Tips for building a cool Elite Dangerous setup
- Thread starter vrod
- Start date
Another update from the Cardboard-king!
I am really missing my full cockpit feeling I had in the USA, so I started working on the upper console.
Here it is in full cardboard glamour (keep in mind it actually gets flipped and mounts to the 'ceiling';
After approving the size, it got build out of pressboard (still need to add a couple panels and complete sanding);
Here is the underside (so far);
I'll drill some holes in the middle supports for cable to pass to and fro.
I have about half of the electronics already, so I may mount them in soon.
Unfortunately, I don't have enough I/O left in my single Win I-Pac board, so I need to save my allowance and get another. (bout a hundred bucks) Once I get that, I can add alot more buttons and lights all over!
Also to update, the far-right upper canopy is nearly complete. It took some time cutting with all those crazy angles, but it is nearly done. The hardest part is construction something that will be able to come apart (fairly easily) and be easy to transport (in case I move). With a few more materials and a week, it may be ready for pictures.
I am really missing my full cockpit feeling I had in the USA, so I started working on the upper console.
Here it is in full cardboard glamour (keep in mind it actually gets flipped and mounts to the 'ceiling';
After approving the size, it got build out of pressboard (still need to add a couple panels and complete sanding);
Here is the underside (so far);
I'll drill some holes in the middle supports for cable to pass to and fro.
I have about half of the electronics already, so I may mount them in soon.
Unfortunately, I don't have enough I/O left in my single Win I-Pac board, so I need to save my allowance and get another. (bout a hundred bucks) Once I get that, I can add alot more buttons and lights all over!
Also to update, the far-right upper canopy is nearly complete. It took some time cutting with all those crazy angles, but it is nearly done. The hardest part is construction something that will be able to come apart (fairly easily) and be easy to transport (in case I move). With a few more materials and a week, it may be ready for pictures.
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I've got to say, nice work there vrod, but I have to agree with 777driver, for full immersion a vr headset is mesmerizing, but not without its pitfalls such as the scuba mask FoV and the slightly lower visual accuity. Personally both of those are things I have learned to get over pretty quickly but I can understand why others will want to do what you are doing and wait on later more advanced generations of VR coming to market with less tradeoffs.
I've repped you, as I like what you are doing there, I bet it looks ace with the lights off and the keyboard and other peripherals backlit? I noticed you said you missed the setup you had in the US, where are you now? I'm in the UK, if you want anything fabricated out of steel I'd be happy to help as I've got a workshop with mig, tig, stick, plasma and oxy acetylene + TCT chop saw and a friend with a lathe and milling machine. The reason I ask about your current location is that obviously international shipping would negate any savings to be made by having us make stuff for you.
I've repped you, as I like what you are doing there, I bet it looks ace with the lights off and the keyboard and other peripherals backlit? I noticed you said you missed the setup you had in the US, where are you now? I'm in the UK, if you want anything fabricated out of steel I'd be happy to help as I've got a workshop with mig, tig, stick, plasma and oxy acetylene + TCT chop saw and a friend with a lathe and milling machine. The reason I ask about your current location is that obviously international shipping would negate any savings to be made by having us make stuff for you.
I'm in Germany.
I'll keep your offer in mind. Currently, I am building with wood. It is easy for me to get and fab.
I can nearly debate that full immersion thing with the headset. When I am complete with my setup, it will be a full cockpit pod. Every part of it will look like a spaceship. I have real and functioning buttons and lights...etc. Looks and works great!
I read about Ultra-D TV coming out soon. I am keeping my eye out for that. It would provide 3D vision on my TVs without glasses nor anaglyph. I hope it works like they are tootting.
I'll keep your offer in mind. Currently, I am building with wood. It is easy for me to get and fab.
I can nearly debate that full immersion thing with the headset. When I am complete with my setup, it will be a full cockpit pod. Every part of it will look like a spaceship. I have real and functioning buttons and lights...etc. Looks and works great!
I read about Ultra-D TV coming out soon. I am keeping my eye out for that. It would provide 3D vision on my TVs without glasses nor anaglyph. I hope it works like they are tootting.
Wow so creative!
My wife is still complaining about my HOTAS purchase for this game and how many hours I'm on "your stupid space game" ("honey are you EVER coming to bed?"). Building something like you guys have would push her over the edge!
My wife is still complaining about my HOTAS purchase for this game and how many hours I'm on "your stupid space game" ("honey are you EVER coming to bed?"). Building something like you guys have would push her over the edge!
Hello,
Great work, well done!
Ok, i got my share on "your stupid space game",
But because my wife and i are well over 60 years i won't hear that "hoooneeey are you EVER coming to bed?" anymore! :S
I just figure out - i miss that! Hmmmm
Great work, well done!
Wow so creative!
My wife is still complaining about my HOTAS purchase for this game and how many hours I'm on "your stupid space game" ("honey are you EVER coming to bed?"). Building something like you guys have would push her over the edge!
Ok, i got my share on "your stupid space game",
But because my wife and i are well over 60 years i won't hear that "hoooneeey are you EVER coming to bed?" anymore! :S
I just figure out - i miss that! Hmmmm
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I am a stay-a-home-dad, and do the cockpit construction when she is not around. Later in the evening, once our son is sleeping, I get on to either play or program/configure.
Here is the latest on the console. The next pic will be once it is mounted. (It will not be wired up tho.)
I haven't figured out what will go in the console yet. The above is just my current idea.
I would like to install 3 high voltage switches. (power on/off for computer/monitors, power on/off for the rest, and power on/off for future)
Also a lever or 2 or maybe some pull-handle of sort.
Kinda like to leave some stuff open for the future too.
Here is the latest on the console. The next pic will be once it is mounted. (It will not be wired up tho.)
I haven't figured out what will go in the console yet. The above is just my current idea.
I would like to install 3 high voltage switches. (power on/off for computer/monitors, power on/off for the rest, and power on/off for future)
Also a lever or 2 or maybe some pull-handle of sort.
Kinda like to leave some stuff open for the future too.
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That right there is exactly why I didn’t bother with a cool setup (well, that and a distinct lack of ability to build a cool setup like the OP). Just a TV, chair and some little folding tables for the HOTAS etc. and a clear line of sight to my Rift sensors is all I need.
Here's a couple of photos of the prototype for my current VR Cockpit. The current one is made from composite decking instead of a board and has the similar elbow rests. It drops quickly into place and is easy to remove when I want to use my PC for general use or other non-VR games. I also have a similar rig set up with a wheel/pedals for VR car racing. Very easy to install either (or none) as my needs dictate. Doesn't limit my PC for other uses or games.
My VR setup also includes three lightly sprung "badge retractors" on my ceiling suspending my VR cable from directly above my seating position to the back of my PC.
The best thing about a VR cockpit setup is you don't have to care about what it looks like cause you simply cant see it.
This layout is so close to the actual in-game layout that I have been freaked out on a couple of occasions when I noticed my avatar flexing his left hand and I wasn't... If you play in VR with a similarly placed HOTAS, I bet you know what I'm talking about...
Very nice! Much better than my setup.
I have a living room pc setup so no desk. My setup is just an old gaming chair in the middle of my living room, crammed between the rest of my furniture, with two TableMate tables from Amazon (one in front of each armrest). They slide really easily, so I can move them out of the way when I need to use my living room for...well, living.
Sadly the only space for my keyboard (which by amazing coincidence is the same Logitech Orion Spark as I see in your pics) is in front of my throttle (Thrustmaster T.16000 with TWCS throttle), so I can’t do much with it beyond hitting F10 when I see something cool.
I was tempted to get an X-56, but the Amazon reviews scared me away. I really miss the feel of Saitek stuff. I tried running an X-52 pro, but the drivers didn’t play well with my rig for some unknown reason.
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Such are modern times...
There used to be golf "widows"!
Now golf is replaced by gaming?
Mind you with golf, you can't be nagged while playing.
There used to be golf "widows"!
Now golf is replaced by gaming?
Mind you with golf, you can't be nagged while playing.
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Despite other reviews I'm very happy with my X56. Its got many hundreds of hours on it in the last 1-1/2 years and the joystick twist centering spring finally broke a couple of days ago. Logitech just send me a whole brand new HOTAS under their 2-year warranty. I think the non-centering twist on the joystick might actually be a combat advantage. Anyway, I certainly am happy with their warranty terms!
I don't use the keyboard at all in ED. (Except when I flip up my HMD to check a page on EDD or something...) In fact, I don't use anything but the buttons directly on the X56 sticks (not the bases). If I can't get to a button without taking my hands off the throttle or joystick then I don't need it. I don't want to be blindly fumbling around for my keyboard or some other button while in VR. I use VoiceAttack for a few non-critical functions, but the X56 excels because it has so many buttons, rollers, and joys right on the sticks. The X56 is optimal for VR!
(You know the Logitech X56 ***IS*** the Saitek X56, right? Logitech just bought the X56 from them and rebranded it.)
I don't use the keyboard at all in ED. (Except when I flip up my HMD to check a page on EDD or something...) In fact, I don't use anything but the buttons directly on the X56 sticks (not the bases). If I can't get to a button without taking my hands off the throttle or joystick then I don't need it. I don't want to be blindly fumbling around for my keyboard or some other button while in VR. I use VoiceAttack for a few non-critical functions, but the X56 excels because it has so many buttons, rollers, and joys right on the sticks. The X56 is optimal for VR!
(You know the Logitech X56 ***IS*** the Saitek X56, right? Logitech just bought the X56 from them and rebranded it.)
Err Evan, have you miss posted that? 
he he !
he he !
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My wife has given up trying to nag me when I am in VR. I can't see her or hear her anyway... However, She will turn off the lights when she doesn't realize I am in my office in full VR (or so she says). Nothing like an epic VR gaming session running into the wee hours of the morning and then lifting the HMD to find out that you have been "playing with yourself" in complete darkness for many hours. Its a very special feeling....
That other one was to the post before yours. But don't worry, I got you too!
(or did I miss something?)
It went via Mad Catz. When I got my X52 a few years back, it was all about getting an original Saitek one, cos after Mad Catz took over, quality went down. Then it went to Logitech and it was all about getting a Mad Catz one cos quality went down. Probably always made in the same factory by the same people!
I’d like to forsake my keyboard all together like that, but as far as I can tell, there is no way to keybind the screenshot button. I’ve poured over the control options and found nothing.
Yeah, I heard that Logitech bought Saitek from MadCatz. Thank goodness.
You'd posted about HOTAS setup, there is another thread running about best one, wondered if you'd got your threads crossed?
I think you are kidding yourself. I believe the one I had (where the spring broke) was an original Saitek unit (at least it was branded that way). However, I did "upgrade" to the MadKatz software. The latest replacement one from Logitech is EXACTLY the same screw for screw, feel, switches, etc as my original one. Fairly certain they just bough all the molds, switches, pcb's etc and painted logitech on the outside... No company is going to buy a product this sophisticated and then go to all the effort to change out the internals. It just doesn't make sense.
You'd posted about HOTAS setup, there is another thread running about best one, wondered if you'd got your threads crossed?
Check the posting immediately before yours. BrianK, responding to my setup, was talking about the Thrustmaster, X52 and X56 HOTAS... I was simply telling him I really liked my X56 when he said he heard bad reviews on Amazon...
(I actually am posting in BOTH threads in defense of the X56...)