BIRTH of the 'COSMO CABOOSE'

[astronobob]

, , , , Opening day soon , , , , for the 'Cosmo Caboose' , , , , - Location , , , : 'Galaxy Station' :nerd:

Well Folks, Lady's, Gents, and all Astro-liano's - I'd like to introduce & welcome you all to the Cosmo Caboose at The Galaxy Station

My next moves will be fitting out the new astro site with the equipment now Im happy with the protection & decor pretty much completed !

This post is a Follow Up from my previous 'Build' thread, Link below if you have not yet seen the project from the very beginning , , ,

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=140053

My main goals will be to capture the upcoming Planet Oppositions, Jupiter & Saturn & will be trying to attempt some Planetary Nebs, along with some of the brighter Neb centers, eg The Eagle etc
Ultimately using the 12" Meade SCT ACF, yeah its F10 & im in moderate Light Pollution in the NthWst Burbs on the Gold Coast, but I see these PN's as quite bright subjects and vastly intriguing :cool2:

This will also be a testing period for a while due to the need to Learn a few Programs to operate the mount and to hopefully fine tune the guiding (Off Axis) which appears to be quite a task at the F/Length of 3mtrs :juggle:

Without further a do - here are some Current Pics of the Astro Arrangement

Kind Rgrds

Bob

[billdan]

That's beautiful Bob, a work of art, I could never build anything like that.

I love the wheels and the gable roof, you'll be OK if the Gold Coast ever gets a metre of snow.

Cheers
Bill

[Larryp]

Looks excellent!:thumbsup:

[RickS]

Very nice, Bob!

[Rick Parrott]

This is extremely cool! Real craftsmanship!

[ZeroID]

Love dem 'wheels' :thumbsup: :lol:
If you ever think of moving again you can just hitch her up and tow it away ...:P Yeah Right !!! :rofl:

[astronobob]

hehe, kinda makes the whole thing more interesting for the casual visitor & building im comfortable with but its them puutas that give me trouble, arghh
And yep - prepared for the unexpended :thanx:
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Thanx Larry

Cheers Rick'ster

Thankyou kindly Rick, mainly looked at pics of caboose's on the web and simplified, the wheels actually spin too :thumbsup:
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Thanx Brent, the wheels were 'pot plant trolleys' on casters, just sprayed them black, wiped over with turps to show the woodgrain and coated Clear on them. the doohickeys holding the wheels in pairs was a simple draw copy I jigsawed out :thumbsup:
It would turn some heads if I moved with a jetski trailer or get some train wheels and use the rail network :rofl:

[I.C.D]

Oh dear Bob (or should we call you BOB the builder)you have too much spare time on your hands .Well done, it will be the only Caboose observatory in the world
Ian
:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[jwoody]

Looking good Bob.

[astronobob]

Thanx Ian, have been call that many a time, nothing professional but does the job - think the caboose is appropriate due to all the Training I need :rofl:
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Cheers Jeremy - Hows your Camera Rotator going, sounds an interesting challenge ? :thumbsup:

[astronobob]

Not much doing, but have got 240v Power & ethernet to the Control Room !
Should have the 'Caboose' vent fan sorted next week and then able to start playin with the scope rig :question: :cool3:

1st Pic) In the foreground just right of center, 'orange conduit' existing 240v to workshop.
The other two pieces Was were the Ethernet went into shed for a now obsolete Weather Web Cam but have diverted the Ethernet to the astro-control room behind the 'Caboose' and used the existing hole for an extension of 240v power to the Control room !
I didnt want to run these two together for keeping communication away from Power magnetic fields :thumbsup:

2nd Pic) Around the corner, keeping the two separate again !

3rd Pic) Astro Lappy dusted off and booted up, still had 18% power on the battery and charging - been a while since I seen them those sets of Icons :)

[astronobob]

Here is the Caboose in action - kind of,,, Cloudy evening and nights here lately but needed to do this for the record
A Timelapse animation demonstration thingy I mucked around with this evening.

Now with Music :whistle: :P



https://youtu.be/tFwBVlHNcX8

[COSMOPARADISE]

Great job Bob, congratulations on an amazing project :thumbsup:

[mswhin63]

Tis great Bob,

Seeing I have had to move again, I am getting fed up with trying to make complex observatory, So I think something like what you have done maybe the best solution for me.

Cheers

[strongmanmike]

Huh! check that out :thumbsup: very cool

Mike

[astronobob]

Cheers Nick Malcolm & Micheal !

[astronobob]

Malcolm - I had a fully enclosed Obs with split rolling roof way out wst, other side of Ranges, was bit of inconvenience carting gear, travel & to have 3 or more nights clear at new moon to make worth the while, were rather rare, so very little usage on top !

This home roll away caper is very practical, more so than think, not just the permanent set-up and all, but to have head clearance and walking space around the Rig is just a huge bonus, not just for me but also visitors for some visual gazing, socializing outdoors under the stars ect, relaxing and thought provoking discussions over some munchies, coffee or brew, joining in or just watching whats going on easily :thumbsup:

Also serves me great as Im not one for dedicated imaging, hence another reason calling it The Caboose, as need lots of 'training' :D

Having the Rig in its cover, with shelving for bits and small gear, and the seperate control room shed there's plenty of room for further gear, so everything is right there handy as need - all the time :thumbsup:

I reckon its so much more versatile in my situation and recommend this design on tracks to those who may think 'like yourself' a full obs is just a little too much & personally think it would be quite easy to just pick up with another bloke or two & throw it on a trailer and re-locate :thumbsup:

All the best if you decide to go this way, if you need any further insight if you decide, don't hesitate for some ideas and/or considerations :thumbsup:
Rgrds ...

[xelasnave]

I did similar with a garden shed but yours is fantastic.
The roll away has many advantages in my view.
Very impressed on how great it looks.
Well done Bob you can bevery proud of your work.
Alex

[astronobob]

Cheers Alex.
Am a little proud of how it finished up & its kind of a cool theme, I think of the movies, Back to the Future series when the Doc came back with the Locomotive Time Machine, Lol

There are some nice sized Garden sheds which would suit this similar sized design very well, being almost 2m high, 1.5m long & 780mm wide, , very close to the dimensions I have, give or take 100-200mm's :thumbsup:

An easy mod by triming the end wall just 1cm or two, so can then place some hinges so it can swing open to roll it away, thinking also by having the existing side door, that would make a very nice entry to attend the scope if need with out having to roll the hole shed away :question:

Either way, this concept does has advantages, and by no means I dont claim any credit for it, as I seen these set-ups long before starting my unit. Eventually decided I used the Idea ! Just got carried away with the finishing touches :thumbsup:

King Rgrds ...

[michaellxv]

Looks fantastic Bob, i love the finishing touches. Have a look at the right column of suggestions in youtube when you play it. Not a single astronomy related video. Who knows you may attracked a whole new crowd to astronomy.

Michael

[xelasnave]

I placed a couple of compurter fans in mine hooked to a very small solar panel to keep the air cooler and circulating and a 12vlt winch which as it turned out was not needed.
Again it looks so good you have every right to be proud.
Alex

[astronobob]

Thanx Michael, finishing decor is to distract from the 'Out-House' thoughts, it works well :D
Re; right column, mm, could be right, maybe some series engineers & have rail tracks, take the Obs right down the back of an acreage, and drive it back when done ;) :thumbsup:

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Yes,I seen some portable units on 'peter_4059's' thread here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=141579
Bought a similar exhaust unit and used an obsolete Puuta fan and a little sol-panel not being used for an induction unit - They work very well together, had thermometers testing middle of day late summer - caboose only 2-3 degs warmer than outside, where as the tool shed would be 10 deg or more warmer :thumbsup:
Both Panels are on hinges, so can tilt up to face the early morning sun & lay at rest as in pics to catch the even light till dusk :thumbsup:

Rgrds