Copied from my 95% completed instructional.
" Whether to build out of timber, steel or aluminium was an interesting problem, timber was easy to assemble but had weak structural characteristics, steel on the other hand had great strength, but with the lack of welding skills it was not going to be easy to assemble, where as aluminium had both strength and ease in assembly but it was going to cost me more than what my real car was worth.
So I made the logical decision and found myself a friend that could weld. Although I could do all the cuts and lay out all that was needed, my welding was not a strong point and that’s where my mate came in handy, so here is how I got to where I am now, I cant give advice on how to weld, so you'll have to find yourself a mate like I did, or build it out of timber and put extra structural supports in where needed which is totally do-able. So here are the plans and just a guide to what I did, and any issues I encountered. "
btw, the frame cost me 32 aussie dollars in material, and i just bought it from a steel place, so very cheap
Copied from my 95% completed instructional.
" Whether to build out of timber, steel or aluminium was an interesting problem, timber was easy to assemble but had weak structural characteristics, steel on the other hand had great strength, but with the lack of welding skills it was not going to be easy to assemble, where as aluminium had both strength and ease in assembly but it was going to cost me more than what my real car was worth.
So I made the logical decision and found myself a friend that could weld. Although I could do all the cuts and lay out all that was needed, my welding was not a strong point and that’s where my mate came in handy, so here is how I got to where I am now, I cant give advice on how to weld, so you'll have to find yourself a mate like I did, or build it out of timber and put extra structural supports in where needed which is totally do-able. So here are the plans and just a guide to what I did, and any issues I encountered. "
btw, the frame cost me 32 aussie dollars in material, and i just bought it from a steel place, so very cheap
- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
@ Kacprzak: Nice work!
@Skymeat: I reckon the rig weighs about 25 to 30Kgs in it's 'bare' state. Add a seat, wheel, MDF flooring & panels etc and I guess you're looking at 40 to 45Kgs
@Skymeat: I reckon the rig weighs about 25 to 30Kgs in it's 'bare' state. Add a seat, wheel, MDF flooring & panels etc and I guess you're looking at 40 to 45Kgs
@ Kacprzak: Nice work!
@Skymeat: I reckon the rig weighs about 25 to 30Kgs in it's 'bare' state. Add a seat, wheel, MDF flooring & panels etc and I guess you're looking at 40 to 45Kgs
yeah true , y do u ask 4 the weight, u looking at making it mobile, because if u are then i'd recommend some bolt points, that way u can pack it up and keep away in storage , well in my case the keep the wife happy.
i love the work you have done so far greeze, a little more work then what i put in, one thing i did stuff up and have to grind and reweld was my seat supports, i was working of chilicokes pic and forgot that i have the shifter on the other side, was quite a lol after the fact, but at the time me and my mate were like you dumb ass
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- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
Thank **** for grinders! 
- 3,509
- Cumberland, BC
- GTP_BlacqueJack
Wow; I need a friend with a welder
Wow; I need a friend with a welder
normally fridays at about 5pm most tradies knock off work for the week and take the time to sip the nectar of the gods, so go down to your local pub and make some new friends
- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
- 1,067
- No46_TheDoctor or SSRacingUK
I wish I could weld 
First off AWESOME thats how you do good things on a cheap budget! Looks sturdy as a mofo, if someone breaks into ur house 1 day you could just throw it at him 
Now I am not bagging I am just asking some questions here
is it just me or is the shifter a little to far away from the wheel or is it the way the pics are taken is it comfortable? and are you hitting the handbrake every time you go from 5th to 4th, to 2nd?
if its all good and comfy, they look like generic type steel tubes you can buy from a supply store, could you post a ingredients list so to speak, then maybe a step by step. in metric would be appreciated mate.
Now I am not bagging I am just asking some questions here
is it just me or is the shifter a little to far away from the wheel or is it the way the pics are taken is it comfortable? and are you hitting the handbrake every time you go from 5th to 4th, to 2nd?
if its all good and comfy, they look like generic type steel tubes you can buy from a supply store, could you post a ingredients list so to speak, then maybe a step by step. in metric would be appreciated mate.
- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
@Sienfeld: Thanks for the kudos. The shifter is in a comfortable position. I think the pictures distort the angle a bit. It's only a short reach down from the wheel position. I'll post some more pictures when everything's fitted and hopefully you'll get a better idea.
The handbrake is close but, it's angled away from the shifter to give a bit more room.
The material is 25x25x3mm steel box-section and I bought that direct from a steel stockist in 6 metre lengths. I wouldn't recommend buying from a diy/hardware store because:
1. The price will be expensive (they'll put a huge mark-up on it)
2. I doubt if they sell it in anything over 1 metre lengths.
@Timppaq: Thanks for the kind words! Good luck with the marketing of your design 👍
The handbrake is close but, it's angled away from the shifter to give a bit more room.
The material is 25x25x3mm steel box-section and I bought that direct from a steel stockist in 6 metre lengths. I wouldn't recommend buying from a diy/hardware store because:
1. The price will be expensive (they'll put a huge mark-up on it)
2. I doubt if they sell it in anything over 1 metre lengths.
@Timppaq: Thanks for the kind words!
Good luck with the marketing of your design 👍
- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
Okay guys, a whole bunch of new pictures for you! 👍 Got the frames back from the powder coaters (they look fantastic; great finish) and I've been busy cutting and shaping the MDF panels and generally fitting out the cockpit.
Sorry for the picture quality of some of them. Anyway, take a look. As usual, I welcome your comments...
Monitor Frame (back from powder coating)
Trying to show you the great finish (crappy picture)
Monitor Frame base (showing adjustable feet)
Cockpit Frame
Cockpit Frame (2)
Cockpit Frame (3)
Seat mounting points
MDF fitted around shifter, steering wheel mounting platform and base
Shifter (close up)
Handbrake mounting details (note: spring for added 'feel')
Showing cut-out for handbrake
Handbrake spring (close-up)
Rounded Edges on the MDF (note: the two holes pick up the mounting points on the G25)
Pedals fitted (front view)
Pedals fitted (rear view)
Buttkicker in place
OMP seat mounted in place
Seat & Buttkicker (rear view)
Steering Wheel mounted
Steering Wheel mounted (2)
Overview
The LG Plasma (thank God the holes lined up on my mounting frame
)
The whole project!
...and there you go! 👍
Still got quite a bit of work ahead. Next step is to get the speakers and audio sorted, get the PS3 hooked up and take if for a test drive! Loads of tweaks and mods to be done (I'll sort out a list of proposed mods shortly).
Let me know what you think and if you've got any questions please don't hesitate to ask...
Sorry for the picture quality of some of them. Anyway, take a look. As usual, I welcome your comments...
Monitor Frame (back from powder coating)
Trying to show you the great finish (crappy picture)
Monitor Frame base (showing adjustable feet)
Cockpit Frame
Cockpit Frame (2)
Cockpit Frame (3)
Seat mounting points
MDF fitted around shifter, steering wheel mounting platform and base
Shifter (close up)
Handbrake mounting details (note: spring for added 'feel')
Showing cut-out for handbrake
Handbrake spring (close-up)
Rounded Edges on the MDF (note: the two holes pick up the mounting points on the G25)
Pedals fitted (front view)
Pedals fitted (rear view)
Buttkicker in place
OMP seat mounted in place
Seat & Buttkicker (rear view)
Steering Wheel mounted
Steering Wheel mounted (2)
Overview
The LG Plasma (thank God the holes lined up on my mounting frame
)
The whole project!
...and there you go! 👍
Still got quite a bit of work ahead. Next step is to get the speakers and audio sorted, get the PS3 hooked up and take if for a test drive! Loads of tweaks and mods to be done (I'll sort out a list of proposed mods shortly).
Let me know what you think and if you've got any questions please don't hesitate to ask...
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- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
- 1,067
- No46_TheDoctor or SSRacingUK
The finish looks great 👍
Only question for me would be the overall adjustability, but I guess planning carefully you have been able to find a good driving position for you. 👍 And a nice screen!
I've been using my current cockpit for about 6 months now, the seat slides forward/back, raises and lowers and I still find myself adjusting it every so often to get it "just right" ! Adjustability rules, in my opinion 👍
- 1,011
- UK
- the_greeze
Thanks guys! 👍
@Timppaq: Yes, the cockpit has been designed with my driving position in mind, however there is some adjustment on both the seat position and angle. It's just a bit of a pain to move it (bolted in you see!) But I don't think I'll need to adjust it; it's comfortable for me and mrs_greeze can also use it!
@Timppaq: Yes, the cockpit has been designed with my driving position in mind, however there is some adjustment on both the seat position and angle. It's just a bit of a pain to move it (bolted in you see!) But I don't think I'll need to adjust it; it's comfortable for me and mrs_greeze can also use it!
it's comfortable for me and mrs_greeze can also use it!
the man is a legend , lol, mrs greeze is the first one you must please and then the worlds your oyster
