EDUARDO LUQUE

Independent design + build project

From a sketch
to a working racing simulator.

I transformed a personal interest in Formula 1 into a complete ten-month project involving research, planning, budgeting, fabrication, systems integration, testing, and continuous improvement.

Explore the process Watch the first test
10Months
01Designer + builder
~$700Estimated budget
2015—16Project timeline
01 — OVERVIEW

A personal project managed like a real operation.

The objective was clear: build a solid, functional, visually convincing simulator within a limited budget and a small apartment workspace. I owned every stage—from early references and technical research to material sourcing, fabrication, assembly, electronics, finishing, and testing.

The finished simulator is the outcome, but the real value is the process: defining constraints, finding resources, solving problems, and carrying a complex idea through completion.

ResearchDesignBuildIntegrateTestImprove
02 — PROCESS

The build, stage by stage.

Original project photography, July 2015 through May 2016.

01

Research + definition

Turning inspiration into measurable requirements.

I studied Formula-style cockpit proportions, seating position, component placement, and visual references. I also used the FIA's 2015 Formula One Technical Regulations as a dimensional and technical reference, then adapted those requirements to a simulator I could realistically fabricate.

  • Reviewed the 2015 Formula One Technical Regulations
  • Defined ergonomic and workspace constraints
  • Compared materials, cost, and fabrication methods

The FIA regulations were used as a design reference; the simulator was not built or represented as an FIA-compliant competition car. Some items visible in the research wall are third-party reference images used only for inspiration.

02

Digital planning

From hand sketches to plans and a 3D model.

I used Adobe Illustrator to create dimensional drawings and Blender to model the body in three dimensions. The 2015 technical regulations informed the proportions and dimensional decisions, while the digital work helped me test and adapt them before committing materials and time to fabrication.

Adobe IllustratorBlender3D Modeling
03

Fabrication + assembly

A strong structure designed for an apartment build.

The internal frame combines 90-degree aluminum angle with plywood panels. I joined the St. Louis Woodworkers Guild to access a table saw for accurate cuts, then fabricated and assembled the simulator myself in my apartment.

  • Cut and riveted the aluminum structure
  • Measured and cut plywood body panels
  • Integrated the seat, wheel, and original pedal system
04

Bodywork + finish

Shaping a functional frame into a cohesive final form.

Foam and automotive body filler helped create transitions and details that flat panels could not provide. Repeated shaping, sanding, priming, and painting converted the rough shell into the final silver-and-black body.

Foam shapingBondoOrbital sandingPainting
03 — SYSTEMS INTEGRATION

Engineering a more realistic pedal system.

The most technical modification combined real automotive controls with the electronics of the original simulator hardware.

03

Mechanical. Hydraulic. Electronic.

The Thrustmaster T300 set originally used plastic pedals. I retained its internal potentiometers, mounted real automotive/racing pedals to a metal base, and designed the linkages needed for the new controls to communicate with the original electronics. The brake uses a master cylinder and brake fluid to create a more realistic system.

04 — CONSTRAINTS + DECISIONS

Three problems that shaped the project.

01

Structure versus budget

Fiberglass was suggested, but it was expensive and unsuitable for an apartment workspace.

Decision

I developed a hybrid aluminum-angle and plywood structure that was strong, affordable, and practical to fabricate.

02

Accurate fabrication

Large plywood panels could not be cut accurately enough with the handheld tools available to me.

Decision

I found and joined the St. Louis Woodworkers Guild to access the right workshop and table saw.

03

Component compatibility

Real pedals were mechanically different from the plastic controls and original electronic sensors.

Decision

I designed, wired, calibrated, and tested a custom interface using the original potentiometers.

05 — FINAL RESULT

Built, tested, and continuously improved.

Before painting, I completed a functional test to evaluate stability, ergonomics, wheel and pedal placement, and system operation. The final stage added the paint system, graphic treatment, custom pedals, and additional refinements.

Watch “Testing my F1 Simulator!”
06 — PROFESSIONAL RELEVANCE

The same mindset required in event operations.

This project required me to coordinate many moving parts under real limits of time, budget, space, materials, and technical compatibility. That experience connects directly with the planning, adaptability, precision, and hands-on problem-solving required to execute major sporting events.

Project planningTechnical researchBudget awarenessMaterial sourcing3D modelingFabricationSystems integrationDocumentationTesting + iterationProblem-solving

About the builder

Eduardo Luque

I am an M.S. Sport Administration candidate at St. Thomas University, a former NCAA Division I tennis athlete, and a bilingual operations professional based in Miami. My background combines competitive sports, technology, analysis, coaching, and project execution. I am especially interested in event operations, logistics, guest experience, and major international sporting events.

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