SPEED - The racing simulator *Coming Soon*

[kevilution]

Hello y'all..

SPEED is my first attempt into the arcade community, and it's a big one, literally! I plan on constructing a racing-style arcade cabinet with seat and steering wheel all within the next few months. The cabinet will have a frame of 1x1 square tubing for support while the major flat surfaces will either be fiberglass or plywood. This will be a full-blown gaming rig for the NFS series and rFactor.

Heres the list of components:

• Self built gaming PC (still pricing the parts out)
• 32" Widescreen LCD TV (nothing fancy)
• Logitech G25 Racing System with steering wheel, gas-brake-clutch and 6-speed shifter
• 5.1 Audio
• LED-Wiz for some sweet lighting!

Hopefully that paints a decent picture in your head, I'll post some of my rough sketches soon!

[chrisindfw]

Sounds like a great idea. I am curious how those controls work with mame and PC games. I have a cabinet that was swapable control panels and this looks like a great addition.

What is your plan to put them all in the cab? Rotating controls or swapable?

[kevilution]

Actually there's not going to be any MAME in this cabinet, this is strictly for newer PC games.

[chrisindfw]

Very nice.

I bet you could get After Burner or something like that working as well too.

I look forward to your progress.

[kevilution]

Here's one of my first renderings to scale, still hammering out the design. It's about 36" wide, 72" high and 52" long.

**Image Removed**

[Cakemeister]

Awesome. I think it'll be very immersive. I think that you can make this ergonomically perfect with the positions of the arm rests if you plan it out right.

If you don't have MAME in the cab, what do you need the LED-Wiz for? Are you planning something really fancy like those sim jockeys make?

[kevilution]

If everything works out right the left arm rest will house the X52's throttle and the right arm rest will house the G25's 6-speed shifter.

The LED-Wiz will control some accent/detail lights around the cabinet, and I might put a micro switch underneath the brake pedal for some brake lights!

[kevilution]

Made some adjustment to the cabinet. Enlarged the opening for the drivers legs and raised the height of the arm rests. Hopefully by next paycheck I can pick up some wood for the frame

[theCoder]

I recently built a driving cab.  I opted for an enclosure instead of an open style, and am very glad I did.  You can really crank the sound without rocking the entire house.  The experience is very immersive without the side distractions.  The build was a blast (link below), and it is even more fun playing.

Good luck with yours.

[kevilution]

I recently built a driving cab.  I opted for an enclosure instead of an open style, and am very glad I did.  You can really crank the sound without rocking the entire house.  The experience is very immersive without the side distractions.  The build was a blast (link below), and it is even more fun playing.

Good luck with yours.

I actually read through yours and a few other racing cabinets for inspiration before I designed mine. I settled on this one because it's planned location is going to be in the basement and I don't want it weighing 7200 lbs! My cab will be in two pieces, separated where the arm rests start. Sound is one of my big concerns so on the top of the seat back I plan on fiberglassing the rear 5.1 speakers right at the head level. Hopefully that will work out or I'll make due with a good pair of headphones. Much thanks for the suggestion!

[theCoder]

Makes sense to go two-part if you're going to deal with stairs.  I've got a day basement and had access to a large door.  I'd hate to imagine trying to carry one down a flight of stairs. 

Regarding sound, you might want to check into a base shaker.   You get the strong base sensation without rattling the windows.    I picked up mine for very cheap (I think it was around $40) from an online warehouse.  It is one of the first things people notice and comment on the first time they sit down to play.

[kevilution]

Thanks, that bass shaker should work great with the newer racing and flight games, I'll have to incorporate one under my racing seat.

[kevilution]

Still working out the plans for the structure, probably going with 2x2's for the frame. Next stop, Home Depot!

[kevilution]

Got a tip about using metal for the frame. Looked into 1x1 square tubing, lightweight and affordable. Just need to find someone who can heli-arc weld!