Fan builds SimStarr motion rig from salvaged VR-ride parts

The rig is called the SimStarr, built by a hobbyist who goes by CMDR Wacko. He sold a model of the time‑travelling Delorean from Back to the Future and used the proceeds to create an immersive, space‑faring simulator; the hardware is only half the project, with livestreams on Twitch and YouTube making up the other half.

Its origins trace back to a childhood obsession: "I’ve been chasing the dream of a dedicated simulator since I was quite young," he says, recalling how he recreated Back to the Future: The Ride out of pizza boxes. The current frame reuses parts salvaged from two different VR roller coaster rides left for scrap after Covid, along with components picked up via Facebook Marketplace and Amazon liquidation stores for as little as two dollars an item.

Putting a price on the build is difficult. "I don’t really know how to buy this with money," CMDR Wacko admits, noting that base motion platforms can sell for anywhere from free to around $3,000 and simrig frames range from about $100 to $10,000.

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