Container Observatory Build.

[Pepper]

Yesterday was the day i finally got off my butt and had a container delivered to build my obs in.
Currently im stuck taking up a bay in the garage with my mount set up as close as humanly possible to the door to maximise the tiny patch of sky i can see.
Ive decided to use a shipping container with either a dome or roll off on top.
Im a bit loathe to do a roll off however.
It arrived yesterday, and i had it jacked up and level by bedtime.
Today i cut the floor out above a strategically located hole for the concrete pier. With 5 min to go cutting, my angle grinder met its maker so it was off to bunnings to get it replaced. bugger!
anyways i managed to mix all the concrete by hand, and get the hole filled. Im using 6 inch stormwater pipe filled with concrete to get me up to the required height.
The dome will be made from a surplus fibreglass microwave link dome.
ill need to cut a hole for a flapper door and mount it to a ring somehow. but i like a challenge.
here are some pics of the first days progress.
there will be an elevated floor for the back 3m around the pier. and a comfy lounge to work from up the other end..

[leon]

Good stuff Steve, I had never thought of using a Container for that job, look at the space you will have.
Looking forward to progress.

Leon

[bojan]

Very nice!

[xelasnave]

I wish I had thought of such a good idea , security and should manage a bush fire..maybe next year.
Alex

[Pepper]

Thanks guys. Yes Alex, it would be the ticket up there in the bush. Be easy to get it modified for purpose then delivered to site.
They only deliver with a tilt tray truck here so I had to dig the hole for the pier and wait till it was in-situ before I could install pier. Bit backward but that’s the way it is.
Still need to cut out the roof, a door and a couple of windows.
Also cladding the outside with colourbond to match the shed. I’ll screw it to some top-hat so I have a 2 inch air gap between. Same goes on roof.
Should keep the temps down significantly.

[DavidU]

Excellent stuff Steve:thumbsup:

[Pepper]

Bit more progress. Today I got the scope room floor in. Welded up a frame and whacked some thick board down. I will Lino the floor once I’ve got the hole cut in the roof.
Need to sort out my dome before I go too much further.

[xelasnave]

Great stuff... but a tip leave the lino until all is finished..I regret putting down my "final" floor covering as it is subject to ongoing work which I just did not think about..so I have blobs of foam to remove, cement and some paint..not only is it getting knocked around but now needs serious cleaning.
Keep the progress going...remember there is always something that you can do and you would not believe how ten minutes here and there adds up..just things like getting tools in position, cleaning, measuring and most important just sitting looking and thinking.
Alex

[Pepper]

Yes Alex your right, I was gonna leave Lino till last. I need to plasma cut the roof out for dome yet. Day off tomorrow , hopefully I can get the dome half sorted.

[Pepper]

Bit more progress. Got a lot of framing done on the inside a few weeks back. Still needs more but I ran out of timber and we had 125mm of rain over the last week which put a halt to work.
Finally picked up my fibreglass dome and now have it home to figure out how I’m going to mount it.
It’ll need a bit of reinforcement inside and a few repairs to the fibreglass.
There is a spare I have access to if I need.
Start my new job in a few weeks so would like to have this mounted and a hole cut in the roof by then.

[bojan]

Maybe this (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=105922&page=4)will help...

[Pepper]

Thanks mate. Gives me food for thought.

[Pepper]

So after a struggle I managed to get the dome up by myself and rotating.
Tomorrow I’ll finalise the bolting down of ring and sealing. Might even get the hole cut out in the roof.

[PCH]

It’s looking terrific mate! But how the heck did you get that up there by yourself - yikes?!

[Pepper]

Took some skill and dare to get it up there. A lot more dare I’d say.


Things are progressing well. Got the roof cut out yesterday, almost at the peril of the pier but all good.

Actually looks like progress now when inside.

[Pepper]

Been wet wet wet here. Haven’t been able to do too much for the obs, so I decided to knock up the hatch for when I get a string of fine weather.

[PKay]

Hi Steve

Wish I had seen this build earlier, I spotted a microwave repeater dish at the tip a few months ago, thinking 'now what could I use that for?

Very clever solution and will look forward to see how it all works.

[Pepper]

Bit more progress.
Got the front door for the dome halfway sorted.
The top half slides down onto the bottom half, then it folds open.
The top part will slide back to see straight up.
With the rain on pause I hope to have the thing on the dome tomorrow.

[Pepper]

Even more progress today. Got the slot up needs a few more brackets and then sealing. Getting closer now.

[bojan]

:2thumbs:

[Pepper]

Had a bit of time today to get the computer desk in.
Nearly at the ‘not quite finished but almost useable’ stage now.

[Pepper]

Got eq6 mounted on pier today.
Epoxied in a m16 thread and bolted the pier extension to it.

[h0ughy]

Excellent journey Steve. I am amazed by the enginuity and achievement you have done

[Pepper]

Thank you David.
Just need a bit of wiring done and I’ll be ready to fire it up.
Of course I need a clear night which has been rare this year.
I don’t know who is more excited, me or my missus because she gets her car space back in the garage.....

[SimmoW]

That’s ace! Watching closely. So, can you explain where you got the dome? And how it rotates? Will you put it on bearings?

[Pepper]

So the dome is off an old 8ft microwave link.
My mate bought an old transmission tower which came with 2 aluminium dishes with the domed covers. He was never gonna use em so he gave them to me.
Essentially I cut the aluminium dish centre out which became the dome ring that the dome rises on.
I mounted castors off communications racks ( 8 ) on the bottom lip of the dish.
I then made a retaining skirt to hold it all in the right spot.
Hatch is made from composite panel and screwed and urethaned into the dome. Then I painted the dome in a thick layer of bitumen paint which made it totally waterproof.
Prob cost around 400/500 in materials.
Spins by hand for now.