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Ghost- if whatever panels you have on that center table were replaced by a keyboard and mouse, would each be within comfortable reach of your arms for typing and mouse use from where you are sitting? It looks kind of far away.

Well, what you don't see in my latest configuration picture is the DT225 on the right, where some would have their joystick. I've always flown with a center stick and a side stick just feels weird to me. Anywho, my keyboard is wireless and I can place it over the MFPs and XKeys, or in my lap, simple. I have been thinking about one last mod though. A pull out from under my MFPs and XKeys for my keyboard. All I'd have to do is lower my FighterStick to move it in and out. When I want to fly, shove it in and put the FighterStick into place. Probably would take about, oh 5-10 seconds, if that.

I am a stickler for neatness and cable routing can be fun so here's what I did...

Mine is setup with that approach. I use the Plexiglas tabletop for flying, driving and shooters. I take the keyboard tray off and drop the arm with the flight throttle into the mounting bracket that attached the keyboard.

I still need to show my final setup and how they switch between configurations. The article is coming, I just had to resolve a couple of issues I had with the monitor(s) that had nothing to do with the Obutto.

Keep in mind the chair is adjustable on the rails forward and backwards, and the slant is adjustable so you can literally laydown in the chair or sit straight upright.

Also, the keyboard is adjustable up/down, forward/backward depending where the mount is on the side rail.

Just a clarification... it's an 'either / or' arrangement with the rotating keyboard tray and the joystick mount for a particular side, is it not? You can't have both the keyboard tray and the joystick / throttle mounted at the same time on the same side?

I'm looking at either the this cockpit or the PlaySeat flight sim variant. Cost is similar. The Playseat doesn't have the plexiglass table top option, however. I'm not too keen on hitting a new toy with a drill press just to mount it, but it's hard to argue with the price. Will the bottom section with the angled board fit the Saitek Combat Pedals?

And lastly... does ditching the monitor framework impact how the rest of it goes together, particularly the plexi table? My monitor is attached to the wall via an Ergotron arm and I'm very happy with that, so I'll not be using even the single monitor mount.

Yes, you can use the keyboard tray and the HOTAS together, but I haven't figured a way to use the Plexiglas tabletop with the keyboard tray and the HOTAS. I am using the Plex, the keyboard tray and the G27 wheel together for racing and for shooters. I just leave the wheel on the edge of the

My two cents. Obutto is much better than the Playseat. The Playseat is nice, but the Obutto is short on sizzle and makes up for it with steak. Playseat uses some flashiness, but it is not built as durable as the Obutto. Again, my opinion and I'm sure there are those who will disagree.

Something I was going to do for the next article...a flow diagram showing what works with what out of the box(es), and what you can custom fabricate.

First question to ask yourself... will I use this for flight, racing or shooters? Or what percentage of each? Ghost is a flier primarily and only occasionally drives or plays shooters. I tend to do all three but favor racing. Ghost's setup reflects his emphasis on flight. While his setup is super, it wouldn't work as well for me.

Because the Obutto has such as strong base to start from, using some creativity, taking some time to think through what you want it to do, and some handiness with a drill and screwdriver, provides a multitude of configurations.

Thanks, guod

Yep, thanks. Good information! I'd prefer to support Obutto, but I'm not sure it's going to work out as well as the Playseat + an Ergotron keyboard arm. Cost would be about the same. All things being equal I'd definitely get the Obutto. Bonus check in March, and while most goes to pay bills I get to keep out a chunk for toys, and this is the top issue. I really look forward to your follow up article!

Another view...

Thanks for posting the images, Ghost. In looking at that last one, it doesn't look like there's enough clearance between the forward pipes to put any pedals in that are wider than the very narrow CH gear. I'm thinking it's going to take significant modification to fit Saitek or Simped models.

I'll do some measuring fore and aft as well as port and starboard and report back...

Hey fellas, just wanted to chime in on a couple of the questions asked. Also, thanks for the kind words mentioned

1) yes you can run a throttle & the keyboard tray at the same time on the left as they have their own mounting posts. In order to rotate the keyboard tray back in front of you though you would have to loosen the plastic knob on the throttle mounting post and pull the throttle out (while attached to the mount) and lay it next to ya. Of course if you fly centre stick then just put the keyboard tray on the right and then you can just pull your stick/mount. Pulling either of those mounts takes 5 or so seconds....nothing really.

2) The Acrylic tabletop can be mounted with just some heavy duty velcro as it will attach to the top of the steering wheel/yoke mount. If you race then you just mount your steering wheel to the mount normally while sandwiching the acrylic in between. Some of our customers who leave their steering wheels on there all the time just use the force of the steering wheel clamp to hold the acrylic in place but I recommend at least using some velcro or heavy duty double sided tape.

3) Re Saitek Combat rudder pedals, I looked at the measurements recently and as long as you set them on the pedal tray behind the steering wheel/yoke mounting posts then they should fit and clear all the tubing. If you set them on the floor then you may have clearance probs with the bottom side tubing as the widest measurement of the pedals is nearly the same as the width of space between the side tubing.

4) Re shooters, general computer use, I ditched my desk 5yrs ago after making the first OBUTTO. I mainly play shooters as well, used to be a Day of Defeat nutter, and have been playing alot of BC2 Vietnam lately since Valve killed my game lol!! Every day I spend around 10+ hrs working & killing in my cockpit....prob 50% of the time killing heh! Here is a link to a vid I put on youtube showing how comfy it is playing BC2....sry it cannot be seen if you are outside of the US, but the 2nd link is to a China site with the same vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jez-EKgmOoo

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjAyMjg5NzA4.html

The cockpit puts you in a very ergonomic position, keyboard is low just above your lap so your forearms are parallel to the ground, feet are raised as they are sitting on the pedal tray, underside of your upper arms are supported by the seatback side bolsters so need for armrests. With that said it is very different from sitting at a desk, and may take a bit of time to get used to it, but I'm very confident you will find it FAR better and more comfortable than any desk for computer use.

As guod or Ghost mentioned it really comes down to what games you play as to how you setup your cockpit. It is configurable in many ways outta the box and you just need to figure out what works for ya best. All the mounts can be placed on either side of the seat and if you just fly with sticks then you can even insert your steering wheel mount upside down to have a nice flat mounting face for panels, etc. Both of these guys are great examples of what can be done with the cockpit

Looking forward to your follow up guod

I wouldn't say my MFPs and XKeys were out of reach or hard to get to...

My new setup below is using my G940 "franken-pedals" (see the post in the Controllers forum if you have any questions) and they fit just fine with the platform on:






Some FYIs

1.) I use my Obutto as a desk as well...works pretty good, but I may still mod an under table pull out shelf. Overall I love it!

2.) Thanks Ghost for some of the ideas from your posts...you can see in these shots I borrowed heavily from your cable management ideas.

3.) The Warthog joystick is bolted down. The throttle is secured using nylon ties sandwiched between the two base plates and then secured around the base itself.





Finally, those are 27" Viewsonic monitors on the triple mount. The sense of immersion has to be experienced to be understood. For the record, I actually got motion sickness playing Flaming Cliffs 2 last night and using the TrackIR. :-D

Welcome to the Obutto Gaming Cockpit Club Hoplite!

Your setup is super.

Worked some more on mine tonight, now I just have one thing left to resolve... mounting the secondary monitor.

Nicely done there Hoplite! Now all ya gatta do is get the CPU off the floor. There's lots o' dust and dirt down there. That's why I put mine onto a shelf behind the monitor.

good stuff, guys. thanks.

Wooohooo

Just got an email from Getgadget.ca : my Obutto has shipped !

It's somewhere between Alberta and Quebec right now

Of course, this being Purolator, 2 days after shipment all the tracking says is "picked up at Gatgadget"... Based on previous experience, the tracking info will probably be updated after the package is delivered

One of these days I hope to have one, until then.