Heya

I am in the process of designing and building my cockpit, the design part is finished (well maybe an adjustment for the gear bit)

but as I have not really made anything such as this I thought that i would post the design (and the small bit that I done) so if anyone can pick flaws or give some good advice b4 I build the thing, that'll be very much appreciated

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I have designed it to be made with 25x25mm RHS with (what is planed to be MDF wood inserts)

I was gonna to buy a MOMO first, thats why the part for the G25 gear stick looks like a after thought

as you might tell it's quite big and heavy so i am making it so it is two parts ... as you can most likely see it'll join in the middle (probably by bolts)

To give you's an idea of the scale the full lengh of the design is 1775mm, 935 high and 800 wide
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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/Xalies/wip.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/Xalies/wip2.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/Xalies/wip3.jpg

and this is what i have done, I thought I'd best ask b4 it's to late to change stuff

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/Xalies/Image596.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/Xalies/Image597.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/Xalies/Image598.jpg

Just a add-on go to your local Parts yard, Auto store, dealership etc get some car carpets for example like a lexus mat.

Car matt, good idea but na... no room, that section right in front of the pedals isnt covered, to make it easier to step in to get on and off

nice design.
I think the shifter should be a lot lower , the top of the gear knob about the same height as your knee.Wheel and monitor needs to be closer to your body.
Thought about top mounting the pedals? http://www.lfsforum.net/showthread.php?t=16490
dont think the frame needs to extend so far to rear of the seat,which means you could make in one piece.
No adjustment? you might find once it's built and your seated some adjustablity is required to fine tune the positions.
beer /ashtray holder
just my thoughts, good luck

where's your keyboard and mouse gonna go??

If you are going to have your pedals in that configuration, you definitely will want to adjust the angle I would think. Sitting in an office chair I can't have my pedals flat on the floor. I have an angled wood base I set the pedals on. Sitting in more of an "in-the-car" setting (ie, looks like your legs will be extended outward more than sitting in an office chair) you won't be very comfortable from pushing the pedals with your toes and having your ankle extended fully.

Also what Turbo Dad said about the shifter. In fact, I'm trying to picture someone sitting in your design pics and it looks like the wheel and monitor would be way too high as well. Shift everything down evenly to where the shifter is at your knee like Turbo Dad said.

I have done abit of redesigning

Mainly lowering wheel, stick and monitor and brought them closer

Quote from Turbo Dad :

No adjustment?

There will be some, the seat is still adjustable as normal (slides back and forth, as well as tilt) and the frame extends so far coz thats where the places for the rear speakers are

Quote from nikimere :

where's your keyboard and mouse gonna go??

I thought about that, and well it's gonna be big enough as it is... I got one of them usb numeric pads so i was just thinking of using that next to steering wheel for binds and stuff ... my keyboard/mouse will be on the table next to me anyway

Quote :

If you are going to have your pedals in that configuration, you definitely will want to adjust the angle I would think.

good idea

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*UPDATED* (feat. Pmd9409 and Jimmy_Lemmon)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/Xalies/wip4.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/Xalies/wip5.jpg

thx for advice

Your design updates look like it would be a much more natural position for thinking you are sitting in a car. I like it. The monitor is still going to be a bit high (looks like it will be above eye level), but you won't be able to fix that if you want it closer to you (read as the shelf needing to sit above the wheel housing.)

Personal opinion based on the angle of my pedals are with me sitting in the office chair, I think I would prefer even more angle on the pedals and would prefer them lower than the height they are now. I like to have a little bend in the legs. It looks like your legs will be extended out fairly straight. If G25 pedals, I would definitely be swapping them around and mounting them upside down like was suggested earlier here if it was me.

Wish I could build a frame like that. I have all the square tube back underneath my pine trees, but, with my rather large CRT, I don't think I would want to be moving the monitor back and forth from the frame to the desk and I don't think the wife would like sitting in a race frame to surf the web, LOL. Almost completed with using some of the square tubing I have to build a shifter instead.

Cup holder

yeah I would also say you need more support on the sides for the wheel. here is one design that has inspired me: http://www.southeastweb.com.au/racingsim/

i've never built a cockpit but i think it's good to have a little flex on the steering column to lessen the forces it has to put up with. i achieved this by putting small bits of rubber under the wheel unit. it's a bit harder to make it flex horizontally though. it's not at all noticeable while playing and i'm not worrying so much about the crazy noises i've heard some g25s make.