DIY: Simulator Game Chair

Cut two 6-foot-long 2-by-4-inch boards and set them parallel on a 2-inch edge, about 3 feet apart.

Cut three 3-foot-long 2-by-4s and set them perpendicularly between the long 2-by-4s at each end and in the middle. Nail the boards together to complete the support frame.

Cut a sheet of plywood to be 6-by-3.25 feet. Lay the plywood on top of the support frame and nail it to the boards to complete the game chair base.

Set the car seat on top of the plywood base, center it about 8 inches from one end and mark where the holes on the chair's bottom rails go. You can get a car seat at an auto store or use an old one. Make sure it has the sliding rails on the bottom that allow it to be adjustable.

Drill holes where you marked them and secure the chair to the base with bolts, washers and nuts according to any instructions that came with the chair. Make sure it slides smoothly on the rails.

Cut a 1-by-1-foot sheet of plywood and cut a 1-foot-long 2-by-4. Center the 2-by-4 board parallel and flush on the end of the plywood base opposite the chair. Stand it on its 2-inch edge and nail it into the base. Lean the 1-foot-square plywood board on the 2-by-4's top edge, and nail it to the 2-by-4 and to the plywood base to form the foot pedal support.

Cut three sheets of 3.25-by-1-foot plywood. Sit in the seat and stand two plywood sheets vertically on either side of the chair base. Have an assistant help you determine what is the best position for the sheets, which will be the supports for the control desktop. Mark the position and nail the two sheets to either side of the base.

Lay the third plywood sheet on top of the supports to form the desktop, and then screw two hinges onto the left side of the desktop and to the left support. The desktop should fold flat against the outside of the left side support.

Cut a 2.5-foot-long 2-by-4 and a 4-inch square plywood sheet. Nail the plywood centered on one end of the 2-by-4 to form the joystick support. Sit in the chair and set the board vertically between your legs in a comfortable position for joystick use. Mark the best position on the chair base.

Screw two hinges into the chair base and the left side of the joystick support. The support should fold neatly against the base when it is not needed.