Simple MDF F1 Rig build

[Fucitol 18]

Hi all,

 

I've always wanted to build a rig but I'm both not very handy and do not have a lot of spare time to finish something. Hopefully this time I will be able to actually finish a project. The build is still ongoing but just wanted to share it.

 

Please take a look at Steve Spenceley's great plan that I've used for this build: http://www.isrtv.com/forums/topic/17646-f1-sim-rig-plans-simple-construction/

 

This design looked very comfortable and fairly easy to make. Also, even though I don't exclusively race F1 style cars, I always liked the F1 seating position. Whether it will be comfortable for a long time period I really don't know yet.

 

Once the Oculus Rift consumer edition launches (or the HTC/Valve 'Vive', whoever is first) it will be using that exclusively with this rig. Therefore I don't need a monitor stand or an extensive dash. Just a wheel mount with shifter (ordered the SHH H-patern/Sequential shifter) and pedals and I'm done. Eventually I will probably need to add a single monitor stand with keyboard/mouse tray but that can be put over on the side.

 

I've bought 18mm MDF panels and 35 22mm MDF slats for the seating. The biggest problem for me was to transfer the schematic onto the wood, but once that was done it was about half an hour with a jigsaw per panel after which I used the first as template for the second:

 

Cutting the holes and tracing on the second panel (I couldn't saw both of them at once):

 

Then it was on to sanding and routing to get some decent finish:

 

And assembling:

 

The slats (is that the correct word?) who will carry most of the weight are reinforced by doubling them with extra screws and glue. Not sure if that was needed but I don't trust the strength of MDF that much. I'll probably finish the seating part today and get it ready for some paint. Unfortunately MDF isn't that easy to paint so that'll take a few layers.

 

 

Next will be designing the pedal deck (probably going to invert my G27 pedals but I'll test fit that once the seating part is finished. After that, the wheel stand which will fit around it and bolt on using a slot that I'll have yet to cut into the seat. 

 

Thanks Steve for a great design!

[rhs 95]

For a person who's not very handy; I must say you did a great job! Nice work, let us know how you go along; like to see the finishes project! 

[Fucitol 18]

Small update, finished the seat part for now, sanding to commence.

[stone775 173]

I have't to agree with rhs you're do'in a Fine Job on this, L00K'in sorta "Sporty" I must say. He-he. Really  doin a Great job. Please keep all of us updated on your work....................

 

 

 G00D Day! 

[SteveS 1,391]

It's so great to see my rig plans made! You did an outstanding job.

Is is comfortable?

[Krassi 692]

Looks very well made!

[Fucitol 18]

Thank you Steve!!

Without any cushion it is reasonably comfortable, with a simple garden chair cushion I could sit in it all day long!

The plan is to mold a thin seat using a two component mixture, mostly to get enough support. I didn't really test measurements beforehand though and although I extended most sizes by 10cm, I should have made it a bit longer for properly mounting the pedals. I'm about 190cm and my feet reach the end of the seat.

I'll probably make a separate pedal module that bolts on. Not too good with designing but it's wood, so trial and error.

Not sure if I can get in if the steering wheel will be in place, thinking about that too.

Thanks again!

[Tsfc 193]

Hey man fantastic job and big thanks from everyone to steve spenceley for making this awesome plan available (for free no less!!!!)

And I love your car in the first photo, full serious that thing is sawweeet

[SteveS 1,391]

Plans were fun to create and share, even better now someone has built this sim rig. Thank you tsfc!

I forgot to mention, I love the little traditional Mini with its statement paint job. I have owned a 1968 Cooper for 30+ years, so it was nice to see another original. The Mini looks the right size in Europe, but feels, so tiny when driven in North America!

[Tsfc 193]

From my beloved times in the UK small cars are perfect and quite practical

Love motorcycles but Scooters for the win though throughout euro and UK...always find parking and cheap on gas.

That mini is too slick, OP!

[UNKLE 1,429]

Looking great so far

[UNKLE 1,429]

BTW here's a head rest that might work well with your rig:

 

http://www.rjracecars.com/Adjustable-Headrest-211809-Prodview.html

 

and here's padding that'll work too

 

http://www.rjracecars.com/Standard-Seat-Padding-211808-Prodview.html

 

This stuff is all used for real drag racing cars which is pretty cool

 

There's also padding and head rests that you can get for wheelchairs that'll work too but that's less cooler

[Fucitol 18]

Thanks UNKLE!

 

For the headrest I might go with a different design since I'm not sure if the round one looks good enough, the triangle shaped headrest shown in Steve's design thread probably looks better.

 

The cushion though - depending on its length - might actually be enough instead of going through the process of molding my own. I'll give 'em a call to inform about the actual size (not listed).

 

No update for now, started working again this week so haven't gotten round to properly test fitting the pedals and measuring their position. One thing that I did find out unfortunately is that I really should have made proper measurements beforehand. In the last pictures I've shown you can see that the leg-rest continues upwards pretty long so my calves are actually not comfortably resting but more pressed into the seat. This makes moving my feet harder and heel-and-toeing practically impossible.. The seat should have stopped going upwards directly after my knees, but when elongating the design this isn't the case anymore...

 

So for now I've removed the last three slats and I might need to reshape the rest of the leg rest by having my legs pointing down more. Again, luckily it's just wood and it'll still look nice. An advantage is that the pedals won't stick out as high as I thought they would. I'll mount my standard G27 pedals (disassembled) inverted.

 

Yeah the mini is proper fun to drive but it really needs a new paint job. There's almost no surface left that isn't rusty by now, all rusting from the inside so the paint is bulging everywhere. Still fun to drive though since it's technically just fine. 

[UNKLE 1,429]

There's loads of cheap headrests on eBay too, just type in "carbon fiber headrest":

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=carbon+fiber+headrest&_pgn=3&_skc=100&rt=nc

[Kevin Jowett 309]

Great build so far, nice to see it come together. And yeah x4 on the little 10 footer mini

[Rustler313 4]

Hey!

Decided to have a go at the design too and came up with the following! Decided not to put the cutouts in at the moment and think it still looks good. If I change my mind at a later date I guess it's always possible to do it. Struggled a little with the pedals though and getting the right angle so that my ankles are comfortable for long stints. The other thing is what to use to hold the wheel. I like the original design but it's a struggle to slide into the seat with the wheel at the height I want it. I like the idea of something coming over the top of me like a roller coaster safety bar as previously suggested but I'll have to have a look at how that'll work with the wires and what not. Any ideas would be appreciated! I'll try and post updates as and when...

Sam

[Fucitol 18]

Hi Rustler!

 

Welcome to the forum and nice to hear someone else is attempting this build as well! Did you try uploading a picture by the way? Curious to see your progress!

 

I understand you pedal issues, I had the same problem. Like I said before I removed some of the slats so that my legs now bend down a little and my lower legs don't have any support now (from the knee down) which makes moving my feet much easier.

Of course I've made a heel plate for my feet to rest on when using the pedals so I don't think that I'll miss the support for my legs at all. 

 

Haven't been working on the steering wheel 'contraption' yet and while I do like the design from Steve I also think that it might be a bit too impractical getting in and out. Making it height-adjustable will probably remove some of the rigidity and that's not what I want either. 

 

If I do find something I'll share of course, but I'm taking my time so if it's finished by the end of the month I'm still happy (the Oculus Rift isn't available for probably half a year, so no rush...)

[SteveS 1,391]

I liked Rustler313 idea of allowing the wheel deck to rotate up make it easier to get in & out. Drawings for this design now available.

[Fucitol 18]

Steve, thanks again for a wonderful design update!

 

Now I know what to do this weekend 

[Rustler313 4]

Hey,

 

Sorry for the delayed response! Done some more work and hopefully the latest picture will be attached as intended. Still having a few niggles as the wheel stand is in the way of my knees making it a little cramped. I'm wondering whether i need to try and have the wheel stand come up between my legs alike the playseat F1 sim, but whether i'd still have the same issue i don't know? If anyone has any ideas then let me know, for now i'll try and keep making adjustments.

 

Thanks,

 

Sam

 

 

[SteveS 1,391]

Sam you need the pivot point further forward, so the wheel assembly raises to give you better access.

[UNKLE 1,429]

I suspect what's happening Sam is your knees are touching the wheel deck and raising the deck will impair the wheel height, I guess that's why Playseat went with the centre support so a persons knees could go higher.  Maybe the pedals need to go back more so your knees are lower.

 

In a perfect world your wheel could be inverted/mounted upside down, this would allow you to raise the wheel deck.

 

That's a good reason to get the Accuforce since it allows you to mount it inverted

[Prim4te 9]

Could you make the wheel stand frame into a "m" shape? If you look in a real formula 1 car you can see the arches above the drivers legs. Perhaps you can build around where your legs go and allow the wheel to be in the bottom of the "m"
shape. Could you lower your pedal assembly?

 

I'm not sure that making it a centre ridge back type design you will gain that much room for your knees because the wheel base will still be in the same spot with the doubled up MDF sheets, but now it will be in a "T" shape.

 

I'll be starting a build like these next weekend so I'll likely experience some of the troubles youre experiencing. Im 6ft so my knees might come even higher. I have vertical DSD pedals so I can flat mount them onto the cockpit though.  

 

As UNKLE is suggesting, invert mounting would be a decent option, but not everyone has the money for an Accuforce or the year to wait for it to arrive . After having a go on an Accuforce and a Bodnar wheel, I must say that it makes my CSWv2 feel a bit toyish 

[UNKLE 1,429]

By about November/December time it'll be down to weeks not months for getting an AF after ordering one 

 

Berney has built a new production facility to ramp up build times and he said November was his aim to speed things up when he first mentioned plans for a new facility some months back to me.

 

This is why I've been holding off getting one cause I don't like paying 100% up front for something before it has been made and having to wait months for it.

 

You can see on the iRacing forums that he's already catching up pretty quickly on the batch number orders.

[SteveS 1,391]

Sam can you ask someone to take a picture of you sat in the rig, so I can see the problem. Then email the picture to me, then I may be able to can more.