Skyshed Pod is here!

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Matthew Lovell-Telescopes and Astronomy-is importing the skyshed pod!


http://www.skyshedpod.com/

the Australian prices he quoted me are very attractive too

now all I have to do is work on the Financial Controller

who will be the first to get one of these?
Narayan

[acropolite (Phil)]

the Australian prices he quoted me are very attractive too

Well come on, don't beat around the bush, what's the damage....

[h0ughy (David)]

yep whats the price?

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Cool,
I have checked his site and couldn't find any reference yet.

All he has to do now is clean up his website. Very messy and hard to use!

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

I agree Ken - that's a shocking website. Very poor indeed.

Given the pricing in US dollars IN America - I think that it's going to have to be priced along the lines of what we already have access to over here - and it's not as functional or as permanent by the looks of it.

The mid-range model is US$2 grand - over there. Translate that to AU$, ship it (huge volume) and put a profit margin on for the distributor and you've got a Lego block probably approaching the same price as a real dome observatory.

Ah.... the tyranny of distance.

Maybe the manufacturer will give the distributor a great price and we will be able to purchase these at reasonable cost...

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

I'd rather have one of these, but no-one imports them. Prices are good.
Freight would be a killer to privately import one though.

http://www.explora-dome.com/

[Ric]

I think that my biggest concerns with either of them is the security of them, I may be wrong but from the images they look like they would be pretty easy to get access to by the wrong sort of person.
The other concern would be for our rural folk I dont think tha they would stand up very well in a bushfire, they look like they would warp or melt from the radiant heat alone.

Cheers

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

True concerns Ric. Right on both counts. But fibreglass is very flammable too.

I just prefer the weather protection of the slot in the ExploraDome rather than the large opening in the SkyPod. The embossed stars turn me off too. Makes it look like a cheap toy. But that's just me, they'll probably sell thousands of them.

I don't get why anyone would want a 'Glow-in-the-dark' model. The whole idea is to have less light, not make your own

[Ric]

I must admit Ken the "glow in the dark" option had me a bit confused as well.

Cheers

[jase (Jason)]

Researched these a long time ago back when Wayne Parker (founder) was making the SkySheds. I quickly lost interest due to the lack of automation i.e no shutter and dome rotation options available. Of course, this was my goal (to have an autonomous observatory) so it was a key factor. I ended up heading down the Sirius observatory path and have never looked back.

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

price is just under 3 grand for the basic-non glow-pod with 3 bays-as quoted to me

[h0ughy (David)]

thats delivered? that sounds good I would spend 2-3 building my own?

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

thats delivered? that sounds good I would spend 2-3 building my own?

yes in Australian $ with delivery- $2990 to be exact. Its under $2500 if you dont want the additional bays

worth emailing Mathew if you are interested

[netwolf]

Thats a very good price considering the price on there website for this is almost 2000usd for that version.

Regards

[allan gould]

Originally Posted by seeker372011

price is just under 3 grand for the basic-non glow-pod with 3 bays-as quoted to me

Yes that was the price quoted to me as well. I'm just waiting to see what the transport costs to BrisVegas would be before commiting myself by paying a deposit.

[nightsky]

G'Day,
I contacted Matthew regarding the POD and here is the price list he sent.If there was enough people interested,it could work out cheap for shipping if they were sent to the couriers Sydney dept then it would be only a matter of driving down and picking them up,thats for the Central Coast and Newcastle area.I have already built my Observatory but I'll be moving house soon and I don't like the idea of pulling it down then building it again,so I would be very interested in buying one.So can we get a feed back on how many people who would be interested in buying one?
Cheers
Arthur
SkyShed POD 1 Dome, 5 Wall Panels, 1 Door Panel $2,350.00
Glow POD Neutron Blue or ION Green $2,640.00
Ultra Glow POD Glows twice as bright $2,860.00
POD XL3 1 Dome, 2 Wall Panels, 1 Door Panel, 3 Bay $2,990.00
XL3 Glow $3,360.00
XL3 Ultra Glow $3,678.00
POD XL5 1 Dome, 5 Bays, 1 Door Panel $3,462.00
XL5 Glow $3,876.00
XL5 Ultra Glow
EXTRAS
POD Bay 1 Bay replaces 1 Wall Panel $473.00
Glow Bay $500.00
Ultra Glow Bay $573.00
POD Wall Panel $284.00
Glow Wall Panel $327.00
Ultra Glow Wall Panel $382.00
Bay Pull Out Shelf $91.00
Also check out the Video POD Assembly Video Online Version
http://www.skyshedpod.com/

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Is fairly comparable to the 8' Exploradome complete kit at US$1850 before $ conversion.

Frieght would kill the Exploradome though. Pity. Closest distributer to Oz is Phillipines or Hong Kong.

This is the complete Exploradome kit:

[nightsky]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Is fairly comparable to the 8' Exploradome complete kit at US$1850 before $ conversion.

Frieght would kill the Exploradome though. Pity. Closest distributer to Oz is Phillipines or Hong Kong.

This is the complete Exploradome kit:

G'Day
That looks a little beauty have you checked with the distributer for a price on shipping?
Cheers
Arthur

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by nightsky

G'Day
That looks a little beauty have you checked with the distributer for a price on shipping?
Cheers
Arthur

Nope, coz I can't afford to buy an observatory. So I had no need to investigate freight.

They also sell an automated rotation kit:
Use your own motor: Automation Track, Gear & Hardware Kit - $210
or their motor: Automation Track, Gear, Motor 90# Torque & Hardware Kit - $649

[nightsky]

Fair nuf