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7th Grader Builds Farm Game Simulator
It’s not as fancy as the John Deere farm game simulator Kaden Styer saw online, but the 12-year-old is proud of the simulator he built in his family’s garage. He’s looking forward to sharing it at parties with family and friends.

    With lumber left from previous building projects, the seventh grader built a 5 by 7-ft. “tractor cab” to set the mood for playing the video game, Farming Simulator 2015.

    The faithful young FARM SHOW reader says it’s a perfect blend of his interests in farming, electronics and building from scratch.

    “I 3D-modeled it on the computer, got some wood, started building and painted it as close to John Deere green as I could,” Styer says. He found an old semi truck seat and set up a hinged shelf on one wall for a steering wheel and joystick. A bracket supports the monitor on the wall, and foot pedals for the game are bolted to the floor to give a real life feel of driving a tractor.

    “The hardest part was getting everything to work together,” Styer says. He notes he had wiring/electronic help from his stepdad (including a keyboard, a strobe light, speakers) and construction help from his dad.

    Styer spent more than 100 hrs. of free time so far, including adding surround sound and a custom control panel. The area is big enough so that a few friends can stand in back and watch or sit on one of two buddy seats he built.

    He shared his project on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlb5DYSs4rk) and explained that his simulator even has a security system. He has a padlock on the outside to keep his little brothers out and a cordless drill inside in case his older brother pranks him again.

    “I left the padlock open one day, and he locked me in. So I have a power drill to remove the screws on the door,” Styer explains.

    With a goal of becoming an electrical engineer, he is already creatively solving problems.

     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kaden Styer, Menomonie, Wis. 54751.




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2015 - Volume #39, Issue #2