DIYers… built a cockpit yet?

ubermick

ubermick
Many years ago, while playing Frontier on the ol' A500, I had an idea to turn a little corner of my bedroom into a Cobra MkIII. Got some chipboard, played around with my desk, found an old carseat… you get the idea. Needless to say, it was as unprofessional as it sounds, and as soon as my mum caught me smuggling old car parts upstairs, everything was ordered removed, the project was condemned by the authorities, and I was back to sitting at my desk.

Now that we've all (well, most of us) have grown up and are in our 40s, with access to tasty power tools and the like, does anyone have clearance from their missus to put together a more… immersive experience? Must admit, the thought of three monitors with TrackIR, encased in a cockpit, maybe a comfy Recaro seat… custom keyboard with some lighted buttons…

Anyone taken the plunge?
 

Stoo

Stoo
My wife would kill me ;)

But it would be great, if you could mount screens up/sides etc so it would feel more like the real thing :D
 

ubermick

ubermick
Haha, your wife and mine must be in cahoots. I'd be skinned alive if I tried to claim a corner of the house, even if it was in the garage. Still tempted, though. This was actually the sort of thing I wanted to build as a lad, but mine looked… well, considerably worse.

hqdefault.jpg


(By the way, came across this video when I was looking for examples. Looks like this was made around the same time the original Elite was made!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3szJjaX51ig
 

Toumal

Toumal
We'd need some help from FD for that. Preferably, an API for getting game events and ship data for use on displays. And perhaps even DMX support so we can control external effects like lights and smoke.
 
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Reactions: Rog

Asp Explorer

Asp Explorer
Toumal said:
We'd need some help from FD for that. Preferably, an API for getting game events and ship data for use on displays. And perhaps even DMX support so we can control external effects like lights and smoke.
Click to expand...

+1 this, totally this! Trigger smoke and lights and maybe pyrotechnics :)

I'd take off my monocle and pay huge wads of lovely cash for this :)
 

Rog

Rog
Toumal said:
We'd need some help from FD for that. Preferably, an API for getting game events and ship data for use on displays. And perhaps even DMX support so we can control external effects like lights and smoke.
Click to expand...

+Lots!

This would be great addition, hope it happens.
 

CMDR Noctivagus

CMDR Noctivagus
i have started building mine,, i have a vw polo seat and a marquee frames work ,,
a few tv wall mounts ,, its early stages , yet ,, but i have started
 

Hrv123

Hrv123
Toumal said:
Great! Let's all push for DMX support then! :D
If you don't know what that is, watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WkSlcaDqRo
Click to expand...

I would die from irritation on third day from that light show :p

On topic, I WANT and will get my self OR, if nothing for only this game so dont see much purpose in DIY Battlestations.

Except I think Il need pedals for this game and some DIY could fix that. And sound ambient/souround etc some DIY all around room would be must also.

Actually thinking doing some sound proofing for room is probably also needed hmmmm.
And to figure some way to keep my better half out of room all together too :thiking:
 

rlr149

R
have an office type chair myself,
ControlCentre1.jpg

that type of chair mount is what i would like, a captains chair NEEDS to swivel:cool:
looks like i'll need to build it though.

these (or similar) might be ok for some people
logitech-attack-3-brackets-small.jpg


just seen this too
1376421125HOTAS%20saitek%20pedals.jpg

apparently quite sturdy despite it's looks
 

Erik Marcaigh

Erik Marcaigh
I've got a 4 bedroom house all to myself, but won't be building a cockpit!

Tho back in the C64/Elite days, I fitted out my desk to be kinda cockpit for my Cobra!

My son would love it, but as I do actual work on this computer and sometimes bring clients in to the office, they might think I've finally knocked over the bucket of bolts in my head for good! :) LOL
 

malcs

M
Buttkicker Gamer 2

I did just purchase a Buttkicker Gamer 2 for for my office/pilots chair.
I would recommend one - its very immersive, during the count down jump to hyperspace, you actually feel the need to hold onto something. Its quite funny actually I watched my son try and he had the same sensation
They can be hard to get hold of in uk - got mine used of ebay £100
but worth it.
 

Halada

Halada
Mine consists of a naked Obutto R3volution which I slide under an IKEA Galant desk when I want to play some sims. I opted for this option because it allows to hard mount my Warthog (with 7.5cm extension) at the ideal position, and the use of pedals is also easier that way. I have MFG Crosswind pedals arriving this week to replace those Saitek ones.

For displays, I use three 30" monitors, for a total resolution of 7680x1600. TrackIR 5 for head tracking, and a Buttkicker Gamer 2 attached to the R3volution for added immersion.

It's pretty sweet!

Pictures:

cockpit1.jpg


cockpit2.jpg


cockpit6.jpg

What appears to be ugly texture is in fact ghosting due to a 1.5s exposure.
 
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