CP-1 Command Pod: The VR Space exploration project

[njay]

wow very nice !!

don't forget the current models of the DK run the game fine but the text can be hard to read
but after you oculus you will never game on your monitor again with elite

such a ride !

[SpaceHedgehog]

Thanks for the feedback 

@Superfrog, I'm on a bit of a go-slow at the moment due to commitments. I'm intending to remodel to back of the seat slightly to angle the large upper back section slightly forwards. I should get around to that this Sunday.

@williamavished, it's far from perfect but it will hopefully come out as I expect

@ njay, thanks. I can't wait to get hold of a Rift. By the time I get this completed, there'll be less time to wait for the consumer version of the Rift. I hear that Elite is quite possibly the best software to showcase it.

[njay]

Yep, looking left and right and see all the screens popup is amazing
Now to get me a hotas 

[SpaceHedgehog]

Yep, looking left and right and see all the screens popup is amazing
Now to get me a hotas 

I have to get a Rift ...

After some issues with my back, I've managed to get the cases epoxy'd and I can now use the HOTAS again.

I also bought something called VoiceAttack and the ASTRA voice pack. Effectively, it's a voice control system with verbal feedback - a nice, warm, female AI voice. It's totally awesome! You can use it to activate ship functions and it also has a large galactic encyclopedia so you can ask it questions and it will respond - 'What is a Black Hole? What is and Event Horizon? What is a White Dwarf etc. The immersion levels just went up a couple of notches.

Anyway, I can play the game again now while I build the rest of the seat:







The small display in the centre is an iPhone running Roccat PowerGrid - touch controls for the game if I choose not to use VoiceAttack.

Link to ASTRA pack if anyone is interested:

[Generic Eric]

This keeps getting better and better. 

I think if I hadn't heard about this game already, and already had decided to purchase it, I would based on your set up. 

[SpaceHedgehog]

Cheers for that Generic and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I. There's a lot more to come from Elite too

This is the first time where I feel technology is really able to transport you into a different and immersive world without having to try too hard to suspend disbelief.

[Sjaak]

I also bought something called VoiceAttack and the ASTRA voice pack. Effectively, it's a voice control system with verbal feedback - a nice, warm, female AI voice. It's totally awesome! You can use it to activate ship functions and it also has a large galactic encyclopedia so you can ask it questions and it will respond - 'What is a Black Hole? What is and Event Horizon? What is a White Dwarf etc. The immersion levels just went up a couple of notches.

What...... , that is so amazing

[SpaceHedgehog]

What...... , that is so amazing

It's what they call a 'game changer'

[SpaceHedgehog]

HOTAS case attachment method:


I will purchase 2 x 6mm (but possible 5/4mm) plates for the top of the supporting poles. The poles are to be made from hardwood. I used this on my monitor mount for my rig and it's very sturdy:



The plan is to drill 2 holes into the bottom of each case. I will pass a bolt through each of these and use a washer also, These will be epoxy'd in place to prevent any movement.

I will drill a hole into each of the supporting poles which will be embedded into the pods located at the side of each seat. Each hole will have a threaded insert screwed into place.

The aluminium plate will be attached to each pair of poles using coutersunk bolts.

Each plate will have 2 channels cut into it.

The bolts extending from the underside of each of the cases will pass through the channels and will be bolted in place from the underside.

The channels will allow a degree of fore and aft movement.

This is the design:



The channels or counter sunk bolts may be off-centre depending on what it is like getting into and out of the seat - I don't want to inadvertently catch them getting in and out.

It may be possible to use only one channel between the poles and pass both attaching bolts through it. The basic principles remain the same.

[rockyrocket]

This looks amazing so far - well done.

I think this and star citizen are more suited this style of sat down playing than maybe building a cab containing a HOTAS (which is something I had been considering myself).
Maybe I will make some kind of intergrated controller for star citizen when it is released but just can not decide yet on a controller configeration.
I have an X52 pro HOTAS and it is great, but to me it is still not as accurate as an atari yoke, so am considering maybe using a yoke (yeah I have a spare) with the truster from the HOTAS maybe?.
Then though there is still the issue of probably needing a mouse for the planetside first person shooter elements of the game.

Any way this is not about me - but I do have a question, are you planning this set up with star citizen in mind at all? and if a mouse is to be used is there going to be a surface for it (maybe the flat section behind the stick?).

Again great work so far!.

[SpaceHedgehog]

This looks amazing so far - well done.

I think this and star citizen are more suited this style of sat down playing than maybe building a cab containing a HOTAS (which is something I had been considering myself).
Maybe I will make some kind of intergrated controller for star citizen when it is released but just can not decide yet on a controller configeration.
I have an X52 pro HOTAS and it is great, but to me it is still not as accurate as an atari yoke, so am considering maybe using a yoke (yeah I have a spare) with the truster from the HOTAS maybe?.
Then though there is still the issue of probably needing a mouse for the planetside first person shooter elements of the game.

Any way this is not about me - but I do have a question, are you planning this set up with star citizen in mind at all? and if a mouse is to be used is there going to be a surface for it (maybe the flat section behind the stick?).

Again great work so far!.

Thanks rockyrocket  I've definitely built this with space sims in-mind. I do have Star Citizen as well (it would be stupid not too!) I have limited experience with HOTAS configurations so don't know what the X52 is like. I did have an MS Sidewinder many years ago though.

The idea is to use the centre section for attaching various additional controls including a 3D mouse if I can stretch to that. I'll need to run a selection of cables up to the mountpoint to allow that to happen.

I've re-shaped the back section; I don't mind re-doing the seat as comfort is important. The back piece is now split with the upper section angled forwards more. I've re-cut the subframe pieces and lowered the back by about 2.5 cm so it reclines more:

[SpaceHedgehog]

Just messing about trying to get a feel for the shaped pieces at the sides:



These will be covered in very firm foam and glued to further pieces to allow me to screw them into place. I will trim the lower piece back a little more ...

[SpaceHedgehog]

The side has been trimmed back and 3 pieces have been cut for this to be glued onto. These pieces are shaped to fit along the edges of the existing contoured panels.

[SpaceHedgehog]

The shaped sides are proving impossible to wrap ... I am abandoning this approach. I will likely just make flat panels instead

[njay]

Keep going at it ! Looks amazing thus far

[SpaceHedgehog]

Yes, no chance of giving up Never mind, not everything works out as expected.

Today I have re-cut the panels to go the simpler panel mosaic route only to find the extra staples I bought some years ago are the wrong ones. I've ordered some more so should be able to get these done during the latter part of this week.

Edit: I've always had the paneling from 2001 in mind when making these. I wish I had as much skill as the creators of that set:

[AzureKnight]

I wish I had as much skill as the creators of that set:

Just my 2 cents....YOU DO! 

[ChanceKJ]

I wish I had as much skill as the creators of that set:

Just my 2 cents....YOU DO! 

Yeah, what he said... 

Mind you i am still a little let down that the Mk-II only still has ONE monitor...   

[SpaceHedgehog]

You're both too kind! Thanks for that 

I managed to get a little time to work on one of the side panels tonight. I had to refit the material on one of the centre pieces to get a better finish:





Upholstering is a slow process ...

[johnrt]

First: I really love your work! It's beyond awesome! 

Now: Although a part of me wants to see how this seat turns out in the end, I have to ask: Why don't you buy a decent comfortable and not to mention adjustable seat?

[Generic Eric]

First: I really love your work! It's beyond awesome! 

Now: Although a part of me wants to see how this seat turns out in the end, I have to ask: Why don't you buy a decent comfortable and not to mention adjustable seat?

I need to factor in the Centre Console before completing the seat pads:



I plan on using a button box, a 3D mouse or an iPad mini running the PowerGrid software:

[SpaceHedgehog]

First: I really love your work! It's beyond awesome! 

Now: Although a part of me wants to see how this seat turns out in the end, I have to ask: Why don't you buy a decent comfortable and not to mention adjustable seat?

Thanks and a sensible question! Generic has captured the reason succinctly. This is a custom build where visuals and other component placement are key. A standard seat just wouldn't give the required configuration or effect.

In terms of adjustability, provided the configuration of the seat is correct in the first instance, this shouldn't be an issue. My racing bucket seat is fixed and is supremely comfortable!

I also want the challenge of building something completely from the ground up.

Another panel covered and attached:

[njay]

Looking very good

Now switch to frameshift and finish this

[SpaceHedgehog]

Looking very good

Now switch to frameshift and finish this

Cheers njay  I haven't got enough credits for a Frameshift upgrade ... I am working on a Procrastination Disruptor though.

[emphatic]

Shaping up nicely.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Cheers emphatic. Although it's not how I originally envisaged it, I'm pleased with how it's turning out.

My staple gun died but I managed to make and fit another panel:



I'll get a new gun this afternoon.

[SpaceHedgehog]

I finished the pads for the back and made the plate for the gap between the shoulder sections. This is where the keyring badge will go. It's just stuck on with a sliver of double sided tape at the moment to show the effect:



I still need to tidy things up a little and paint the base black:

[ChanceKJ]

I'm surprised you haven't opted for embroidery on that. A nice dark silver logo would make that. A small one, or a massive one on the large pad.

[SpaceHedgehog]

That would indeed look very good Chance. Something I should have considered earlier probably - stuck in the middle of reshaping the lower panels at the moment.

The main seat panel has been shortened, foam re-fitted and recovered with material. The rounded piece which sits in-front of this has been completed and I'm very pleased with how it turned out. This is there to create a shallow 'bucket seat' effect. I used double sided tape to ensure that the foam stayed in place throughout the covering process. This whole piece will sit on a platform to raise it and accentuate the effect you can see in the pictures.

Shaped piece (the foam covers two faces of this panel):





Firm foam stuck to the shaped piece with the initial loose stapling done. The white strip is double sided tape waiting to have the backing paper removed:



In-place (above):



In-place (side):



In-place (front):

[SpaceHedgehog]

I've re-cut and re-covered the front pads. After sitting in the seat for a bit, it seems the rounded section is at about the correct height so I wont be adjusting that any further. I've created a couple of risers for the front pads but they're still a little low. I need to add some 6mm sheet to get them to sit flush. The centre console section is just rammed in at the moment, it's a very tight squeeze.







I may need to re-size the centre console section ...

[AzureKnight]

What might be the most important question in my mind: Is it comfortable?

[Generic Eric]

Do you have an opinion on online only play?

[SpaceHedgehog]

Do you have an opinion on online only play?

Not everyone has a good internet connection or a connection that is stable. It'll also impact those who are peripatetic. A single player experience will still be available but the mandatory connection is understandably annoying. It won't make any difference to me but I certainly sympathise with those who are affected.

What might be the most important question in my mind: Is it comfortable?

Indeed. I've spent as much time as I can adjusting and tweaking the layout. It certainly seems like it will be comfortable but it's always going to be a bit of a leap of faith and I won't truly know until it's built.

[SpaceHedgehog]

As planned, I have dropped the rear of the sub-frame by a further 2.5cm to give more of a recline:



I have made the base plate for the seat:



The first side has been fabricated - I needed to make this from 4 sections; it's double width and the panels I could fit in my car weren't large enough to allow me to use single pieces. These sides will be covered by the side pods anyway:



The upper line is where it will need to be trimmed to. The lower lines are where the side pods for the HOTAS will follow. I will replicate this but in reverse for the front (the upper slope will be short, the lower one longer).

I will also need to re-think to cutouts due to the change in shape of the sides - they don't follow a continuous line anymore.

[floriske.nl]

Great project once again!

Ultimately you should combine it with this setup:

http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/24/7277041/elite-dangerous-ultimate-rig

[SpaceHedgehog]

Great project once again!

Ultimately you should combine it with this setup:

http://www.polygon.com/2014/11/24/7277041/elite-dangerous-ultimate-rig

Thanks  Yes, I've seen that setup, it looks awesome - serious investment required!

I started on the side pods today. First piece cut:



Cloned:



Position:





Windows drawn out:



Edit: looking ad the width of the sections between the windows and the outer borders, I decided it looked too skinny. I added an extra 1cm to give a bit more of a bulky and substantial look:

[SpaceHedgehog]

I've cut out the windows for the left side pod.

[SpaceHedgehog]

Cloned cutout for the outer face of the right hand side pod:

[SpaceHedgehog]

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





Both sides have been completed:



In-place:

[SpaceHedgehog]

After waking up with a stinking cold this morning, I struggled to get anything done. Feeling a little better now so have managed to cut the remaining side pieces for the side pods:



I'm going to make a start on the inlays for the outer pod faces next ...