So after getting GT5 (and other racing sims) and not wanting to use the standard controller I decided to create a custom racing cockpit. The idea came to design & build quickly when a friend showed interest in having one as well. I plotted everything in sketchup (go google!) so that I could just cut and put together. What a time saver! I was able to determine that a single 4'x8' plywood sheet (oak covered) could fit the pieces. The nice thing about planning the way I did was I could determine where to cut with the hand circular saw and what can go on the table saw. In the end I did a single cut with the hand circular saw and with help did another on the table. After that all the pieces were very manageable! So after 7ish hours this is the product:
The wheel can slide up/down and in/out with the bolts. The seat is a real car seat with front/back sliding rails. When comparing to a pre-made simulation seat that's around $400 (seat + stand for controller and pedals) ... the cost of this is well worth the effort. The wood sheet was only $45 from Home Depot and the seat from Amazon.
The touch up is to use the router and round all the edges so they are not 90 deg corners which are painful when hit! Maybe a touch of stain might do well?
Update: I used the router to smooth all the visible edges so there are no sharp corners. I also cut the bolts so that the threads don't stick out further than the hex-nut. These two modifications have made the appearance of the box much more appealing.
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