Home curved sim build (In planning phase)

[Ryan5508]

I decided to start a build log for my home simulator project. This will follow the process from start to finish.

Currently we are getting quotes from three builders on the build. We are doing a major home remodel with the addition of building a new room for the simulator. Currently my sim is using a stall in the garage. We will be building a new room above the garage to accommodate the sim.

The room will be approximately 21' 6" by 25' 3" with a 10-12' ceiling.

I will be putting in a 30' curved screen that will occupy around half of the total usable space in the room.

From the garage I will only be carrying over the GC2 and pc/software. Everything else will be new to the build.

Estimating around $60k for the building of the room its self.

Run down of simulator related costs- $17,528.79

9' x 6' Studio Golf Mat	$1,749.99
IMPACT SCREENS 10 x 30	$1,966.24
Sony VPL-PHZ50 (need 3 @ $2499)	$7,950.00
Pixelwarp software for curved screen	$812.00
Putting green flooring	$1,500.00
Ceiling protection foam tiles	$533.38
Ceiling Speakers x 7 + sub	$581.94
200ft speaker wire	$66.34
Banna plugs (12+6)	$43.71
Subwoofer cable	$16.94
Hue lights x 9	$429.25
Fabric + foam	$418.00
Pub table sets (2x)	$712.30
Mobile Standing Laptop Desk	$185.49
Club cleaner	$49.41
Corsair k100 keybord	$243.79
3x projector mounts	$85.73
3x 50ft HDMI cables	$94.25
2x DVI to HDMI converters	$38.13
2x 16ft USB 3.0 cables	$51.90
Total -	$17,528.79

Current sim setup


room overview

Measurements from a local golf club with a curved screen (taken quickly with a laser measure)




Model of what I am looking to copy for my build




This is going to be a long project. We are currently looking at a start time of early spring.

[GungHoGolf]

Thanks for sharing! Will be following your progress, good luck!

[RAH5]

Looks awesome - good luck with it!

Is there particular sim software you have to run to do a curved/multi-projector setup? How does that work?

[Ryan5508]

Anything should work. The warp software will fix the aspect ratio and blend the overlap of the projectors. There is 6-8ft of overlap onto the center projector.

I will be running fsx and tgc.


It should also work great for Microsoft flight simulator and racing games.

[Th3m1lkm0n5t3r]

What PC/GPU are you going to be using for this? Each of those projectors are 4K, gonna have to be beefy (not that should be an issue considering your budget). Also, have you considered an overhead launch monitor to keep it ultra clean? You could sell the GC2 and almost have enough for a Uneekor Eye XO.

Regardless, this is going to be insane - can't wait to see the completed build.

[Ryan5508]

It will be on a i7 6700k, 32g ram, and a 3080. I plan on moving everything from the old pc my sim uses to my gaming pc since it will be in the house now.

I want to eventually get an overhead sensor. I do plan on building in all the power and wiring for one in the future. I will start with the gc2 and change down the road once everything is built and operating.

[Th3m1lkm0n5t3r]

nice, top of the line!

[Ryan5508]

we have our second builder stopping by today to look at the house and get us a rough quote for everything. Looking like the build will start in early spring. They have to tear down part of my garage and rebuild everything back up.

[leibin]

I’m fixing to something like this on a smaller scale . I just found the pixelwarp software and I plan to use only one projector as my screen is going to be about 14’ x 10’ (picture will be 14’ wide on the curve and ~8’ high. Was the reason you went for a higher version/cost for that software to drive multiple projectors? I’m hoping to get away with the $399 version. I might need to reach out to them as I’d like to demo that software quick. That build of yours will be amazing, btw!

[Ryan5508]

I just choose it for budgeting reasons. I planned on reaching out before I purchased to see what version fit my needs better.

I also started test building a 30' curved hanging frame. I think it will work but don't want to start drilling holes into it yet to hang it.

We are waiting on three builders to come back with their quotes currently.

[leibin]

Curious how you are building the frame - my initial findings for my smaller screen is abs rods on the curve but they’re expensive.  Thinking of some metal work...

[Ryan5508]

I am using three 10' pieces of the grey colored PVC pipe 1.25". couplings glued between each of them. It is solid and has enough flex to make the proper turn. After I have the ceiling in place I will drill holes were it lines up with the studs and bolt it down with spacers between it and the ceiling. Did something similar in the garage before using eye bolts and could pull everything down easy.

The 10' pipes are under $8 each.

[leibin]

Thanks for that - cheap enough to give it a try!

[Ryan5508]

My foam for around the screen arrived today. Have material to cover it as well. Triangle for under the screen and rectangle for sides. Undesided on what I will do for the top of the screen currently.

[JayBrd85]

Where did you order that foam from? I struggled to find exactly what i wanted and ordered a piece from Amazon. Ended up having to cut a 24"x60"x3" piece into 3 strips, each 8" tall and then gorilla-taped the hell out of them in place at the bottom of the screen. It looks OK, but I could have done a better job.

[Ryan5508]

https://foamonline.com

it was about a 2-3 week turn around from the time I ordered it

[leibin]

I’m in process of building mine now. Just got the false floor in and the grass down. Screen frame should be up in the next couple of days. Went with 1” emt and got a hydraulic tube bender from harbor freight. I’ll post some pics soon. I also got a demo of the warp and blend software, so I’ll know if the $399 version of that software works and how well it works soon. Super stoked!

[Ryan5508]

let me know how the software works out for you. You are way ahead of me on your project.

[Ryan5508]

I am 2 weeks past due for my build quotes from two different builders. Now we are bringing in a forth to look at everything.

Getting a builder in my area is a joke right now. Everyone only wants to do new builds.

[leibin]

Here are some pics on the build. Finally got the screen hung up enough to test out the pixelwarp. Looks like it will work, so I ordered the $399 version. I'm still playing with it as the projector appears to need mounted further back by a couple of feet than it was when the screen was flat. I'm hoping to get it dialed in after work in a bit.

(edit) Finally got it working. It kept dropping the picture back to 'non-warped' mode when I went full screen in youtube and when I would try to launch TGC2019, it would crash when starting a game or trying to change settings. Finally found a setting which was something along the lines of keeping the warp during full screen. Strange it wouldn't be on by default, but it does work. Now I have a bit more reason to get the sim back in action!

Sucks you have to wait for a builder, but when you need an addition added, hard to diy that. As I'm in my side garage, I'm on my own - a bit more work (more time, I should say) than expected, but it's finally turning the corner a bit

Pics include the raised floor to both level the surface and to put in the diy divot action. Screen frame is all 1" EMT as stated above using the tent connectors to put it together. More to come, hope to be much closer to game time by the end of the weekend!

[Ryan5508]

nice job! glad the cheaper one is working out.

The new builders we talked to said they are getting 50+ inquires a week for remodels. So we think our first three builders decided our job was to much work and moved on without telling us. At this rate the garage may just be getting an update.

[Ryan5508]

Uneekor Eye XO is ordered. Friend is taking over my GC2 setup for his new garage build.

Builder came over to go over finer details. Part of this project is to replace all the wood work and flooring in the entire house. Sound like we can possibly start in a month or so. He is estimating 4 months for everything we want.

[Ryan5508]

Testing aim able spot lights and think I found a winner. can also be dimmed if needed.