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Buidling a cockpit cab: help requested

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Felsir:
After building my first arcade cab I'm moving to the next level: a sitdown driving cabinet.
The design looks a little bit like a buck rogers cab. I like it because it's fairly compact.
I made a quick doodle of my plan.

Questions: Does anyone have a sitdown cab? What are the measurements for (see attached picture)
A - seat to base of the cab
B - Distance pedals - seat
C - height of the steeringwheel base
D - height to the bottom of the monitor

I plan to have 'B' variable. The whole cab comes in three parts, the base engine where the steering wheel and the pedals are attached to, the cover for the monitor and the seat assembly. The seat assembly will slide under the base unit. furniture wheels (with locks) enable it to roll under the base effectively making distance B variable. I ask the measurement to see what kind of sliding distance I generally require.

Feature's I'd like to build in the cab:
Working breaklights on the back of the cab. In some way a microswitch will be triggered (or rather untriggered) sending a signal to the lights on the back of the seat.
Another goofy idea: a fan that blows wind in the driver's face. I remember a motorcycle game in the arcade (can't remember the name) that had this feature... Too bad no game actually outputs the speed the player is driving so I probably will not include this ...

Any idea's, hints and sound advice is welcome!

bdsjake:
its probably going to be a bit of trial and error for you, to get the measurements right.  You might also search the web for homebuilt flight simulator cockpits, which will have some of the same dimensions you are looking at.

good luck and please post your progress. I bit anyone who has built one cab has at least thought about building a driving cab! (myself included!)

DrewKaree:

--- Quote from: Felsir on June 06, 2004, 10:04:28 am ---What are the measurements for (see attached picture)
A - seat to base of the cab
B - Distance pedals - seat
C - height of the steeringwheel base
D - height to the bottom of the monitor

--- End quote ---
While not giving you the measurements, I DO have an almost foolproof method to obtain these measurements.....head outside, open your car door, and voila!  Instant measurements for the taking!  ;D


--- Quote ---I plan to have 'B' variable. The whole cab comes in three parts, the base engine where the steering wheel and the pedals are attached to, the cover for the monitor and the seat assembly. The seat assembly will slide under the base unit. furniture wheels (with locks) enable it to roll under the base effectively making distance B variable. I ask the measurement to see what kind of sliding distance I generally require.
--- End quote ---
Using my measurement method, slide the seat as far forward as possible, measure, then slide it as far backward as possible, and measure.  


--- Quote ---Another goofy idea: a fan that blows wind in the driver's face.
--- End quote ---
Not so goofy an idea!  I've thought about doing this for my regular cab, see the "sweating like a pig" thread somewhere around here!  Here's an idea, pick yourself up a fanbus (best solution) or an Enermax power supply with the variable fan speed option.  You can get a pair (or more) of those big 120 fans and hook 'em up!  That way, once you get good at the game, you won't need visine after playing a marathon game!  You just turn the rheostat, blam, instant removal of the "headwind"!  

Don't ever say an idea is goofy around here!  Someone may have already thought of it and thought "everyone's gonna laugh at this"!   You just gave them the impetus to try it on their own cab (and "blame'" you for it!).

Go to it man, and good luck.

spystyle:
This fella sells cockpit plans for only $1 on Ebay, you may find it usefull

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13717&item=6101368941&rd=1

Tailgunner:
I have 4 sitdown cabs.  I'll take some measurements tommorow and post the results.

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