[Wavytone]

Hi Chris, Nice first try.

I made one many years ago and found wide wheels roll much more easily - and smoothly over gravel as well as grass, skinny wheels are pretty awful.

The wheels on mine were cannibalised from a toddlers tricycle. The base was cut from a solid core door, which in those days meant solid pine sandwich with plywood on other side. With 3 coats of marine varnish, it survived being outside perfectly for several years despite the frost and dew usual in Canberra winters.

Agree re MDF - its hopeless with any kind of moisture starting with dew, and exposed to rain or frost it will disintegrate fast.

By the way the tripod was made from karri floorboards (very hard wood, like jarrah) and was excellent. The scopes are a 6" f/8 Newtonian (top) and a 6" f/18 folded newtonian (square tube under). The mount was an old Astro-Optics "Goliath" with a homemade 8" worm.