Hello all, and welcome to my 'Racing Sim Cockpit' Project log!

Over the next few days / weeks I intend on Building myself a car cock pit, basically just holding a chair from a car, and the new xbox360 Wireless steering wheel/pedals for the 360 console.

The whole Steering wheel looks ace, from the reviews Ive read its up there with the best of wheels, And being the only xbox360 steering wheel available in wireless (everything plugs into the mains power but doesn't connect to the console itself)
I thought I might as well, Since It'll be a few months before I actually build my projector. So any thoughts I had I looked back on twisteddman's PVC setup Although not very Esthetically pleasing its genius.

I thought I would ' take it to the next gen ' and Fabricate a metal cockpit that was slimmer and more enclosed, featuring the wheel to be rigged up with a Strut style opening and closing mechanism so u need to Open it to step into the cockpit and close it to access the wheel itself. Think of it as Gull wing doors...only the steering wheel /Dash Folds up so you can climb in.

I'm Looking at Mounting 1 passenger side Nissan 300ZX cloth seat, Keeping it low and slick, If it all goes to plan I was considering rigging up some sort of pivoting mechanism to the back of the chair and make the front anchored... So I could install some sort of motors and have them actuate when you reach some sort of Degree on the wheel. I would like no more than 90' of movement, SO when you hooked it around a corner, You felt like ' the cockpit ' followed the car, the Wheel is Full force back and Rumble too so that would enhance the gaming experience as well as nice sport seats, a mean gull wing entry/exit to the car... I cant wait to begin building.

Estimated cost of parts: ( Australian Currency )

xbox360 wireless steering wheel + PGR3 est $179.00 getting for $150
Nissan 300ZX cloth/leather Seat est $150 Ill find out tomorrow weather or not ill get it for FREE
Steel Frame + Components est $80.00
+ gloss black S/paint and minor finishing touches est $20

I wont even begin to work on the motorized price list because I'm not sure how im even going to controll those motors.. or what ones to use and how to power them.So for now I can just stick with the basics.

Sketches to come

Interesting ideas. Where in Oz are you?

I've build an F1 simulator out of MDF and have designed a realistic looking pvc spaceframe single seater and an aluminium monocoque sportscar simulator.

Your idea of interfacing motors to wheel rotation is interesting, but might be tricky to do with good feel and feedback. If you had a gaming PC there would be lots more options. You can spend as much as you want...

I know that the flight sim boys use 'Epic' cards to read and output variables coming out of the sim software. They use this data to activate hydraulic rams, rolling ground map displays and other cockpit guages and warning lights. People are also starting to tap into data from racing sims like GTL and GTR2 to drive their cockpit instruments. Maybe hydraulics are starting to be used here too -I haven't checked in some time. Have a look in the depths of Race Sim Central and you might find some stuff. Of course, you'ld have to mount the PJ on your simulator

Thanks for the link,
I'll probably ditch the whole motorised idea because of cost and time... I just want to build her and use her. and perhaps tinker with a few concepts down the road.

I'm only in the design stage and want to do it right, so I can easily adapt new features at a later date.Ill give you guys a progress report in a few days, Buy than Ill have the dimensions set so we can finally gather materials to build her. My brother, a Metal Fabricator/Engineer is going to help me.

It would be great to see one built out of metal, so I'm looking forward to seeing your progress.

Just be very careful with your 240V stuff!

I think its very pretty . but i appreciate your recognizing my genious

really though, i cant wait to see how it turns out

Thanks guys,

It'll be a about a week before I can post some pics. Ive desided not to go with the 300zx seats and go for the nissan s15 seats, I can get a pair for a good price so Ill go with the more moden style to match some of the 'hardcore' sims out there. Ill be using this for the xbox360 so Its not going to be as hardcore or DIY as most, I'm also Ordering a LumanLab Pro Kit so I can also Built my projector.

You should check this one out Inventgeek

thats cool. they used the same wheel i have got. i originally bought that model so i could move the gearshifter the same exact way that they did. i might just have to get around to doing that now that ive seen it done.

Looks alright the invent geek setup, Mine isn't going to be as DIY but I will however upgrade the baring inside the wheel from plastic to a proper metal one so there is more feel to her, the guys also modded the shifter off the wheel and made another stick shifter out of it, Ill give it a go too, Project put on hold for a week or so While its CHRISTMAS!!! and just trying to relax because I'm sick of work.

Wishing everyone a Safe and Happy Christmas and new years.
- Jayda

Here is one that a guy did on his cnc machine, that ynneb did on the zone.

would be easy to cut. here is a shot of it in mach3 cnc control software



Joe

Very like the commercially available Hyper Stimulator, which is great but very pricey for what it is.

can you imagine getting in and out of that thing. talk about a pain in the arse. you are in for the long haul

Yeah - tight but surprisingly comfortable. Almost identical seating position to a Formula Ford. Sat in a Hyper Stimulator for an hour shut in a hyperbaric chamber at 50*C in full racing suit and helmet doing laps of Talledaga, with thermocouples stuck just about everywhere (including "pain in the ...") for a mate who was doing his PHD in racing car ergonomics, of all things. He went off to work for prodrive in Europe after that!

That would be killer. no update yet

Thats gunna be sooo sick.