Hi guys, I'm not new to bit-tech, I was just a reader, but thought i would share my build log here aswell. First, let me say I'm sorry for my English. Not that good Let's begin. So, explaining the strange name. Simodd - Sim Modd aka Simulator Modding. Strange, but not that hard to understand (need a better name ) One more thing, I'm sorry for the photo quality, but I don't have a good camera Now, to the presentation. After my first mod I wanted to make something different. Something crazy! So I planned a Scratch Build Project. Because I'm a Sim Fan, I planned something where I can put my G25 and play without fear of breaking my tiny desk one more time. So I started building a cockpit! The design doesn't have anything new, but I build it at my way, with small details that make it unique! And here, the first prototype almost ready, as you can see And then, i took it to my room to a "test fit" And then, painting, and last details... The seat was removed from an old car and then repaired with new cloth. After some time 'playing' with my new toy, I decided to take it to the next step. changing what's not that good, and making the last details First, a Sketchup design. And now, the hardware. It's not that great, but I don't have money for a new one CPU: Intel P Dual Core E5300 @ 3.06GHz MB: ASUS P5K Deluxe Wifi/AP Edition RAM: 2x Corsair XMS2 1Gb + 1x Kingston 2Gb VGA: ATI Radeon HD5850 HDD: Hitachi 250Gb + Western Digital 500Gb Sound: Creative Audigy 2ZS PSU: LC Power LC6550 V2 Starting with the hardware mod/tweaking for better looks CPU Block Before During: And After: Placed: And these are the connectors I'm using: And now a little more paint work Don't forget the mainboard coolers After: Before: After: And a small detail in the board...Before: Sanded: And after (Blue LED) And a test fit in my old case: And then, I did a little test in the CPU Block. I didn't paint the sides of it, so it looks cool with a LED And finally, I've started building the case for the hardware! This was build in Foamed PVC, because it's really light, and easy to work with. This case will be placed inside the seat 'base' (don't know how it's called ) Cutted pieces And a important thing. Measure once, cut twice....oh wait The only piece I didnt build... Planning.... And more photos to come. Thank you for watching!
A little more progress... Start working on the sleeving. Did a "HDD mounting" (sorry...don't know how it's called ) and start testing the hardware... And finally, the wood work on the seat base started. And here, just to show the margin of error with the PSU Finally, a little detail in the hardware window. A small dent in the wood for the acrylic
More progress... Started the work in other parts. In this case, the monitor stand! (Phone photos alert! Sorry) And next, start painting and cable management... Let's do a little test Finally, a artistic photo...Love it
A little ..But it's fun More progress. Hole for 3 120mm Fans in one side (I will not use those fans. They are just for testing.) In the other side, preparing begins for USB and power/reset buttons And finally, paint preparations began And here comes one of that moments I completely forgot about everything else. It was thursday, and I'm trying to prepare everything to get to one LanParty on Friday. Painting and everything. Challenge accepted, but i forgot about detailed pictures...SORRY! Before going to the LAN, made a quick test, only to be sure everything works And prepared some last details.
As I said before, I did this with the objective of going to a Lan Party here in Portugal, so I assemble everything and went there. The project isn't finished, but here's the pictures of it in the LAN Party. For my joy, I win first place in modding contest Here you can see the side USBs and Buttons. (also, Faboya's awesome project by my side ) Here is a small detail. In the front of the build, I connect a Power and Ethernet cable, and everything it's connected inside Now that I have more time available for the build, I will disassemble it and finish the interior. With detailed pictures
Thanks guys! Really appreciate it! Now, the bad news. Had a "little" problem with the water pump, and I will need to rebuild the hardware base... Need to find some MDF, then, updates will come
So, this happened...I heard my water pump making weird noises. Disassemble the case and found this: The wood used in the base is all ruined. I had planned to rebuild the base in a simpler way, so it is not a serious problem. While I do not find any wood to rebuild the base, I disassembled everything and started working on some details, and doing some maintenance . First, removed the connectors in the front of the cockpit for remaking the electrical installation. As I said before, I only have a connector to power and LAN in the front. Everything is connected inside the cockpit. here with the LAN connector Next, did some work in the cuts for the cables in down side of the base. Here will go the PSU, LAN, VGA and USB cables to the Mainboard Little detail in the front, for the cables go up And with the carpet. Next I decided to rebuild one side of the "interior case", because it was not good Now, just for showing, the side of the case, with the USB and button holes My buttons And placed! Now, this is not related to the MOD itself, but decided to do a little maintenance and a mod to the G25 gearbox Started from disassembling it Removed the spring and that little ball And put a little spacer behind the spring for giving it a little streng And next put some Heat-shrink tube in the ball. This way you dont listen that loud "click" that the gearbox does Then started the assembling Really better feeling than the original! Next decided to clean my pedals. Latelly,I've noticed some "spiking" in my brake, so let's have a look. Removed them from the base And after 3 years of abuse, I think I understand why they started the "spiking" Poor pots So, after all that mess cleaned, assembled everything And last, did some soldering. This will have the power to the PSU, and will have a hidden power strip for the G25/Monitor I know this was more like a maintenance post, but it's kinda related to the mod
Today I did a little more work Found this connectores for the PSU cable One side done! Then, found this pieces for fixing the cables in the down side of the base And started assembling the front Then I did a little hole in the pedal base for passing the cable to the top And continued with the assembling At the end of the day, still had a little time for disassembling the g25 and do some maintenance And found this gift The cover of the gears is broken. I think I'm a little brute with the force feedback
Today I've finished the work on the G25 Then started the electrical instalation. Here testing the position of the power strip Here something I need to explain. To fix all parts together, I use this Allen 'screw' in one side And a regular screw goes inside it on the other side Assembled the gearbox/mouse tray And placed the gearbox Sorry, don't know the name of this, but it's for cable management Lets paint Started preparing the new side of the internal box And preparing the power strip for paint After everything painted and dryed, started passing cables from the pedals to the top The monitor stand: And with the monitor base in place Detail of front vinyl with my nick And finally assembled the G25 And the cable management continues The "new" black power strip And the hidden USB HUB, with lots of cables and zip ties And then, started working on a little "extra". This will be placed in the monitor, with some LEDs for showing the RPMs and a 7segment display for showing the Gears.
Thanks man! So, today did a little update. Not too much, but I've found most of the materials I need to make the new base Started by measuring everything Look at the PSU, there's literally no space for a bigger one Here, trying new places for the HDD And my new fans...CoolerMaster SickeFlow Blue Really beautiful fans! (Sorry for the dust...Working space ) And my custom made grill...Lovely! Also, disassembled the seat "rails" (I think thats the proper name), because they are a little rusty...Going to sand and paint 90º plexi And need to change this (oh god...)...this thing don't know it's name So, picked my tools and CUT Just a little Then sanded and prepared for painting And here, already painted Then started assembling my connectors And finished here today....Almost done