Finally, I think I might be somewhere near the rig I want... certainly I've run out of things I can stick to it.
Like one of those weird little crabs that stick things to themselves, this rig has just about all of it, sensible budget permitting.
I've posted a few times about the build, notably here for the main rig build: https://gtqld.blogspot.com/2021/01/new-sim-gear-trackracer-fanatec-tears.html
Since then I've been busy. Below is a bit of a breakdown on some of the additional stuff, and some learnings...
Steering wheel
The steering wheel is controversial to those that race GT3 exclusively and judge all other games by the one game they play with one car, on one track. Getting out and about means a variety of driving, and this is by far the most universal. Fanatec 918 rim mated to a DD1 25nm direct drive hub. I'd not go bigger, and I'd not go smaller either. Having that hub does mean you're somewhat aligned to that eco-system, and everyone loves to hate Fanatec - it's worked for me though. Setup is pretty straight forward and is only getting more complicated as per-car features are added to their config app.
No plans to change any of this.
Pedals
The pedals are Fanatec CSL Clubsport. They have load-cell, they are great. They're probably not the best, but then neither are the ones in either of my real cars. And all of them are mated to my feet, which are low spec at best. The rumble motors in them are crap. When they work they're OK, but very hit and miss as to when they'll do their thing.
Sparco Gear knob / Fanatec H pattern
This has been a love-hate relationship.
I'll start by saying the Sparco knob is excellent, and adds to the general feel. The shifter... I thought it was great until a little spongy bit inside it decided to fail.
Much upset, as it meant the shifter had no stiffness to it (it pushes a ball bearing into a race/holes to create clunk). So I bought a replacement, more on that below. But I did also pop to my local rubber store and buy a $5 bit of rubber that I fashioned into shape and fitted. I'd say it's better than it's ever been.
Still not a patch on the OB1 below, but I'll explain that next. The reason this stays is that it is slaved to the paddle shifters on the wheel - so I can sequential shift with this. That and some games (cough-PMR-cough) just don't get the second H pattern, so it does get used. Would I replace it? No, not without serious research for a sequential shifter mod for the Fanatec.
Gear lever(s)
I think technically I have x42 forward gears, 7x6 on the small forest of levers.
But no, what I have (in addition to Fanatec) is the Old Boy Simracing v1 shifter. For not a massive amount of cash. Here's an online review I did for someone looking to buy a new shifter:
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I had a Fanatec H pattern for a few years, thought it was pretty good actually. Then the bushing on the tension adjuster gave out. Epic slop.
Whilst pondering fixing it, I found the OBI shifter (https://oldboysimracing.com/), and it's much cheapness - so ordered it, complete with extra tension springs on the shifter.
To compare...
With the 'tough' springs in the shifter it's just not real. Many like the extra tension, but as a gear box user (as you are) you'd be horrified if you had a shifter that stiff. Luckily it's a fiddly session and they can be swapped out - in fact the whole unit is user serviceable which I like as a NB owner!
Post change, I love it. It's positive, but not over the top. No gate into reverse and the top plate acting as the guide is interesting - going from the Fanatec it's like going from a modern car to something proper retro.
Tension wise, with the basic springs I'd put it in-line with the NBmk2 gearbox (post refresh of bushings).
And that's a good thing. Early on I miss-shifted heaps - you really do have to concentrate on gear placement, no slamming it into gear (at least until you get your muscle memory sorted).
As to the Fanatec - I bought a tiny bit of rubber (<$5) and replaced it, making the shifter more solid than ever. But it still feels low spec compared to the OB1 in H mode.
Given a choice, what would I do the next time around... I think I'd buy a decent sequential, so long as I could slave it to the paddles on my Fanatec rim, and an OB1 shifter, not much doubt about that.
If you're wanting to be quick in the gears in an online race, it might not be right. If you want the satisfaction of a decent shift in something pre-80's racecar. The OB1 is a wise choice.
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Handbrake
I did have a Fanatec handbrake. But I'd never buy another...
Firstly, the cable/plug setup into the handbrake is terrible. I ended up building a bracket to stop the dog knocking it - but it was already fragile.
Secondly, it just wasn't great. With a potentiometer it really wasn't 'accurate' insofar as it just didn't react like a real handbrake at all.
Thirdly, it's mated to the same axis as the clutch (go figure) in the config/code of Fanatec. This means that in some games it just plain doesn't work. Thankfully most end up sorting it.
So I bought a cheap one off eBay, and then cut the handle off the Fanatec one (the one good bit about it) and bolted it to my cheapo. It's great, feels good, looks better than the Fanatec one and I would replace like for like again.
Button boxes
I think I've covered these before.
Top one is a home made setup, I like it, the project was great, but if I was doing it again I'd probably just buy one - it's not much more expensive once you buy all the gear. Does look good though.
The bottom one is the most scary bit of kit here - it's the panic shut off for the wheel. Why? because a 25nm wheel going nuts can break bones in fingers so I wanted something. But I didn't really like the panic button that Fanatec did.
A quick bit of research and I have a master toggle and a power button on the box, and I love it. The ceremony of firing up the rig is awesome to say the least. It would be great to slave the PC into button there, and not that hard, but maybe another time. Oh. and we don't talk about the wiring inside... lord no.
Flag box
Bought on a whim, but probably my least liked thing on the rig. It's fine, and it is handy to have an arrow for car right/left and also the immersion of the flags is cool. Just not really worth the effort. I may change it to a gear display as that's more handy for me at the moment.
Of all the gear on here, this is the one that shits itself the most, and it's damn bright when it does.
Dashboard
I love my dashboard. For years I've used the Sim Dashboard app from Stryder (https://www.stryder-it.de/simdashboard/index.php), and if you're using a console I'd still recommend it. In fact the only reason I moved away was the whole move to SimHib for rumble motor, flag box and Racelogic. Moving meant I could rationalise the apps and traffic relating to this data.
I ended up using this comprehensive dashboard for just about everything, it can be found
here: https://github.com/thekingm249/AIO-DASHBOARD?tab=readme-ov-file
RaceLogic
A frivolous purchase maybe, but this isn't the $1.5k version, this is from AliExpress, and was more like $250 at most. At first I didn't rate it, but I've moved it to under the dashboard, and have buttons (see below) to change screens etc. And it's great. a nice little +1 is when you complete a lap, it appears to flick across to the main dashboard - it doesn't, but it looks like it does, all in the timing!
Rumble motor
Probably one of the better things to have done to my rig. Certainly for the price. Only issue is how it loses it's default device in SimHub on a major windows update. That's to do with my PC though, so can't really complain.
See below for the build blog posts on what I did.
Amplifier (for the rumble motor)
Including here as totally chuffed with fitting it. It's in the blog below, but look at it....!
Read all about it, here: https://gtqld.blogspot.com/2023/09/kick-ass-pt1.html
And here: https://gtqld.blogspot.com/2023/12/kick-ass-pt2.html
Control box / car computer
This is my most recent purchase, a Ulanzi stream controller. No, not about to go streaming. But what you can do it program the buttons to do a myriad of things.
For now I've got basic buttons to replicate the computer buttons in AMS2 (and a few other games), and it's great. It has the capacity to be very useful indeed - if only the editing software wasn't so pants. Handy bit of kit though.
The result
Overall, it all adds up to a pretty engaging setup.
What would I do again...
- I'd do Fanatec Wheel/Base/Pedals again - I'd look about, but out of the box they're great.
- I'd not do the Fanatec H pattern again unless no option with the sequential.
- The Fanatec handbrake, nope. In the bin!
- OB1 Shifter, yep, for the price it is great.
- Flag Box, as it's configured, no... maybe as a gear indicator.
- Button boxes, for sure, but I'd probably buy.
- RaceLogic, I actually would, it's a cool gadget.
- Dashboard, I would and I have, when this one packed up, bought a new android tablet ASAP.
Not covered here is the monitor, I like the wide screen, but not too wide and I'm happy it's flat too. With this setup I get to experience the racing with a good FoV but don't have to mess with perspective, triples and the likes.
No plans for VR, at least until I've had a decent trial of someone else's.
What's next? Not sure really. The setup really is as complex as it needs to be, and I think now time to just get on and enjoy, maybe tweak a few bits and bobs in layout.
Cost? who knows.. it wasn't cheap, but it also is around six years of build.
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