Sim Dome (rear-projection on GOO-paint)

I got the dome from www.cleardome.com and after cutting it in half I ended up with two 38dia. x 19 high it seemed like a good compromise between the total FOV and the available space I have.
Using the GOO Paint a sprayed the dome and tried the result by holding it up to my HT PJ and watching images from a Blue Ray DVD the results were better than expected.
After I mount and test this front screen the next step will be to install the rear part of the screen. I was planning to using a 1/4” or less thick sheet of acrylic curved over my head the same height as the front dome and extending back over my head (36” total length should do it then again using Goo screen paint this will give me the option later to add two more PJ’s for the side view.
The idea is to encapsulate the driver for a feeling of total emersion; the big idea will be to add two more PJ’s with 3D but as I said that is down the road, as it is cost prohibitive right now.
The 8020 Extrusions were purchased on fleabay and copying the Frex set up, I hope to attach an actuator to lift and lower the dome. (Although I am still trying to figure out how to simplify the hinge part of the equation) I am trying to achieve this with the minimum amount of parts and wires
The attached photos are from me getting the dome and the work done so far they are rather crappy due to the fact I took them on my mobile I will have better photos in a few days.

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

Looks very promissing :clap: :yes: :cheer:

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

It’s working? :yippiee: :clap: :highfive: : Not perfect but better than expected and beter than all my other ideas.

It needs some tweaking but this is the way to go for that immersion factor! And I say that as after the single 28 Screen, the triple 28 Screens, the three styles of curved screens....... I think I have exhausted most options.

I am trying to upload a short video on Youtube and it should be ready (Hopefully no errors in 245mins)
I will go into more detail once the video is published but I am very excited about this project…. and 3D for Christmas if the Grinch/ Santa/Wife agrees to buy me shutter glasses!!!!!!!!!!!! and I get the TrackIR working.

I could however just buy a race car for the money this has cost me.

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

Can't wait to see the video :clap:.

How is the quality of the image? Is it a bit like your tripple 28 setup or is it pixelated?

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3r9tECG7ZA

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

Really cool experiment 8) I've been visiting these forums for the last months just for this topic. (I'm more of a silent reader)
A little more them a month ago (after reading your post) I contacted a local dealer of acrylic domes just to get my own price estimate.
They didn't really understand what I was going to do with it but she just gave me a guesstimate of about 400,00 euro, they could even cut the dome perfectly and spray paint the dome for me (for extra charge of course), I unfortunately don't have that kind of money laying at the moment because I just bought my aluminum profile cockpit but seeing your movie it already show for me that this is the way to go if I want maximum immersion factor. So thanks for investing so much time and money of course :adore:

Grtz. Katsu
(I'm located in The Netherlands by the way, for anyone looking for a local dome supplier in that area, just send me a PM.)

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

another video of the screen in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT4g7zZOl5I

Any one wanna buy the other half?

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

Well done on this amazing project! You've certainly come a long way from the triple screen display and I agree that the dome is just in a league of its own. I would be very interested in your other half cut as I'd like to try the same thing but I do have a few questions if you don't mind? How do you plan on getting rid of the slight distortion on the far edges of the dome, and are you running Sol7 or Nthusim? Do you think running 2-3 Projectors would get rid of the distortion or do you think the dome is too small for this? Also, what is the sharpness of the picture like?

Once again well done and keep up the good work!

Julian

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

Is the dome too small? Great question, I have used it for a few weeks and think I WANT BIGGER!
I used to have a 96 X 36 curved screen and that is big but still it looked small after a week or two.
I guess it is all down to the driver preference, the size I have now works great and leaves the option of adding the overhead enclosure but do I want a bigger dome ......yep

I am working with a company out of Texas for a P95 Acrylic (this will not need painting) 60 X 30 Dome then with the concept of adding a overhead cockpit and two more beamers, I think this will be big enough, for a few weeks. As a side note, they will cut the dome in half so I am looking for a partner to take the other half any takers???? just 50% of the cost of the dome and shipping to your place.

The distortion on the edges it dealt with using Nthusim, I have thread running on that site regarding the issues of getting an acceptable image, as it is a challenge due to the exreem shape.
Then once you have warped the hell out of the image foe the dome the image on the monitor is useless due to the extreem distortion.
I am hoping for a response from the R&D at Nthusim on how to just get the correction on one screen and leave the other (Monitor) unaffected

The trailing edges of the image are the hardest as one the projector cannot project around the dome to the bottom corners edges, yes two PJs will work much better but you can live with one as the Image spread is good over 95% of the dome.

There is no issue with sharpness, it is not LCD crisp but as good as any projected image you can get, due to the short throw distance from the PJ to the dome surface.

I have asked Santa (the wife) for a second PJ but listening to the arguments I do not know if it is worth it.

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

I've have a good look at the Frex canopy and I think the main difference is that yours is a perfect 1/4 shape sphere. What if you could get a bigger radius'd shper/dome, yet cut both higher than the horizontal line of symmetry, and further forwards from the vertical line of symmetry, that way you would not have those extreme angles at both corners? I think if we could find a large enough dome to be able to cut it in this way and still have a 1 metre wide section, we'd end up with a screen which is a lot easier to project onto, and not lose any of the immersion effects?

Also, would one be able to go for a 2 projector set up without the draw back of an annoying blend line in the centre of the dome? I'm currently looking for a PJ and deciding what arrangement to go for. I had a look for the panasonic AE 900U but can't find it anywhere as it says they've been discontinued. Alternatively, I've found a Mitsubishi HC3800 which seems good, what do you think?

Cheers

Julian

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

hi
i have a dom to (64inch)and i have test with 3 projektor and nthusim is works
fine but you have problems with the hotspots.now i work with a corved mirror but my room is to small for perfect i only have 80% picture on the dom but the sharpness on the side is many better.

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

I had the 900U the throw was not short enough for me, look at the Optoma Gametime it has an ultra short throw that’s the one I am using.

Only drawback is it does not have a zoom so it is a bitch trying to position it, if you have a 1' space to move the sim back and forth it makes a big difference in the image size so the position of the beamer is not as critical.
I have a movable dome I installed some linier 8020 hardware on the steering table that also supports the dome and I can move it back and forth but saying that you need your head in the dome for the immersion factor
www.projectorcentral.com is a good resource

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

Hey Nima
Got any video?

Have you thought about adding an acrylic sheet over the driver to form an encapsulated cockpit (like the ShigeT set up)
Then butt it up to the dome use the 3-beamer concept to hit all three sides
My idea was to just bend a 1/8 acrylic sheet either P95 or clear with goo paint

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

hi,
i must make a video.i have a short distance beamer (nec wt600) but is not good work on my dome with a shorter dom hi work better.

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

In my early attempts I also tried and NEC 500WS the image was terrible heavy screen door effect the Optoma Gametime is leap and bounds over the NEC

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

Yes your idea will work and defiantly be easier to project onto but my ultimate goal is to add a canopy over the drivers head (as in the Frex set up). But to do this I need the dome to be at 90 degrees at the leading edge otherwise I will not be able to create the join between the canopy and dome.

For now if I do get a second beamer I do not know how a duel PJ setup works as far as the games graphics and settings go, for instance rFactor if I use two beamers do I just need to adjust the FOV in the config file to extend the view out to the side (As you would see if you used the look left or right command)?
Do I have to use a T2G or can I just use the dual monitor output from my card.

Re: Rear Projection and a Curved Screen

Can a mod move this thread to Motion Sim Projects?

Dome topic splitted off, and both threads moved to DIY peripherals.

Awesome result with that dome :clap:
I am looking forward to see an additional video in cockpit view.
Would be great if you could place a little light source behind the seat next time, in order to be able to see the entire simulator working in the video.

Regards

Hi Nima,

ich kann das Bild nicht anklicken und vergrößern?