A video of the finished product can be seen below. It’s quite a party-piece with friends, even those who are not gamers, and even the games who are not “simmers”/”racers”.

Read the full story below…

Requirements

1. It should be compatible with multiple game controllers (Logitech G25, Logitech G940, Steel Battalion, Mouse+keyboard, others)
2. It needs to be easy to disassemble, leaving just a seat for guests.
3. Mounted on wheels.
4. Relatively lightweight.
5. No motion controllers/actuators/vibrators fixed to seating/frame.
6. No speaker mounts.
7. No screen/TV mount.
8. Adjustable for users of different sizes.
9. Usable for both Left-hand-drive and Right-hand-drive (gear-shifter & handbrake must be movable).

Optionals

Sources of inspiration

• Chilicoke DIY cockpit
• Chilicoke G25 Steering Wheel adapter & Shifter paddles
• Ricmotech Simulation Racing Systems – DIY Sim Racing Cockpit
• Ricmotech Simulation Racing Systems – free shifter mod
• AlphA’s Steel Battalion Controller mod
• MasterTec’s G940 “Reversal bug” mod/fix  – alt. link

Bill Of Materials

All prices in Danish Kroner (DKK)

• Sparco Chrono Road seat 1700,-
• Mounting console for seat 100,-
• Sparco 6-point racing harness 575,-
• Plumbing parts for handbrake 250,-
• Handbrake cover 125,-
• Momo steering wheel 1225,-
• G25 steering wheel adapter & shifter paddles 475,-
• Assorted screws and bits and bobs 800,-
• Electronic connectors 275,-

Total: 5525,- dkr, approx $1000
Controllers NOT included!

The frame

And old shelving system was used as a frame – it’s made of steel tubing in 32mm (1-1/4″) diameter, 40cm wide, with a chrome finish – 3 sections were cut up and used. The longest section for the base is xxcm, and has 6 rubber wheels mounted, 4 of which has “brakes”. The front is the second-longest at xxcm and holds the pedals in place. The smallest is the ‘steering-column’, and is xxcm – it holds the main platform. The 2 smaller sections are secured together using a steel hose clamp, and to the bottom frame by squeezing the ends flat and bolting them to the sides (inside + outside) of the main frame. The seat-console sits on top of some reinforcement bars, and all the small tubing on the bottom section has been welded in place for stability.

Mounting arrangement / multiple devices

To accommodate multiple devices (not at the same time!) the mounting arrangement is a simple platform. An indent has been made for the Logitech G25, and the backside has been angled to fit the Steel Battalion shape. Holes are drilled where they are needed (for both G25 + handbrake, Steel Battalion and G940). The platform has steel supports underneath.

Assembly / disassembly

The platform for hold the controllers can be removed by first unlocking the 2 pins located underneath the plate, then lifting it up. The side-boards and handbrake attach to the ‘wings’ of the main platform. The modded Logitech G25 pedals are removed by either unlocking the 2 pins, or simply rotating it and lifting it out. The seat is secured with 4 bolts from below that are welded in place so you only have to remove the nuts on the topside.

G25 modifications

Reverse-mounted pedals mod
Instructions for reverse-mounting your pedals can be found @ Chilicoke’s site, but it’s simply a matter of taking the plastic box apart and mounting the 3 pedals upside down (in the correct order) with a M6 machine screw mounted through a plate (remember to flip the pedal plates). I  mounted my pedals to a piece of chipboard that fits inside the width of the frame. It suspends from the supports in the top, and locks into place with the supports below.

Heavier shift & reverse resistance mod
I followed Chilicoke’s guide for this mod, but had some problems finding a rubber o-ring with the correct size in my local hardware shop. Eventually I found a fit. The spacer for the heavier shift was done by sawing off a bit of a 6mm bolt.

Shift noise mod
Found this one over at Ricmotech – a simple mod to make the shifter sound better (less plastic/clonking noise). While the unit is disassembled, a piece of rubber insulation tape (for sealing doorframes etc.) is added to the inside of the shifter opening.

Handbrake mod
Inspired by Chilicoke (again!) I wanted a handbrake, see his site for wiring instructions etc.  I wanted a minimum of travel, and I wanted the handle to go straight up, at 90° from the plate it was resting on. The handbrake handle was made out of 10mm and 12mm copper tubing from the plumbing department. A T-section for the 12mm pipe was drilled up so the 10mm pipe could fit through and act as a bearing. A spring was scrounged from some brake parts. It was all mounted on a custom-shaped piece of chipboard, that is mirrored so it fits on both the right- and left-hand side of the wheel. A gearknob from an old Fiat 127 ‘Arbath’ was used for the handle – since no push-button is needed. A small microswitch is fitted underneath (secured in place with epoxy), and is activated by operating the lever backwards. The wires from the microswitch are mounted to clips to take any eventual strain. A male mono minijack connecter is fitted to the end, and color-coded appropriately.

Color-coding buttons
I can’t remember the Xbox X/Y/A/B button layout very good, so when I’m playing Test Drive Unlimited 2 or NFS: The Run, I can’t remember what’s what. A simple paintjob of the 4 topmost buttons on the gearshift unit does it.

G25 pedals for Microsoft Wireless Wheel
Guide: http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/forums/thread/2975695.aspx
To come later – maybe

Steel Battalion modifications

• Vibration/rumble mod
• Hardmount mod

Keyboard modifications

I wanted the option to secure the keyboard I’m using like everything else, so M6 nuts were added to the bottom of the keyboard to allow hardmounting – this means that the keyboard will sit at an angle when used on a regular table, which is fine by me! The keyboard shown is a Microsoft Sidewinder X6.

Logitech G940 modifications

Hardmount specifications
I hardmounted my G940 to the support plate on my rig, here are the distance between the mounting holes for all 3 devices:

Throttle assembly: 6,75″x7,75″

Joystick assembly: 6,75″x7,75″

Pedal assembly: 11″x6,25″

Throttle cable mod/fix
I will determine if this is needed at a later point.

Reversal bug mod/fix
I will determine if this is needed at a later point.

The gearbox is the same on the Alfasud.

Go to the gallery.

*mhmm* Don’t you love the smell of gearbox oil in the afternoon?