Dec/090
ARC_Team Wheel Kits
As well as the pre-built wheels, ARC are also offering wheel kits. The customer can buy any part of the wheel they want, rather than the whole thing. If your just interested in a gearbox, then you can buy that part alone.
Designed by me, click for fullsize.
ARC Wheel kits
Dec/090
ARC_Team Wheels
Here’s ARC’s latest advert, designed by me. Click for fullsize.
ARC Wheel Advert
Nov/090
More carpeting and Track Map Holder
Wow, I finally got around to doing some more work on the cockpit. I suddenly had an urge to finish the carpet, so I spent a couple of hours finishing it tonight.
Before starting this I fixed in the rear brackets on the wheel shelf, I forgot to secure this before.
I chose to do the bottom section first off, measuring the length and width needed and leaving enough for an inch of overlap on each side. I was only carpeting up to the edge of the carpet gripper, where the pedals start. Nothing else is visible, from either inside or out.
I was more accurate than when I did the back half, so cutting things too small wasn’t an issue. After fixing the bottom piece, I chose to do the large vertical face at the bottom. This would overlap the extra inch from the bottom section and be trimmed at the edge for a clean line.
Next up, I did the sides, inside. These sections would go over the brackets for holding the wheel shelf. Again, I left an inch of overlap. This would be trimmed to the edge afterwards. Next I wanted to cover the vertical face going up the sides. I used one rectangular piece for either side. This would overlap the sides inside and leave no line visible.
Next, I needed to make custom shapes to fit in the top corners (see images). I did some brief measuring and ended up with a shape that somehow looked like the cockpit itself! I got these two stuck in.
Finally I decided to cover the wheel shelf. In hope it might deaden the sound of my wheel just a bit. There were a few tiny little gaps in the material so I just used some of the offcuts and filled them. Once the glue is perfectly dry I will brush off any excess glue that has got onto the front of the carpet.
Very happy with the final result of the carpeting, like the back half, it really absorbs the corners, it’s great to sit in.
Finally, just for a little touch, I added a plastic Business Card Pocket. This would hold a track map.
Not much more left to do now. Decals, Wheel, Final touch ups and hopefully two button boxes if someone can make them for me!
I’m thinking of covering the wheel cowling in the carbon fibre I’ve got left over. It’s either that or painting it.
Aug/090
Carbon Fibre Fitting & Seat Filling
Today I got underway with the carbon fibre vinyl. I wanted it around the bottom of the rear side of the cockpit. After unrolling it, I cut a piece wide enough for the section. Making sure there was enough to overlap the edges by about 1-1.5cm. I began by peeling off 2 or 3 inches of the vinyl and pressing it onto the surface. I used a smooth cloth to press over the vinyl, taking out any air and possible bubbles. I continued to remove the plastic backing until the whole sheet was pressed tightly to the surface.
I cut a 45 degree angle in the corners, so the edges could fold underneath the cockpit, this would mean no join line at all. The corners also folded nearly together because of the angled cut. At the front edge, I cut just before the start of the rounded edge. I just used a ruler for a straight edge.
I did the same for the opposite side, and then started on the back. The back would only overlap on the bottom, not the sides. It would site over the top of the two side pieces, keeping them in place tightly.
I decided to Duck Tape underneath. This will keep the vinyl firmly in place and provide a small amount of grip on the floor also. Duck tape just doesn’t move so theres 0% chance of the vinyl peeling off now the tape is covering the edges.
Then I moved onto the seat once again. I had previously cut it down, gotten rid of the excess, but now I wanted to fill any cracks and gaps. I used expanding foam for this. I squirted this into all the major cracks and also used it to build up the sides a bit – I wanted the seat to look more even than it did. This foam will expand massively, and I will need to cut and/or sand it off once its dried – usually takes about 45 minutes.
I’ve put everything away now as it was too dark to work, but tomorrow I will set about cutting the excess foam off and leaving myself with a more solid, rigid and symmetrical seat.
Aug/090
Sanding Undercoat & First Red Top-Coat
-
- Undercoat sanded down
Sorry for the delay with painting, I’ve been very busy!
Yesterday I sanded down the undercoat. It came up extremely smooth, really impressed. I put the red (RAL 3020) on with a Mohair roller and a Purdy 1.8″ brush. I used this brush for all the other layers also. Purdy’s are made of synthetic hairs rather than natural. This allows for a much smoother application and no hair loss. After rolling the paint on I did a final drag over with the paint brush, I prefer light brush strokes than that awful orange peel effect you get with a roller.
This was the first top coat of red, so it’s patchy. Reds never cover very well the first time, unlike grey or white. The second (possibly final) coat of red will make a massive difference, and because its gloss any remaining marks should be removed.
Hopefully I should be painting the next coat tonight – the drying time is 16 hours. Gloss’ cure time is 10 days, so no more sanding. If your wondering why some of the cockpit is still grey, thats because those areas will be covered with either carbon fibre vinyl or carpet.
Aug/090
2nd Stage of Sanding & Priming
Today I’ve re-sanded the cockpit after the first prime coat with an extremely fine sand pad. I also went over the end grain – I filled this with decorators caulk.
The second coat went on so much easier than the first and really filled in a lot of the bits that needed touching up. This will dry overnight. Tomorrow morning I will paint one coat of grey oil-based undercoat. And tomorrow evening, I start with the red! I purchased the red today, its RAL 3020. I will paint two coats of this for best coverage and possibly a coat of lacquer on-top. I will be ordering my seat on Thursday. Once I have this, the cockpit should be painted. I will get the carpet and CF Vinyl fitted. The main parts remaining are attatching the wheel, and pedals in the correct place.
I didn’t 2nd coat the areas I intend to cover with carpet or carbon fibre. One coat was ok, just to seal it and harden it slightly. It will also take away that awful MDF smell.
I’ve also decided to add a curved cowling around the front steering wheel edge of the front section. This will cover over the wheel and add another dimension to the whole thing. I will post a photoshop of what I intend to do later!
Aug/090
Decided against the 12C in favour of the Arc Wheel
-
- The Arc Wheel
-
- Back of the wheel
-
- In cockpit use
-
- Getting a feel for the wheel
I’ve made a fairly big decision today, and just in time!
Next week I was going to order the Seat & Momo 12c, but tonight I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m going to leave the wheel.
The wheel itself would have set me back £150. As well as this I wanted to make a quick release system, extend the steering column, add extra buttons and also clutch paddles. The cost of materials/components for this would have been about £350, plus many, many hours of my time trying to figure it all out and build it.
Tonight I found ARC. An Italian Sim modification team. They specialise in cockpits, pedals, wheels and modifications to existing hardware like the G25. They are currently making an Arc Wheel. It has every single thing I wanted to do myself, only properly. I think doing what I wanted to do with my skills would have been a bit of a ‘bodge-job’. Sure, it would have worked, but it wouldn’t have been tidy and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to make a 8 pin cannon connector work!
Anyway! They are offering the wheel with a set of options
- With or without quick release (Sparco)
- With or without Clutch Paddles
- With or without SLI-M (RPM & Gear indicators)
- Aluminium or Carbon Fibre Body
Perfect!
It looks the part, and has everything I need/wanted. It’s 100% the way to go. It isn’t being released until October or November 2009, so theres a couple of months until it’s release. In which time I can save enough to buy it.
I have no idea what the cost of it will be, but I assume it will be fairly substantial, given the labour costs and the components used. I know the sparco quick release is around £120 alone. I can see it being more than £500, hopefully not too much more otherwise my face will end up like this – :-O.
Check out the pics above anyway!
Aug/090
Materials Received
-
- Carbon Fibre Vinyl
-
- Coach Bolt
-
- Transparent Wallets
-
- CF Vinyl Adhesive Back
-
- Spray Adhesive & Carpet
After ordering the materials last week, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see them all arrive by today. I got the last item – the Carbon Fibre Vinyl.
I’ve already put the Aluminium to good use. The carpet was spot on, the adhesive was about 5 times bigger than it looked in the picture and the CF Vinyl is just as I had expected.
I’ve attached pictures of the materials and also of the bolts I purchased for the button box buttons. I also purchased a pack of transparent business car holders/sleeves. One of these will be ideal for putting a track map into and sticking it on the side of the cockpit. They have self adhesive on the back too.
Jul/094
Some materials purchased
-
- Carbon Fibre Vinyl
-
- Adhesive Spray
-
- Carpet
-
- Aluminium Plate
I’ve just ordered a few materials for the cockpt.
- Carbon Fibre Vinyl – 1000mm x 610mm
- Carpet
- Spray Adhesive
- Aluminium Plate – 500mm x 500mm x 3mm
All purchased from Ebay for a very reasonable price.
The Vinyl is 1m x 0.6m and has self adhesive on the back, so that will make it super-easy to stick onto the cockpit. It cost £9.99
The carpet is 2m x 1.35m, and cost £9.99.
The self adhesive will be used to stick the carpet to the inside of the cockpit, this cost £2.49.
The Aluminium plate is 50cm x 50cm x 0.3cm. I will mount my pedals to this. It cost me £10.
These links will take you to the product pages.
Jul/090
In Cockpit Design (updated)
-
- In Cockpit Design
-
- In Cockpit Design
Following on from yesterday’s post, here’s my latest In Cockpit design. Now featuring button boxes, carpet texture, seat, various Logo’s, headrest pull tags and wheel functions.