FAQ's
It's understandable that you have questions over how you'll go about building a Rival kit. It's a little daunting to purchase something without knowing what the process will be like. Hopefully, this will ease the confusion and should give you the confidence to go ahead.
What is Rival?
Put simply, Rival makes affordable, easy-to-build DIY sim racing gear you can download and build yourself.
Each DIY build will be supplied with the 3D printing files to print at home, a list of components (bill of materials) needed for each build, and comprehensive step-by-step instructions. If you'd like to see what each build would cost in full, just view the Rival Materials List, where you can price up each individual component before you spend a single penny.
Is this for me?
You should know that these products are aimed at those with a basic DIY knowledge, and are not plug-and-play kits. Hobbyists and those who dabble with electronics should feel right at home here. Those inexperienced with soldering could find building certain Rival products overwhelming, but it may not be as difficult as you think.
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For the most part, all you need are basic soldering skills and a screwdriver set.
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Technically you don't need a 3D printer as you can outsource the 3D parts to one of many printing services found online. It's still recommended to print parts at home to ensure you're getting the best quality (and best price) possible.
What tools do I need?
Screwdriver set
At minimum, a decent screwdriver set will be required (one similar to the iFixIt tool set would be ideal) as you'll be working with different sized bolts throughout the builds. Not only that, but these kits often include magnets and tweezers, which are invaluable for DIY projects.
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Soldering iron
Basic soldering skills are required for most of my builds. At very least, a soldering iron is required for brass inserts. While soldering can seem a touch daunting at first, it's a skill that you'll undoubtedly use throughout your life. Don't cheap out on a soldering iron (talking from experience here), and don't rush it. It'll save you time to take your time. Christ that's almost poetic.
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3D printer (not strictly required)
You can outsource the files to a 3D printing service who will happily print and send you the files you need. However, this will increase the price of the build. If you have your own printer, you'll want to get used to producing prints at home. I'd recommend matte black PLA for a more professional finish.
If you can understand that and have basic soldering skills, you'll be fine.
Are the instructions easy?
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I should hope so, it would do no one any good if I've made them difficult. It's worth keeping in mind that there are some assumptions made throughout the instructions that assume you have a decent knowledge of DIY. An example of this would be the instructions informing you to solder a wire onto a contact, or to install brass inserts into plastic. It won't instruct you on how to do these, as these are universal techniques that can be learned through a plethora of resources found online.
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Here's an example page taken out of the Rival Grip instructions:​
Do you offer physical kits/products?
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Not at this time. This was the original plan of Rival, but with limited resources it's hard to balance my full-time career and Rival, not considering life commitments. The time it would take to print and assemble kits would be far too much for me, and too expensive for you. I'd have to raise the price to make it worthwhile, in which case you could simply purchase an off-the-shelf product.
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However, depending on my position, I'd be happy to have a discussion with you if you're interested.
I have a question that's not listed!
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No problem! Just drop me a message via the 'Contact' page, and we'll chat. I'm always eager to help as and where I can, so feel free to get in touch.