CP-1 Custom Space Sim Seat

[ericleroi]

Drop the rear of the sub-frame to create more of a recline:

Made the base:

Started on the side panels (lower pencil lines denotes where the side pods will sit):

[joeyjojojjjjjj]

i'd go up in it lol. looking great!

[majorspawn]

Thanks for this Eric, appreciate the effort it took to write up. Once again, great job

The key to this is to take note of the angles / edges. If they're greater than about 70 degrees, the edges should be slightly rounded by lightly sanding. For angles which are less severe, a sharp edge can be used. It's then a case of working the vinyl around it, using your thumbs to push hard and ensure it's taut. This will hurt after a while if there's a lot to do!

For this piece:

Fill and sand the edges to make sure there's a nice clean line:

Cut a suitably sized piece of vinyl (over-cut as much as you can afford to), line up the vinyl around one of the edges and start to apply:

Use your thumbs to push really hard around the edge, making sure that it's a nice line, before smoothing across the faces either side. Once you're happy it's as it should be, slowly smooth on the vinyl and approach the next edge, drawing back the backing paper as you go:

Once you get to the underside of the piece, i.e. the last bit, starting from the middle, pull the vinyl and press it into place. This will further remove any potential for bubbling:

For larger sections, the process is the same. Fill:

Sand back:

Align the vinyl and press firmly with your thumbs around the first corner:

Draw back the vinyl:

Proceed around any remaining faces:

If there's a lot of excess, trim it back first:

Take a sharp knife and a flat length of wood and trim (the wood is on top and cut from the underside in this example):

For longer lengths, you may want to work in sections:

This should give you a nice, clean finish:

For larger sections, an additional pair of hands can help greatly.

I typically then paint the edges of the wood in blackboard paint to remove any possibility of MDF being shown:

As the sides are painted, I used a piece of kitchen towel and wipe from the inside of the piece outwards to ensure that no paint adheres to the vinyl.

Hope that helps.

[ericleroi]

Eric, do you have any recommended sites to check out for DIY simulator setups that people have built, has plans, sorta gives the ins and outs of the components added to them and places to buy them. I have been catching the sim bug lately and now with this new thread of yours and bringing back to mind your racing setup I really wanna get something going, especially for driving. Even if it is just mostly planning for the day that I can build one I would rather be ready to go at that time than just starting to figure things out at that time.

InsideSimRacing is a good site to visit to give you some ideas:

http://www.isrtv.com/forums/forum/12-sim-racing-rigs-cockpit/

TheWayIPlay is also a useful site:

http://www.thewayiplay.com/mainforum/index.php?PHPSESSID=20e34c3d1e5fe4a2e4c6936a0da47553&board=2.0

[ericleroi]

i'd go up in it lol. looking great!

Thanks joeyjojojjjjjj

Thanks for this Eric, appreciate the effort it took to write up. Once again, great job

No problem majorspawn, a pleasure!

[Hyperion]

Oh man, this is going to be awesome!

[ericleroi]

Thanks Hyperion, I hope so!

The g27 is a great wheel Jeremy - I had a g25 for a number of years and it served me very well indeed.

[ericleroi]

Busy morning and lunchtime. I cut the side pieces for the left side pod.

First piece:

In-place:

Cloned:

Windows drawn out:

And cut:

[derekablackburn]

Looking good!

[ericleroi]

Looking good!

Thanks derekablackburn

The outside and inside edges of the cutouts have been beveled:

Both sides have been completed:

In-place:

[HazzardActual]

are you routing the edges? or do you have a drum sander or something set up at an angle?

[ericleroi]

Jeremy is correct. I use a router with a 1/2 inch collet. I have the Trend T5. I was umming and arring about buying it at the time but it's proved to be the best investment in a single tool I've ever made. It's heavy and demands respect but it's a fantastic piece of equipment:

It allows me to use much larger chamfer bit for really deep beveled edges when required.

Edit: It's a T10 not a T5

[dougan78]

My wife yelled at me last time I used my router in the garage. Boy do I need a vacuum attachment for it.

I made mine hold the shop vac while using it to collect the dust.. She had fun helping out. Not big on playing games though... likes making stuff.

[ericleroi]

Yes, the delights of internal MDF snow. The stuff really is not good for you at all so a respirator and a hose/vac is pretty essential to keep things clean

[HazzardActual]

Well Im about to get into building my bartop and a buddy of mine is letting me use a plunge router he never even took out of the box. So i'll be going on no exp at all. Hopefully i wont mess up too many side pieces before it get it down

[derekablackburn]

Yes, the delights of internal MDF snow. The stuff really is not good for you at all so a respirator and a hose/vac is pretty essential to keep things clean

I'll be cutting some above my downstairs neighbors balcony as payback soon enough.

[dark13]

Your builds are really impressive: neat design and great attention to details (the elite metal badge is awesome BTW ). Honestly... you should probably record while building and make a youtube documentary from a project. I never will get bored to say how much I like you work

The only "flaw" is... well, this build, just like the r-pod, would deserve a 50' lcd screen or a projector, not a 24' monitor (never been a great fun of 3 monitor setup) I guess you should not have any problems fitting a 5.1 audio system in these builds

[ericleroi]

Yes, I need to seriously consider updating my monitors ... it will cost a small fortune though

Made some good progress with the side pods today:

All pieces have been cut:

Remaining bevels complete:

Inlays routed:

Likely position for the throttle case:

[ericleroi]

Mesh and rubber inlays for the side panels have been fabricated:

Currently working on the artwork. It will remain fairly simple but I may include a simple logo with it as well:

Ejection seat stickers arrived also:

[ericleroi]

Artwork done for the side pods:

Frontier are the developers of Elite: Dangerous.

[mikekim]

Stunning work as usual Eric..

Hey you should startup a sideline making these.. You would make a killing.

[derekablackburn]

Artwork done for the side pods:

Frontier are the developers of Elite: Dangerous.

This is amazing. Would you be willing to do some custom work for others?

[ericleroi]

Stunning work as usual Eric..

Hey you should startup a sideline making these.. You would make a killing.

Thanks mikekim, that means a lot coming from you. I have thought about making these; I'd probably start with just the side pods initially - the seat may be too complex to make

This is amazing. Would you be willing to do some custom work for others?

Thanks for that derekablackburn. I really am a novice when it comes to Photoshop - I just had an idea, Googled a few videos and tinkered a bit. It would take me ages to put something more complex together to be honest

Two simple lines added to make the lower section more like corporate branding:

[derekablackburn]

Thanks mikekim, that means a lot coming from you. I have thought about making these; I'd probably start with just the side pods initially - the seat may be too complex to make

Thanks for that derekablackburn. I really am a novice when it comes to Photoshop - I just had an idea, Googled a few videos and tinkered a bit. It would take me ages to put something more complex together to be honest

Two simple lines added to make the lower section more like corporate branding:

Haha I should have quoted one of your other pictures! I meant the woodworking. I am really good with Photoshop if you need help that way... Looks like you have it covered here.

[ericleroi]

CNC router would knock those panels out with the quickness.

Indeed. I need to get these modeled so I can fabricate easily

I redesigned the logo using a different font. Seems to split opinions on which is best but my wife prefers this one: