F1 Sim Rig - Advice Please!
Discussion
A quick update after a month of experimentation. I’ve upgraded my pedals to Fatatec Clubsport V3s after deciding my CSL Elites weren’t up to the job. The V3s have been a game changer and a worthy upgrade.
I customised my Trak Racer single monitor stand to have longer pieces of 8020 at the base of each leg in order to accommodate a Fanatec Shifter and button box.
Whilst I thought I’d be playing lots of F1 2020 - you quickly get sucked up into the world of mods on a PC.
I’m now playing Asseto Corsa with the Custom Shaders Patch, the Sol 2.0 weather mod, and a lot of early 90s F1 cars. The whole set up is total epic.
I’ve also discovered 70s, 80a and 90s Le Mans cars and 240mph down the Mulsanne straight at night fiddling around with the boost pressure in a 962 is quite the experience!
Highly recommended all.
I customised my Trak Racer single monitor stand to have longer pieces of 8020 at the base of each leg in order to accommodate a Fanatec Shifter and button box.
Whilst I thought I’d be playing lots of F1 2020 - you quickly get sucked up into the world of mods on a PC.
I’m now playing Asseto Corsa with the Custom Shaders Patch, the Sol 2.0 weather mod, and a lot of early 90s F1 cars. The whole set up is total epic.
I’ve also discovered 70s, 80a and 90s Le Mans cars and 240mph down the Mulsanne straight at night fiddling around with the boost pressure in a 962 is quite the experience!
Highly recommended all.
WhisperingWasp said:
Looks great that does. Is the shifter on the right as per F1 cars of the period? Or are you not UK?
I have just bought (second hand) a Thrustmaster T300RS with a GT3 wheel and am waiting on some T3PA pedals and a Playseat Challenge, both of which are arriving tomorrow. Although much more modest than others on here I can’t wait.
I ideally need something that can be put away (hence the Challenge) but I do fear it could give me the taste for a better set up!
I started with a Playseat Challenge / Thrustmaster setup. I think the Playseat challenge is one of the best value pieces of kit out there. Great seating position and very cleverly designed so that it can be folded away.I have just bought (second hand) a Thrustmaster T300RS with a GT3 wheel and am waiting on some T3PA pedals and a Playseat Challenge, both of which are arriving tomorrow. Although much more modest than others on here I can’t wait.
I ideally need something that can be put away (hence the Challenge) but I do fear it could give me the taste for a better set up!
Yes the shifter is on the right as the majority of F1 and Le Mans cars that I use are set up this way.
Last night - I installed an additional button box that mounts to the Fanatec wheel base which is very useful for tweaking the car on the fly.
Good looking rigs guys!
I’m exploring the route of a motion platforms today. It would mean sacrificing my Playseat F1 and monitor stand for a new rig with actuators.
Having asked the FB sim racing group, best proposal so far has been the following which seems to be mid - market.
https://fasetech.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC_b-ZgFwGk
Motion platform systems range from £2,000 - £40,000 + depending on the quality of the components and how many degrees of freedom you want.
I’m exploring the route of a motion platforms today. It would mean sacrificing my Playseat F1 and monitor stand for a new rig with actuators.
Having asked the FB sim racing group, best proposal so far has been the following which seems to be mid - market.
https://fasetech.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC_b-ZgFwGk
Motion platform systems range from £2,000 - £40,000 + depending on the quality of the components and how many degrees of freedom you want.
Speckle said:
That does look like fun although, the VR headset cabling looks like a right faff.
I hope to add a motion platform to mine at some stage, but most likely something that'll just move the seat rather than the whole rig (they are circa £2k I think). I want something which is subtle but, effective and that I can integrate into my existing rig, rather than needing to replace it entirely.
Interesting. Have you got any links you can share of what you’re thinking of?I hope to add a motion platform to mine at some stage, but most likely something that'll just move the seat rather than the whole rig (they are circa £2k I think). I want something which is subtle but, effective and that I can integrate into my existing rig, rather than needing to replace it entirely.
Speckle said:
https://nextlevelracing.com/products/next-level-ra...
NLR V3 platform - been around the sim racing world for ages so, very well tried & tested.
If you want a properly in depth review, it has even been given the Sim Racing Garage treatment by Barry himself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL7r-MeWpFI&t=...
Great option. Which rig are you pairing it with?NLR V3 platform - been around the sim racing world for ages so, very well tried & tested.
If you want a properly in depth review, it has even been given the Sim Racing Garage treatment by Barry himself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL7r-MeWpFI&t=...
Morning All! The F1 sim rig continues to involve.
After 2 months with the Playseat F1 Ultimate, I came to the conclusion its shortfalls outweighed its benefits. Whilst seating position was spot on, it was a pain to get in and out off. It also had zero customisation potential!
Thankful to have found a buyer fairly swiftly which allowed me to upgrade to a Sim Lab P1X with their SF1 racing seat.
It took about a week to build and set up correctly but now that it’s up and running, it was certainly worth the effort. It’s built like a tank, offers all the upgrade potential you’d ever need and can be customised to the types of cars you sim race.
Next step is to add “motion”... debating actuators or next level racing’s offering. Any advice on this appreciated!
After 2 months with the Playseat F1 Ultimate, I came to the conclusion its shortfalls outweighed its benefits. Whilst seating position was spot on, it was a pain to get in and out off. It also had zero customisation potential!
Thankful to have found a buyer fairly swiftly which allowed me to upgrade to a Sim Lab P1X with their SF1 racing seat.
It took about a week to build and set up correctly but now that it’s up and running, it was certainly worth the effort. It’s built like a tank, offers all the upgrade potential you’d ever need and can be customised to the types of cars you sim race.
Next step is to add “motion”... debating actuators or next level racing’s offering. Any advice on this appreciated!
mattstr675 said:
Cracking setup.
Bit if we go back to the original post, first sentence, " Budget isn't huge..."
Would you say that's still the case?? Lol Serious man maths going on there.!
It’s a slippery slope but I hadn’t appreciated how realistic the likes of Assetto Corsa is with all of the relative mods and add ons. It really is amazingly immersive to the extent my poor classic car is gathering dust in the garage.Bit if we go back to the original post, first sentence, " Budget isn't huge..."
Would you say that's still the case?? Lol Serious man maths going on there.!
Also - building the rig itself is a lovely way to spend some spare time if you have some.
If you have a decent gaming PC already, an aluminium profile rig and some Fanatec equipment can be had for just over £1,000 if you buy well via the sim racing Facebook groups.
Speckle said:
Wow, your rig is really coming on. Personally, I visually prefer the P1, and it looks awesome in black!!
As for motion, I think it comes down to your budget more than anything. If you can stretch to actuators, I think you'll have a more realistic motion experience than with the NLR 'seat mover', simply because the wheel and pedals will be moving with you whereas with the NLR solution, they remain static.
I should say I have no direct experience of either.
I should stop looking at this thread, the mere mention of Heusinkveld pedals has me doing man maths again!!
Agreed. The dmotion actuators are the only motion system that is “FIA” approved and start at about £8,500.As for motion, I think it comes down to your budget more than anything. If you can stretch to actuators, I think you'll have a more realistic motion experience than with the NLR 'seat mover', simply because the wheel and pedals will be moving with you whereas with the NLR solution, they remain static.
I should say I have no direct experience of either.
I should stop looking at this thread, the mere mention of Heusinkveld pedals has me doing man maths again!!
However, for similar money, you can get the NLR motion platform and their traction plus system which adds in “yaw”.
I’m torn between the two. The NLR system is meant to be nearly silent which is a bonus and is pretty much plug and play with set game profiles for each sim.
Actuators “chirp” so can be a little noisy and from what I can gather need more fine tuning to set up right but maybe somebody with experience of the two can comment!
WhisperingWasp said:
So I’ve put my GT wheel on as I’ve found I much prefer driving the proper race cars.
I’m sure in old driving games I loved driving the road cars but nowadays I much prefer driving the LMP and open wheel cars. The biggest factor for how enjoyable the cars are seems to be the grip for me (downforce + tyres I guess). I wonder if it is because the game physics are much more realistic these days?!
What sort of cars do you lot most like driving and why?
All F1 - particularly 90s and the latest stuff.
Brakes, downforce, high RPMs, downforce the faster you go - all make for an incredible sim racing experience IMO.
RichTT said:
Yes I understand this might be the case. However not even having their base model in stock with no idea of when they will get more is a bit strange.
On another note, I ended up changing my mind after watching a half dozen review and comparison videos. I ended up just going for the Thrustmaster TMX PRO and the gearshift instead of the Logitech G923. I'm not expecting anything incredible from it but I know I could throw it up on eBay or gift it to someone without worrying about the cost too much.
Marginal utility on all the gear I have now was de minimus vs the step up from a game pad to my Thrustmaster wheel and pedals. I also find that when I’m immersed in iRacing, I don’t pay any attention to the rig I’m sat in - I’m just trying to win the race! On another note, I ended up changing my mind after watching a half dozen review and comparison videos. I ended up just going for the Thrustmaster TMX PRO and the gearshift instead of the Logitech G923. I'm not expecting anything incredible from it but I know I could throw it up on eBay or gift it to someone without worrying about the cost too much.
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