When your sim cockpit arrives, check four things before you build: the outside of every box, the parts against the included list, the profiles for dents or scratches, and the hardware bags for the right bolt count. Do this on the day of delivery. A missing bracket found now takes one email to fix, while a missing bracket found halfway through the build stops your whole weekend.
The check takes about 20 minutes. Below you find a simple order that works for any aluminium profile cockpit, with notes for SIMGASM frames.
Check the boxes before you sign
The first check happens at the door, while the driver is still there.
Look at the outside of every box
Count the boxes and compare the number with your shipping note. Then look for crushed corners, holes or wet spots. Aluminium profiles are long and heavy, so a box that fell on its end often shows a dent at one side. If you see damage, take a photo and note it on the delivery receipt. That small note makes a claim much easier later.
Keep the packaging for now
Do not throw the boxes away yet. Keep them flat until the cockpit is built and tested. If a part needs to go back, the original packaging protects it on the return trip.
Unpack in a smart order
A calm unpacking routine keeps small parts from getting lost.
Lay everything out on a soft surface
Unpack on a rug, a blanket or the flattened boxes. Hard tiles scratch profiles easily. Group the parts by type: long profiles, brackets, the wheel mount and the hardware bags. Read the labels on the bags, but leave them closed until you start that step of the build.
Wear the gloves in the box
SIMGASM ships white assembly gloves with its cockpits. Use them. They keep fingerprints off dark profiles and protect your hands from sharp profile ends. They also make it easier to spot a missing part, because you handle every piece one by one.
SIMGASM | Sport Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Red
What should be in the box?
Now compare what you have with what the product page promises.
The included parts list
For the SIMGASM Hobby, the product page lists the aluminium profiles, the structural chassis brackets, the wheel mount you picked at checkout, the assembly hardware and tools, white gloves, the assembly guide and the Core side profile arm for a shifter or handbrake. Check that your wheel mount matches your order. A Bottom Mount, Front Mount, Side Mount and Asetek Front Mount look different and fit different wheelbases.
What is not in the box
The seat, seat slider, wheelbase, wheel, pedals, shifter, handbrake and monitor stand are separate items, unless your order says otherwise. They often ship in their own boxes, sometimes on another day. So a missing seat on day one is usually normal. Check your order confirmation before you worry.
Inspect the profiles and brackets
Next, give every metal part a quick visual check.
Look along each profile
Hold each long profile at eye level and look along its length. It should be straight. Then check the ends for dents and the slots for burrs that block a T nut. A light scratch on a surface you never see after the build is cosmetic. A dent in a slot or a bent profile is not, so report it. SIMGASM founder Johan Akkerman does the final inspection of materials and finishes himself, which keeps these cases rare.
Count the hardware
Open one hardware bag at a time and count bolts and T nuts against the guide. Our article on which bolts and T nuts hold an aluminium rig together explains what each piece does. Also check which tools you need before you start.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
What to do when something is wrong
A missing or damaged part is annoying, but it is easy to solve when you act fast.
Report it with photos
Take clear photos of the part, the label on the box and the damage. Then email hello@simgasm.com or send a WhatsApp message. The team usually responds within one business day. SIMGASM ships directly from its own warehouse in the Netherlands, so a replacement part does not need to come from another continent.
Know your warranty
SIMGASM cockpits carry a standard warranty of 2 years. Keep your order number and the delivery photos together in one folder. That makes any later question quick to answer.
Ready to build
Once every part checks out, you start the build with confidence.
Follow the guide step by step
Watch the SIMGASM Hobby assembly guide once before you touch a bolt. Build the base frame first and tighten bolts only lightly until the frame is square. Then tighten everything fully. If you still compare models, our article on the types of sim racing cockpits explains how frames differ, and the full SIMGASM cockpit range shows every tier.
SIMGASM | Club Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
Questions and answers
Here are short answers to common delivery questions.
Why did my seat arrive separately?
Seats are separate products with their own packaging. They often ship in a different box or on another day than the frame.
Is a small scratch on a profile a problem?
A light scratch on a hidden side is cosmetic. A dent in a slot or a bent profile affects the build, so report it with photos.
How fast does SIMGASM respond to a delivery issue?
The team usually replies within one business day by email or WhatsApp.
Should I keep the boxes?
Yes, keep them flat until the cockpit is built and tested, in case a part needs to go back.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
