Want to build your own RS500 Thrusmaster driving cockpit? Now you can have a complete set of instructions and cutting templates and build your own. Best of all, you can customize it with your own graphics and modify it to mount your own gear.
The RS500 Thrusmaster cockpit is a CAD-designed sim-racing cockpit built from wood, but with the quality and design features of commercial rigs. The RS500 Thrusmaster cockpit is a simplified version of our Cheetah series of racing simulators and is designed to be easy to build with common woodworking tools. The RS500 is a "2-post" design, meaning there are no supports between the driver's legs that can interfere with proper heel-toe driving. Also, the RS500 allows the driver to easily get in from the side like in a street car. There is no climbing necessary as with other racing simulators.
The RS500 can be slid in front of a TV or the built-in monitor deck can support a monitor or flat-screen TV up to 40 inches. The latest revision now includes a template for adding monitor support to the chassis which permits a TV or monitor to be mounted at eye level by using a wall mount bracket wall mount bracket (available here). The RS500 Thrusmaster cockpit has plenty of room underneath the platform to house surge suppressors, power supplies, even a tactile shaker (available here), and its amplifier. The RS500 is designed to be used with the Thrustmaster T500RS, TS-PC, TS-XW, T-GT, T300, and TX wheels and pedal sets, and will invert mount the T3PA and T3PA-PRO pedals and the TH8RS and TH8A shifters. Also, the RS500 is already set up to mount the Thrustmaster pedals in an inverted arrangement. The inverted position is preferred over the factory arrangement because it mimics real street cars. Note: The Thrustmaster pedals will have to be partially disassembled in order to mount the pedals inverted. No permanent damage is done by dismantling the pedals and they can always be reassembled if they are later to be removed from the RS500. Only the 3-pedal set can be inverted, the 2-pedal sets shipped with the T300RS/GTE and the TX wheels can only be used while lying on the floor and cannot be inverted.
You will have to provide your own seat for this DIY RS500 Thrusmaster cockpit. You can purchase a racing seat for an authentic look or you can get an OEM automotive seat from a salvage yard. The OEM seat is often a better choice because they are more comfortable, are upholstered with better breathing materials (cloth or leather), often has more adjustability, and are typically less expensive. Most junkyards want top dollar for a matching pair of front seats, but when only a single seat is sellable, you can get a great bargain. Remember, you don't really need the driver's seat from the car, the passenger seat will suffice.
This revision of the plans includes the ability to build the racing cockpit in multiple sizes to accommodate almost any size driver, a revised 39-page B/W instruction manual with additional detailed drawings of each step, and even more photographs detailing the various steps in the process. It also has full-size cutting templates for cutting out all the components. The templates arrive to you in full size in an oversized envelope. You simply cut out the paper template and stick it on the wood, then simply cut on the dotted lines. Despite the sleek styling of the RS500, the cutting pattern has been designed to be easy to follow with a basic jigsaw and circular saw. We do not offer downloadable files because printing them to scale is critical and pre-printing avoids errors. The plans are copyrighted and licensed for personal use only. The completed or partially completed RS500 chassis is not permitted to be sold, resold, distributed, mass-produced, or used in any commercial fashion. The plans may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner. This item is not returnable.
