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shadow.clone

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I used to be into Sim Racing but my schedule sadly doesn't allow for it at present. I get to race once every month if I'm lucky. I still drool over sim rigs and their design though as I love the thought that goes into them.

Post your questions on sim rigs here (parts, suppliers, construction, etc.) so that we can learn from each other and hopefully save some money along the way.

I'm wondering if I should wait for the next gen of VR headsets for increased resolution (to spot brake markers, see the mirrors clearly, etc.). Are there any commercial sim rigs in Gauteng which will allow me to try out a VR headset?

My rig has a OSW, Heusinkveld pedals, Sim Vibe, magnetic shifters (from PDW) and I'd be happy to answer questions on them.
 
Over the last year I purchased a T300 RS wheel, Th8a shifter, clubsport v1 pedals and a Drivehub to make it all play nice with my Ps4 and Xb1 (sadly no pc... Yet). Everything is still in boxes till I can find a rig to attach it to.

I've done some looking and it seems like extrusion aluminum is the way to go.

Any advice or ideas for a rig that is budget sensitive (would like to keep it under R4k). Need not be aluminum but something sturdy that will handle a more powerful wheel down the line and maybe a butt kicker or 2?

Or just any advice for someone looking to get into the sim scene in a casual sense, not an alien just a tourist with limited free time and resources.

Do you have pics of your setup perhaps...
 
Over the last year I purchased a T300 RS wheel, Th8a shifter, clubsport v1 pedals and a Drivehub to make it all play nice with my Ps4 and Xb1 (sadly no pc... Yet). Everything is still in boxes till I can find a rig to attach it to.

I've done some looking and it seems like extrusion aluminum is the way to go.

Any advice or ideas for a rig that is budget sensitive (would like to keep it under R4k). Need not be aluminum but something sturdy that will handle a more powerful wheel down the line and maybe a butt kicker or 2?

Or just any advice for someone looking to get into the sim scene in a casual sense, not an alien just a tourist with limited free time and resources.

Do you have pics of your setup perhaps...

Check out G-Force Sim | Gaming Seats South Africa - Racing Simulator if you're still looking for a rig. I purchased one a couple of years back and I've never had any issues. It should fall within your R4k budget as well
 
Check out G-Force Sim | Gaming Seats South Africa - Racing Simulator if you're still looking for a rig. I purchased one a couple of years back and I've never had any issues. It should fall within your R4k budget as well
Thanks, I had looked at them some time ago but decided not to go that route since the wheel mounts on their rigs all seemed to be set on a pillar/beam between the legs.

Having had a similar style setup with my ps3 and ps2, was hoping to get something with a more realistic style. More of a Cockpit vibe where the wheel is mounted on a platform that is similar to a car dashboard, no pillar between the legs.
 
Over the last year I purchased a T300 RS wheel, Th8a shifter, clubsport v1 pedals and a Drivehub to make it all play nice with my Ps4 and Xb1 (sadly no pc... Yet). Everything is still in boxes till I can find a rig to attach it to.

I've done some looking and it seems like extrusion aluminum is the way to go.

Any advice or ideas for a rig that is budget sensitive (would like to keep it under R4k). Need not be aluminum but something sturdy that will handle a more powerful wheel down the line and maybe a butt kicker or 2?

Or just any advice for someone looking to get into the sim scene in a casual sense, not an alien just a tourist with limited free time and resources.

Do you have pics of your setup perhaps...

Those are great components. Thrustmaster hits a sweet spot in terms of price and performance.

I built my rig with 40x40 aluminium extrusion. I think a DIY rig out of alu extrusion is the better option if you stay committed to sim racing because you'll definitely develop an itch to upgrade your rig over time. I'll have to double check my numbers, but I think the extrusion, screws/brackets, waterjet cut pieces, and seat were around R10k in total.

In terms of off the shelf rigs, I hated the center column that most local rigs have. I'm not sure if there's better local rigs out there these days.

On the butt kickers, I have to say that SimVibe makes a massive improvement to the realism of my rig. It just feels disconnected and lifeless when I switch it off. I'm running SimVibe in extensions mode with Clark Synthesis transducers. Feeling the rumble of a v8 is just amazing.
 
I had priced a very basic spec extrusion rig for about 5ish, no seat but allowing room for expansion later. The configuration was using 40 and 20 components.

Any chance you could post a pic or 2 of your rig? Would like to see specifically how you mount your wheel for ideas.
 
I'm a little snowed under at the moment, but will snap some photos soon.

20 might flex quite a bit depending on where/how it's used (granted they all flex - you just want to make the flex imperceptible). The minimal price difference (back when I bought extrusion at least) and the hassle of mixing sizes makes an all 40 rig the better option.
 
Over the last year I purchased a T300 RS wheel, Th8a shifter, clubsport v1 pedals and a Drivehub to make it all play nice with my Ps4 and Xb1 (sadly no pc... Yet). Everything is still in boxes till I can find a rig to attach it to.

I've done some looking and it seems like extrusion aluminum is the way to go.

Any advice or ideas for a rig that is budget sensitive (would like to keep it under R4k). Need not be aluminum but something sturdy that will handle a more powerful wheel down the line and maybe a butt kicker or 2?

Or just any advice for someone looking to get into the sim scene in a casual sense, not an alien just a tourist with limited free time and resources.

Do you have pics of your setup perhaps...
have you seen the PVC tube design.
 
Shameless plug for a mate - @simmonsz here on the forums started a VR arcade in Canal Walk, Cape Town for anyone keen to check it out. They have two sim rigs with integrated VR, as well as a bunch of booths to play a bunch of games of your choosing.

He could give you some insight into their acquisition of the rigs - both imported in kit form from my knowledge.

Why he hasn't launched a carbie special or announced it here is beyond me ;)

Check them out here -
 
Shameless plug for a mate - @simmonsz here on the forums started a VR arcade in Canal Walk, Cape Town for anyone keen to check it out. They have two sim rigs with integrated VR, as well as a bunch of booths to play a bunch of games of your choosing.

He could give you some insight into their acquisition of the rigs - both imported in kit form from my knowledge.

Why he hasn't launched a carbie special or announced it here is beyond me ;)

Check them out here -

Those are DOF Reality P2 rigs, their base cost is R25,000 each before shipping and import duties :oops:
 
I'm a little snowed under at the moment, but will snap some photos soon.

20 might flex quite a bit depending on where/how it's used (granted they all flex - you just want to make the flex imperceptible). The minimal price difference (back when I bought extrusion at least) and the hassle of mixing sizes makes an all 40 rig the better option.
No hurry, took me almost a year just to buy the kit I have so far. Still going to shop around quite a bit before landing on a solution.
 
have you seen the PVC tube design.
I've seen a few variations, even a few that were reinforced with metal brackets, impressive but concerned about how these things would deal with higher torque wheels?
 
Those are DOF Reality P2 rigs, their base cost is R25,000 each before shipping and import duties :oops:
The tech is getting cheaper. Yaw VR is doing some interesting stuff, disruptive, hopefully will open up the scene for new approaches to motion Sims.
 
The PVC rigs are actually pretty sturdy for your average wheel.

Things like an OSW, TS-PC racer or Fanatec clubsport wheels are going to be a bit much. but for T300 or the likes a PVC rig is top notch.

an Alu rig is going to set you back +-6k excl a seat and seat brackets. but if you looking at that you must be pretty into sim racing as they are really large.

I'm pretty handy myself, so I have welded up my own rig, It's stiff enough to handle the forces a 136kg Rated load cell brake pedal can exert on it. and all in all cost me around R2500k plus a few days of time.
 
i see alot on the marketplace selling between 1000 and 3500 then there are some which are nuts over 5000 to 10 000rand.
 
The tech is getting cheaper. Yaw VR is doing some interesting stuff, disruptive, hopefully will open up the scene for new approaches to motion Sims.

Indeed. VR is the next step for me, but I'm patient for the tech to mature because I'm very picky when it comes to screens. After that, I intend to add rear traction loss via a SCN5 or similar.
 
The PVC rigs are actually pretty sturdy for your average wheel.

Things like an OSW, TS-PC racer or Fanatec clubsport wheels are going to be a bit much. but for T300 or the likes a PVC rig is top notch.

an Alu rig is going to set you back +-6k excl a seat and seat brackets. but if you looking at that you must be pretty into sim racing as they are really large.

I'm pretty handy myself, so I have welded up my own rig, It's stiff enough to handle the forces a 136kg Rated load cell brake pedal can exert on it. and all in all cost me around R2500k plus a few days of time.

Did you DIY your pedals? If so, please post some pics!

I wasn't able to drive with ABS off using regular pedals. Always kept locking up. With load cell pedals, I never switch on ABS. So much fun braking/trailbraking on the cusp of traction.
 
The PVC rigs are actually pretty sturdy for your average wheel.

Key is to buy the swimming pool fittings and high pressure pipe. The pipes and fittings are much stronger, and the fittings are 90 degree instead of 110 degree, making assembly much easier.

Oh, and you can get the fittings and pipes in black...
 
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I think I'm at the other end of the pricing scale, so probably not of much interest here.

But if you want some ideas on how to do a set of base shakers for less than R2500 I can do a howto.

Your rigs look interesting. Where can one try it? In particular, have you sold a rig to any commercial clients who have paired it with VR? Really keen to try out a decent VR setup.
 
I'll have a F1 layout available in 10-14 days for a week long test before it ships out. After that might have a demo unit by mid-end June if I don't sell it before then haha. Personally I prefer a display over a VR setup to be honest with you, I think the current range of VR HMD's are too uncomfortable, maybe the new ones coming out now are better.
 
Hi

im interested in getting into sim racing. Do you make Motion rigs

QUOTE="shadow.clone, post: 1678131, member: 11107"]
Your rigs look interesting. Where can one try it? In particular, have you sold a rig to any commercial clients who have paired it with VR? Really keen to try out a decent VR setup.
[/QUOTE]
I'll have a F1 layout available in 10-14 days for a week long test before it ships out. After that might have a demo unit by mid-end June if I don't sell it before then haha. Personally I prefer a display over a VR setup to be honest with you, I think the current range of VR HMD's are too uncomfortable, maybe the new ones coming out now are better.
 
Lol. Me and my brother in law build one on a Saturday using scrap metal around the farm. Used a merc 380SE seat taken out of my rolled merc. Mounted a 55" hisense screen on it with mu g27 set wich I ripped apart. Pedals were remounted at actual spaces like in a car and I replaced the steering wheel with a carbon fibre racing wheel. It wasn't as pretty as your rigs but you easily lost a couple of hours on nfs. Had to buy driving gloves to prevent the blisters I got. Unfortunately I had to cut the rig apart when I got the second wife. Still using the seat though.
 
Yikes I forgot about this thread. I haven't had any time for sim racing and my rig is still in pieces. I'll hopefully get back into it in the next 6 months.
 
Any one into flightsim also feel free to post your rigs. I'm currently in the planning stages of a permanent installation for both flying and driving as the one I had welded up from some junk I threw out after the remodel, still kinda busy with the house so no time yet
 
Phew, time to necro this thread. I want to dust off my rig and get back into racing.

I'm looking for a new F1-styled wheel and quick release to pair with my OSWv1. A quick google for wheels turned up the Simagic GT4 and Cube Controls Formula Sport. Are there any other wheels that I should look at in this price range? Is there anything local worth looking at these days?

Also, I need a load cell to USB converter for my handbrake. I was planning on DIY'ing but I'm too rusty on that front and I rather race than mess around with electronics/code. Anyone know of a cheap converter I can buy?
 
After watching/reading lots of reviews, I ended up ordering an Ascher Racing wheel.

I couldn't find a cheap USB load cell interface, but I did manage to find a HX711 board at home. It seems relatively straightforward to DIY an interface with the HX711 and an Arduino Pro Micro. I'll hunt around for the Arduino and will report back on how well it works.
 
Any one into flightsim also feel free to post your rigs. I'm currently in the planning stages of a permanent installation for both flying and driving as the one I had welded up from some junk I threw out after the remodel, still kinda busy with the house so no time yet
I haven't tried flight sims, but I'm keen to see what you've built.
 

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