Nov/093
ARC Wheel Installation
More detailed guide to installation coming soon, but for now, a few pictures.
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/091
Formula Force EX Teardown & Button Box Mockup
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- Button Box Mockup
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- Exposed 3 PCB’s
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- What I’m left with
I took apart my old Logitech Formula Force EX a couple of days ago. In search of using the buttons housed within it. Apart from the two I will put onto the wheel, I will need additional buttons and this seemed like an ideal way to get them.
Steve Jones – the guy who designed and made the Cockpit I am trying to re-create used Plastic boxes, and the buttons from a Belkin Nostromo. Using purchased wire and new red push buttons. While these look fantastic, I’m not sure if I’d be able to do that. I’ve no idea how he connected it all and got it working.
So…I pulled apart the FFEX. The PCB is quite simple and it was obvious which push connectors did what. I removed the one for power knowing that wouldn’t be needed, I removed the connection for the pedals and the other for the Force Motor. There were two remaining pushfit connectors – one for the USB and the other for the 12 buttons on the wheel.
After figuring this out, I pulled off the front of the wheel, exposing 3 PCB’s for each set of 4 buttons. I was left with the main PCB, 3 button PCB’s and the usb cable. I tested it in game, and it all worked.
The one issue that remains is the length of the connectors between the 3 button PCB’s. Its fairly tight and not very long either. I wanted to mount it on the inside facing vertical as Steve had done. However, using these buttons in this way it wouldn’t be possible. The smallest configuration I can achieve is to have 4 at the top and then two sets of 4 next to each other below. Creating a box around 12cm high and 8cm wide. Roughly.
This is going to be a bit of a bodge job, but it should work well. I cut the front of the wheel apart, so the 3 PCB’s are no longer joined by the plastic. I will however be leaving on the plastic front, as it contains the button pots/springs.
These plastic fronts will be glued onto the rear side of an aluminium plate. With the holes cut through the aluminium for the buttons. I purchased some bolts, identical in diameter to the existing buttons. I will cut these to size – Enough to stick out, go through the aluminium and press on the rubber to action the click.
I hope to punch in the button names with a punch (obviously). And then fill them with yellow.
These will be glued directly to the rubber. If all goes well it should end up looking something like the mockup I’ve attached to this post.
Fingers crossed!
Jul/094
Some materials purchased
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- Carbon Fibre Vinyl
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- Adhesive Spray
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- Carpet
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- 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.