R-Pod MkII DIY Racing Sim Rig

A DIY racing sim rig requiring some significant time commitment to complete. Intermediate woodworking skill required.

List of materials:

• Wood Strips
• Backing board
• Hardwood
• Screws / Bolts
• Seat runners
• Rubber sheet
• Carpet
• Blackboard vinyl
• Acrylic
• Artwork
• Cabling (power strip / USB + hub / DVI / Displayport / speaker)
• Velcro
• Aluminium plate, strips, edging
• Mesh
• Leather material
• T molding
• Paint and Varnish
• Desk grommet
• Accessories (tow hook / extinguisher / badge)
• Glues (wood / epoxy / contact)
• Shelf supports
• LEDs
• Wire Switches Connectors

Tools:

• Workbench
• Clamps
• Router
• Jigsaw
• Power drill / driver
• Foam roller

Full build log:

http://www.isrtv.com/forums/topic/12145-r-pod-mkii...

Video tour:

Step 1: Make the Seat Base.

Seat base covered in automotive carpet. Made from MDF with T molding applied to inner edges.

Step 2: Fabricate the Base.

Frame made from wood strips and 18mm MDF sheet.

Step 3: Build the Side Pod for the Shifter.

Fabricated from MDF with an angled shapes and mesh / rubber sheet / acrylic inlays, largely for aesthetics.

Step 4: Adjustable Pedal Mount

Angled pedal mount for the pedals sitting on seat runners for adjustability.

Step 5: Seat Base Side Panel

MDF paneling with windows for artwork and mesh.

Step 6: Front Sections.

Shaped front pieces with sufficient space for pedals and feet!

Step 7: Wheel Stem

MDF sheet with metal shelf supports underneath for added stability.

Step 8: Side Pieces to Add to the Front Section.

Windowed MDF panels with mesh, ruibbed rubber sheet and aluminium bar inserts.

Step 9: Dashboard Top.

Shaped dash upholstered with leather material.

Step 10: Monitor Hood.

Monitor hood with Aluminium trim.

Step 11: Dashboard

Dash fitted with real carbon fibre, buttons dials and switches.

Step 12: Accessories

A few fun bits including a real fire extinguisher, LED lighting, tow hook and custom badge.

Comments

[Belwood20]

Hi there this looks good, do you have any plans for this as i have a cnc machine.

Regards

Chris

[ThereIs0nly0ne]

Hello, unfortunately I don't - I wish I had! There is a full build log which shows the process here if it's of any additional use:

http://www.isrtv.com/forums/topic/12145-r-pod-mkii-vr-enabled/

I now have this running with VR which is a whole new experience.

[Cwren10222]

Pretty sweet design. May build this with mods, multi monitor setup and fully enclosed to work as a flight sim cabinet. Great work and great design

[TrevorB8]

Do you have plans I can work off of. I would like to build something similar to yours except for Logitech G29 wheel and custom button boxes.

[agent_k82]

this is the coolest race rig i have ever seen, i bought everything needed to build it. but i am having some troubles with the dimensions (height of the chair of the floor, the side station height and width,....). it would be great if you help me out with this. thank you in advance.

[ThereIs0nly0ne]

Thanks agent_k82 :) The shifter pod is:

- 500mm at the highest point

- 218mm wide, including the shaped side pieces.

- 840mm in length

The plans for the main base are shown below. The seat is attached to side mounts which sit on seat runners/rails positioned on the raised section of the base. The lowest part of the seat is approximately 95mm from the top of the raised section. This would make the lowest part of the seat approximately 260mm off the floor. Hope that makes sense! Let me know if you need more info.

[tpenn]

Sweet setup, but your shifters on the wrong side! What/where did you get the steering wheel parts

[ThereIs0nly0ne]

Thanks tpenn - yes, crazy Brits driving on the wrong side :)

All the racing gear is by Fanatec - the ClubSport series.

[Scyllanick079]

great workmanship. I've got a g27 which I am going to be dusting off and use to get into sim racing. I was planning on upgrading at some stage to the fanatec club sport but have heard people say that while they are great, they are not very durable and need constant setting and occasionally require replacement parts. What are your thoughts? Should I upgrade or should I stick with the G27 and maybe wait a bit longer and go for something like a frex, ecchi or bodnar?

[ThereIs0nly0ne]

The ClubSport kit is great. The CSW V2 is much improved over the V1 by all accounts. Yes, the kit can have issues - I had some problems with the CSP V2 pedal set but all it took was a bit of tightening and it was resolved. No problems other than that.

If you're also looking at high end kit, check out the new SimXperience wheel - that looks to be incredible. I'd love one. I would probably recommend seriously considering that over the ClubSport if you can afford it.

[MoTinkerGNome]

This has got to be the coolest cockpit cabinet I have ever seen. I thought building a bar-top mame Machine was cool but you sir have taken the cake. If you havent yet add some Tactile Transducers, (aka Bass Shakers) That way you get the rumble of the engine too. Heck you got all the other small details.

[ThereIs0nly0ne]

Thanks MoTinkerGNome :) Yes, there are 4 transducers and I'm running Simvibe software to power them. It takes the telemetry data out of the simulator to provide the effects rather than just low frequencies. It's great!

[MsSweetSatisfaction]

That's so awesome! Thanks for sharing your process!

[ThereIs0nly0ne]

A pleasure. Thanks for your comments MsSweetSatisfaction!