Project 4 - Observing Tent

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Hi all,

I have loads to do before starting Uni and another project is nearly complete.

When I go to Tammin Dark Sky site I usually set things up and continue right through the night. I get so frustrated being dark and have to put some things away while it is dark tripping over things.

I had a tent I bought some time ago and decided to see if it was possible to modify it to work as an observatory. It sort of worked and am quite pleased with the result. It is quite rough but is quite functional.

It is not complete but I have done a lot so far so the first couple of posts will contain photos of the project so far.

One thing I learnt is to sew and to be amazed is not all bad, kinda like sewing now. It has given me the opportunity to make a complete tent from plain canvas in the future when the finances come through. The experience in making this was great and although it is a prototype construction it will surely last for a while.

I apolgise for the quality of the photos, It was difficult to use the flash to get the whole picture so I used AV and shot them by hand. Big mistake.

Steps

1 - Erect the tent in the garage - Annoy the wife (middle of summer and cars are outside getting hot.)
The tent is a reasonably cheap one I bought 2 of them 2 years ago name DMH Outdoor - Weekender series Murray 3G)

2 - Place dowel rods to tension the area that needs cutting - The tent can't self tighten itself without the fly and rope connected.

3 - I placed the EQ Tripod inside to determin the area that required cutting.

4 - Initially I was going to make a flap that would just simply flap down and hang but had some issues that required to cut a square instead (next post).

More to come soon.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Second series of images:

1 - The Velcro I sewed before placing on the tent. This is the final size of the inside section of the tent.
2 - Placed onto the area I wanted to have the opening and then the moment i was dreading.
3 - Cutting into a perfectly good tent. I purchased a cheap handheld sewing machine on eBay and for the cost and the design it was quite a nice unit, definitely an item I may use in the future BUT, the Velcro was just too thick and although sewing on the straight sections worked well, the corners of the Velcro just would take with the handheld unit.
I was quite worried because I thought I was going to have to take the tent down and sew using the sewing machine. Possible but was not going to be easy. I decided to go to Bunnings and looked carefully for a strong glue that would remain flexible.
The answer was at Bunnings Selleys Gel Grip Contact Cement It didn't burn through the fragile material and it stuck fast. I use contact cement a lot so I know it is strong.
4 - I then used the cut-out material and fashioned a cover for the hole I created so that can use it as a normal tent in the future.
5 - After completing the lower section of the tent I placed the fly on and made another square Velcro frame and just like the lower section I Cut this section out. I didn't use the handheld machine this time round instead I glued the Velcro on. It is rock solid. I then cut the hole

More to come.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

More images:

1 - It works. the scope fits inside and pokes it head out nicely. The whole thing was easily accessible from the outside as well. I was able to place all the components other than the tripod on the mount from the outside.

2 - Plenty of room for the counter weight and as i find out later the mount can go back a little more which will allow the counter weights to move around even when positioned at the bottom.

3 - From this image the legs are extended, I didn't want to alter them as i am doing other stuff with the scope and need to legs at this height. But it can go down further into the tent and from appearance can still operate quite well.

4, 5, 6 - show the parking position I will use when I want to finish for the evening and go to sleep. As can be seen on the last photo i can still move the scope back a little more if needed.

The tent is still more than large enough to hold 2 people if necessary although the legs will have to face the opposite direction. Depending on the circumstances I would arrive on site and decide to erect the tent facing North or South. I can face it any where I want but N and S are the ideal positions.

That is all for now. The next stage of the build is not urgent until winter arrives in where I make a cover over the fly that will run prevent the rain from getting into the hole. I already have an idea by getting and large piece of tent fly material and make a cover that will go over the scope in the park position and extend to the other side of the tent. The idea is to ensure the any rain will run-off the edge of the tent and not on the holes itself.
In the mean time I am just going to sew up the Velcro on the second hole I have cut to cover the hole when the tent is not use for observing. This final stage is simple and I still have a number of other project that need completion within the month.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

After completing it, the whole kit go back into the original bag. I wasn't expecting this but it is a bonus. I am now working on my Bino chair.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Since creating this, I have decided later down the track to cut a bigger hole to fit much larger gear and sew an extra large Fly to cover the hole on the Tent fly. The size over the cover will be based on getting any rain from flowing down away from the hole.

The inside tent material is not important so I will cut the hole and re-enforce the existing material.

This is just an idea as an after-thought. That is what happens with prototyping.