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  #21  
Old 16-02-2021, 07:56 AM
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Sunfish (Ray)
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Good looking deck .
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  #22  
Old 16-02-2021, 12:30 PM
croweater (Richard)
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Better get it up and running soon Martin. It looks so good your wife will claim it to put an outdoor setting and pot plants on it.
Cheers, Richard.
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  #23  
Old 16-02-2021, 01:05 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Ray
Thanks , looks too good to put a Dome on it

Richard
I’m nearly 61 so I figure I’ve got about 10 to 15 years of use with the Dome , and then it will become a sundeck with pot plants and a bbq etc... I figured that out before the wife had any initial thoughts.
Patiently waiting for it to be delivered from Melbourne
Cheers

Martin
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  #24  
Old 17-02-2021, 12:55 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Whilst there’s a break in the poor weather this week and the Sun is out , I set up my gnomon ( shadow stick ) to mark the True Celestial South Line on my deck before the Dome arrives soon
The front and centre 250mm dia concrete piers under the deck were almost spot on aligned with the true south line ( about 4mm offset ) pretty happy about that as I took so much time setting them up before the deck was built and if they were way off there’s nothing I could do about except pull the deck apart and start all over again. I can breath a bit easier now .....
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  #25  
Old 05-03-2021, 08:15 AM
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diegocolonnello (Diego)
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It is on its way!!!!! let me know if you need any help!!!
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  #26  
Old 05-03-2021, 11:10 AM
Startrek (Martin)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diegocolonnello View Post
It is on its way!!!!! let me know if you need any help!!!
Diego
Thanks
I’ll call you only if I have any ( major ) issues
Hoping it arrives today ?
TNT delivery update is today, but delivery schedules can change every few hours as you know
I’m ready and waiting
Cheers
Martin
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  #27  
Old 08-03-2021, 07:32 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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My NexDome finally arrived today from Canada via Melbourne (Sidereal Trading ) via Sydney to South Coast
Exactly 8 months from order date
A few minor quality control issues with hole sizes and alignment of panel holes, channels etc.. but worked through those ok and at least completed the walls and bay unit in about 6 hours today
Hopefully I’ll be ready to fit the Dome on Wednesday as rain is on its way
Next week I’ll fit out power outlets , data outlets , LED light strip and switch and carpet tiles
Lastly Dome rotation kit , Laptop workstation set up and telescope rig with all cabling etc...
More updates to follow .......
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  #28  
Old 09-03-2021, 06:34 AM
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xelasnave
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That is great news Martin, I am so happy for you and I hope it all goes together with not too many problems...and the rain will be good as you can check for leaks.
Good on you.
Alex
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  #29  
Old 09-03-2021, 10:16 AM
Startrek (Martin)
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Alex
Thanks so much , yes I’m pinching myself is it really here after 8 months waiting and months of planning with the deck build , piers , power , data etc....
Starting on the roof Done today , but if a jigsaw puzzle
Take care and keep positive
Thanks again for your kind thoughts
Martin
PS Hopefully the weather will turn for the better in April as the NSW coastal fringe ( especially south ) has been bombarded by Lows every couple of days for the past 3 months with clear nights a rarity
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  #30  
Old 09-03-2021, 12:21 PM
jahnpahwa (JP)
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Looks as though it was always supposed to be there
Congrats, Martin, and I do hope for better weather and successful installation of power, data, dome, and final installation of gear.
Looks like space for at least my two man tent to camp beside the deck there, too... is the dome wide enough for a couple of OTAs and mounts?
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  #31  
Old 09-03-2021, 12:36 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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JP
Thanks , yeh it sorts of matches the surrounding, little dome in little backyard
Sorry but it’s a 1 person Obs , although I won’t be spending to much time inside as I’ve cabled into the house with Cat5e data cable 100MB and have a dual outlet in my study. Probably use team viewer or something like that , early days yet ( I may never fully automate it as I enjoy the night scape down here ( Milky Way painted across the night sky ( Bortle 3 )
Cheers
Martin
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  #32  
Old 10-03-2021, 06:39 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Completed construction of the NexDome today to lock up
As few issues with smooth rotation but the product is an ABS injection moulded flat pack assembly so one would expect a few minor issues during the build
Interior fit out next week
More to follow.......
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  #33  
Old 10-03-2021, 06:47 PM
Spidy (Phil)
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I'm jealous
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  #34  
Old 10-03-2021, 11:04 PM
Hemi
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I’m glad it all finally arrived safely Martin, and it looks fantastic.
I’ve been following your thread, and missed the all of a sudden updates!

Very exciting....continued good luck

Hemi
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  #35  
Old 11-03-2021, 06:13 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Thanks Phil and Hemi
If you want one you’ll have to wait 6 to 8 months for it ( Mine was 8 months from order to delivery )
I think I’ve put in 150hours to date from digging out the lawn, installing power and data services , building deck , landscaping etc... to final build of Dome (interior fit out still to be done )
Probably another 25 hours should finish it
I take my time
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  #36  
Old 11-03-2021, 07:27 PM
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h0ughy (David)
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One thing I did with my dome was paint the entire inside black. Just a thought
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  #37  
Old 11-03-2021, 08:27 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by h0ughy View Post
One thing I did with my dome was paint the entire inside black. Just a thought
Thanks for your suggestion
Any reason why you painted the interior of your Dome black ?
NexDomes are made of ABS and externally coated with UV Solarkote to keep thermal transfer minimal during the day
Almost no light can get in through the skin of the ABS
My site is dark ( Bortle 3 ) and I have minimal stray light in my yard , my Lappy will be set to night mode ( red ) so minimal light emitted
I haven’t come across anyone who’s painted the interior of their NexDome black or recommend to paint it
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  #38  
Old 11-03-2021, 09:40 PM
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h0ughy (David)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Startrek View Post
Thanks for your suggestion
Any reason why you painted the interior of your Dome black ?
NexDomes are made of ABS and externally coated with UV Solarkote to keep thermal transfer minimal during the day
Almost no light can get in through the skin of the ABS
My site is dark ( Bortle 3 ) and I have minimal stray light in my yard , my Lappy will be set to night mode ( red ) so minimal light emitted
I haven’t come across anyone who’s painted the interior of their NexDome black or recommend to paint it
To cut down on stray light and darken it, cooler in my head during day time and a slightly cooler inside, but I suspect your solar coat would help there, my dome is a Sirius dome, fibreglass.
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  #39  
Old 14-03-2021, 05:45 PM
bigAl (Alan)
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Been lurking here and taking inspiration! Any updates? You must be close to finishing?

Cheers
Alan
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  #40  
Old 15-03-2021, 07:33 AM
Startrek (Martin)
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Originally Posted by bigAl View Post
Been lurking here and taking inspiration! Any updates? You must be close to finishing?

Cheers
Alan
Alan,
Nothing inside yet
Still have a bit of tweaking with rotation
Going to start this week fitting off power outlets , data outlets , led strip light and 2 way switch
Carpet tiles
Then mount, scope and cabling , laptop workstation etc
Hope to have it up and running by end of March
Thanks
Martin
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