Community Event / Creation The Steel Beast - Budwyzer's Simpit Build Log

BUDWYZER · Jul 24, 2015

And I'm up and running!

Things turn on, yay!

Got the transducer mounted

There's a metal plate in the seat that was just big enough for 4 screws to fit. Unfortunately I didn't mount it straight enough and only got 3, but 3 seems to be enough. I predrilled some holes and used sheet metal screws.

I still need to hit the plastic back piece with a 3.5" hole saw and then that will be complete.

I'm uncertain what the heck actually activates this thing though. I unplugged my sub and connected the transducer, still waiting on a Y-splitter, and tested it through the windows speaker config. It shook my seat nicely, but no music or anything would make it shake. At what range do these things normally activate? I'm certain the sub channel works since I unplugged the transducer and put the sub back in and it was thumping nicely with music.

Pulled my headset charging cable up through the back. It probably can't stay there when I mount the rear speakers

Mounted the armrest bases, and testing with one stick right now.

I went with the Thrustmaster T-16000M. It's ambidextrous, and has a large sided base on it. In order to get it to stay at the front of the sliders I've got more of that crazy powerful velcro on the front of the base and then the other side of it on the pole that sticks up at the front.

The original plan was to run a 2x4 or 2x2 along the inside of the armrest base and either pad the top of it or built off of it slightly with plywood and pad the top of that. But after testing out the feels of everything my arm is most comfortable with my elbow nearly down to the base.

I guess that's what I get for basing my design off of an anime.

Now to order the second stick

ThereIs0nly0ne · Jul 24, 2015

Great job on this BUDWYZER, it look like a fantastic simspace

Enride · Jul 26, 2015

Awesome job mate! Looks like a storebought rig, really neat and tidy!

BUDWYZER · Jul 27, 2015

Thanks again everyone!

I've ordered my second stick, I decided to go Dual-stick, rather than HOTAS, and will be setting that up soon.

Progress is about to slow down a bit, since the rig is serviceable right now. I've neglected my gaming for 6 weeks now while I spent all my spare time working on this thing. I spent a few hours in it yesterday though, and I think the footboard will have to be next. Vehicle seats are comfortable, but more so if there's something to push my feet on, pushing the hips back and keeping my spine aligned.

I'll just be taking my time with all the fine tuning and little additions.

* Mount the armrests & joysticks
* Mount the rear speakers - Prototype is done, need pics
* Build the foot board
* Add a mousepad to the lower deck
* Add the damn cup holder
* Put up some posters, or something. I have a ton of open wall space now.
* Add Seat Cover & Paint Plastic Siding - My wife says I have to.

BUDWYZER · Aug 1, 2015

MASSIVE UPDATE! - As far as my build goes.

Updated to Win10 and it didn't want to detect my video card until it booted up once without it. So...

Now I have room for all my game boxes though. The dock is for my work laptop.

With a combination of Velcro cable ties and plastic clips, the cables are all tucked away.

I got both sticks installed now and pinned up the cables so that no matter which position the stick is in, the cable is always taught.

I looked and looked for the camera, to get some shots of how these are actually attached, but couldn't find it that day. There's just a 1/4" piece of plywood screwed onto the slider, then the stick is held on by double-sided 3M tape. I figured velcro would not only hold it less tightly but would also add a bit of extra height that I didn't want.

The rear speakers have been mounted! I just drilled a couple of holes for the headrest poles. Counter sunk the holes for the round parts on the back of the seat to fit in. Then traced the speakers on the board and cut and painted it.

Full shot from the rear. The left stick is all the way forward

Oh yeah, and I got the seat cover put on! Actually my wife did that one for me while I was at work. She was apparently that tired of looking at that old seat.

After all that I'm realizing now that the mouse would be WAY more comfortable if it were on the platform that my right stick is on. I'm looking into making a quick little mousepad with feet that can lay over the track and a similar one for a gamepad on the other side.

BUDWYZER · Aug 3, 2015

One more, overall image.

Zieman · Aug 3, 2015

Awesome!

Now you just need a bigger monitor.

Redhornet · Aug 4, 2015

Nicely done sir! I like the paint sceme of all black with hints of blue.

BUDWYZER · Aug 5, 2015

Thank you both!

Just about everytime I sit down I have conflicted feelings about the monitor that's on it now. While I could get a 27 or 30" and fill out the space between the speakers, that 24" is plenty big. I had a 17" for about 5 years before I got that one, so 24" already looks massive to me.

Zieman · Aug 5, 2015

BUDWYZER said:
Thank you both!

Just about everytime I sit down I have conflicted feelings about the monitor that's on it now. While I could get a 27 or 30" and fill out the space between the speakers, that 24" is plenty big. I had a 17" for about 5 years before I got that one, so 24" already looks massive to me.

If you're going to sit on that chair with your head on the headrest, you should IMHO think bigger.

I have a 32" FullHD TV as a monitor, and usually I'm closer to it than you are on that chair.

Just move the speakers a bit so you can fit a 42" FullHD or higher res monitor/TV there!

BUDWYZER · Aug 6, 2015

Oh, believe me. Taking the TV, that's currently mounted on the wall, has crossed my mind more than a couple of times. Right now I'm getting all the kinks worked out of my system and still have more to do. Maybe once I'm done with it all then I'll have the funds saved up to upgrade, again. haha

I could just steal the 42" I have in my daughter's room. She's 6 months old, the hell does she need a tv for?

So, here's what I was thinking of using for a cupholder, then realized I don't have space under my armrest bases to mount it due to the flight stick cable. DOH!

Back to my original idea of building a custom cupholder that goes on the extra bracket I have hanging off of the left side.