Seat advice for hybrid sim rig (racing/flying)

[witwas]

I am building a new sim rig (simxpro XT120), goodbye to my 12 year old wooden rig!

It’s going to be a hybrid platform as I do both sim racing and sim flying (dcs). I am looking to buy a new seat but I would like it to be angle adjustable but also suitable for a center mounted joystick (with extension).

Does anybody have experience with a classic ‘bucket’ racing seat and center mounted joystick?

[Mr_sukebe]

Like this?

If so, what’s the question?

 

 

Edited May 2, 2024 by Mr_sukebe

[Hiob]

2 hours ago, witwas said:

I am building a new sim rig (simxpro XT120), goodbye to my 12 year old wooden rig!

It’s going to be a hybrid platform as I do both sim racing and sim flying (dcs). I am looking to buy a new seat but I would like it to be angle adjustable but also suitable for a center mounted joystick (with extension).

Does anybody have experience with a classic ‘bucket’ racing seat and center mounted joystick?

I wouldn't advise a bucket type seat when you have flying in mind - at least not if VR is a consideration.

I like car seats, that you can buy used (in varying conditions) for small amounts of money. (Not racing seats, just ordinary car seats). They often come with their rail mounts.

[Blackrat_UK]

I have tried to accomodate both, but there is always a compromise on either racing or flying in terms of cockpit setup. Unless you have a solid brake requiring lots of force then a solid bucket seat is not needed, you won't get thrown out and its really is just for the whole sim experience. I have had several including the Simxperience GS5 and none were good for flying unless you had a side stick, using a Simlab P1X rig.

I have given up on trying to be serious on both so switched to flight sims as my priority with the racing stuff in the cupboard for setting up as and when I need to, but that will be more than a 5 minute job switching out.

I bought a NLR flight seat with cut out that reclines, that would suit your itch for both I think, also Monstertech quick release for the centre stick is a God send. Just bear in mind there will be a compromise on one or the other.

Edited May 7, 2024 by Blackrat_UK

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

On 5/2/2024 at 4:29 PM, Hiob said:

I wouldn't advise a bucket type seat when you have flying in mind - at least not if VR is a consideration.

I like car seats, that you can buy used (in varying conditions) for small amounts of money. (Not racing seats, just ordinary car seats). They often come with their rail mounts.

why not? or you mean the high-end ones which have some kind of upper lateral head support and most likely interfere with the natural movement of the head during flying?
Also worth mention for used car seats, go to a junkyard a choose from the passenger seats, they usually have a lot of less miles than driver seats

[Hiob]

2 hours ago, Ala12Rv-Tundra said:

why not? or you mean the high-end ones which have some kind of upper lateral head support and most likely interfere with the natural movement of the head during flying?
Also worth mention for used car seats, go to a junkyard a choose from the passenger seats, they usually have a lot of less miles than driver seats

Yes, I mean the bucket type kind, which is very constraining for movement. In an aircraft corner forces are supposed to go through your vertical, side support isn‘t necessary there. Actually, unless you NEED side support (car racing) it is almost always in your way.

Passenger seats is great advice. When you’re lucky they are almost unused. I shot one that is almost in mint condition for 45 bucks.

[MAXsenna]

why not? or you mean the high-end ones which have some kind of upper lateral head support and most likely interfere with the natural movement of the head during flying?
Also worth mention for used car seats, go to a junkyard a choose from the passenger seats, they usually have a lot of less miles than driver seats

A bucket seat will interfere with your leg movement for the pedals. I have both types from Playseat. As for side support, that might be an issue in flightsims with VR.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[Hempstead]

43 minutes ago, MAXsenna said:

A bucket seat will interfere with your leg movement for the pedals. I have both types from Playseat. As for side support, that might be an issue in flightsims with VR.
Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk
 

I have a bucket seat... I kind of regret that... I am doing F-16 VR, and it kind of interferes with the arm movement when trying to access the rear side panels on both sides. Yet it doesn't interfere with pedals. However, the side support does have an advantage... when you use non-force-sensing sticks like the Warthog to take advantage of proprioceptive sensory in your arms, it serves as a support for your arm such that when you pull turns. It steadies your arm, instead of building an arm support of the F-16. It does interfere with my throttle movement in the rear section a bit, not much. And it's not like you use that section very often anyway other than in cold start, or parking.

 So, I guess it's ok to use a bucket seat. Just keep in mind that it does interfere a bit.

 

Also, keep in mind that... if you are trying to build a VR pit that has all the switches in the right place as in VR, you have to watch out for the width of the seat. Most of the car racing seats I can find online are too wide. They eat into your F-16 panel space. The only one I can find that is narrow enough happened to be a bucket seat, so.... And no thanks to suggestions of building a 1:1 very uncomfortable ejection seat. brrrr... no. Putting up with uncomfortable equipments is for young bucks... not for old farts.

[Richi]

Personally, I have a car seat and I am satisfied. The only problem is that the seats are designed to be installed in the car and it may be more difficult to build them somewhere else, or to add wheels to the seat. Skilled hands and a workshop with tools will be needed. However, if the first priority is not design, but comfort and longevity, there is probably nothing better or cheaper.

It will never become a showpiece of furniture, but if there are so many enemies flying around the sky, who cares.

Edited May 12, 2024 by Richi

[sirrah]

I'd say, nothing beats the satisfaction of designing/building your own playseat :

 

 

[Dogmanbird]

hi witwas

like others have mentioned above, i found a single setup too much of a compromise as well.

if you are keen on flying helicopters (may not be now, but might be in the future) a deep bucket / racing seat will likely make using collective very difficult or uncomfortable. 

for driving - if you are into drifting only, people seem to get by with a more lightly built sim-rig frame to cover both flying and drifting. If you are into rally / formula 1 and have a 5nm wheel base or greater with a realistic ffback setting, the lighter frames will flex and wiggle around a lot. I guess nothing's impossible to live with, but it does limit racing performance a bit, plus all the other flight sim stuff attached to frame ends up getting shaken about by the wheel.

the simxpro XT120 looks good / solid broad extrusion.  if you haven't already seen it, the gt-omega prime is an equivalent that might be a cheaper option in your area. Has similar fittings and extrusion sizes. 

edit - looks like both are similar price overall (with simpro's special deal) as prime includes the alloy pedal deck extrusions and seat rail mount extrusion etc.

Edited May 16, 2024 by Dogmanbird

[Dogmanbird]

On 5/15/2024 at 5:57 AM, sirrah said:

I'd say, nothing beats the satisfaction of designing/building your own playseat :

 

 

i like it