Caboose preview, think it needs some 'distraction' on the walls - a dummy window perhaps ? and/or an outside shelf ?
Heeyy, maybe a set of Chrome V8 Extractors - why not ? ?
Paint blue and put a blue light on top. Change your name to " The Doctor".
It then becomes your time machine.... Time and Relative Distance In Space. Otherwise known as telescope. ....
Paint blue and put a blue light on top. Change your name to " The Doctor".
It then becomes your time machine.... Time and Relative Distance In Space. Otherwise known as telescope. ....
ha ho, yes, tho it has been done before !
Thinking of : 'The Triple C Obs' or 'CCC Obs' at this stage, tho this might change
Havent had much time lately, tho most of the outside is done, doing the remaining roof section tomoro, , and try working out how to do a door, will look at recyclers, if nothing appropriate, then I'll start on the steel inner support bracing.
Additional work to this has been slowed due to time, also have thought of how to proceed to the next step.
Ive decided to go with a Plywood door, 15mm standard with a good coat of timber oil, see how this holds up against the weather, can always recoat and/or change the concept ?
But 1st, as the caboose is sitting as is, its a little wonky, and adding a door now is not feasible, I need to work on some Supporting Structures inside.
Here is the start of cutting some angles in some angle, if you get my 'angle'
These will 'criss-cross' each other and be screwed onto the lower timber 'caboose' framing to help stop it spreading and twisting. I will also be fitting some steel strap bracing on the walls to keep it as square as possible.
May add some further angle braces at 'mid-level height just under the mount/scope if needed, which prob would not hurt !
1st pic) Temporary made 'Jij' for setting angle cuts, Also the second 'un-cut' angle showing the 'criss-cross' caper as will be in Situ! Also Note the circle representing the Pier base in which I intend to make/weld an additional caper to secure/lock the Caboose to the Pier from this steel-angle supporting frame - just incase someone gets the idea to push the thing around - not a good idea with gear inside close to the walls/roof !
Pics 2 & 3) some close-ups of angle cut which need welding and screw holes drilled.
Pic 4), 15mm Ply for door and for the separate extra triangle above the door, I cant make the door and top triangle in one piece as it hits the roof when opening - will figure something out ?
Havent had much time lately, tho most of the outside is done, doing the remaining roof section tomoro, , and try working out how to do a door, will look at recyclers, if nothing appropriate, then I'll start on the steel inner support bracing.
Hi Bob, this is looking awesome! Love following your blog . Keep up the great work
Hi Bob, this is looking awesome! Love following your blog . Keep up the great work
Cheers, Evan
Hey Thanx Evan, always encouraging hearing feedback
Started off with just a pitcher in the head, hopefully figuring it out appropriately as I go and maybe some ideas for others in here somewhere
Nothing like a little challenge on Aus-Day , , Welding under the Influence, in the safety of the backyard workshop of course,
Pic 1) Where it all 'Happens' ! One of today's weld/angle pieces in the vice under the window, which I scored from an old ute canopy yonks ago.
Pics 2-6) Close-ups
Pic 7) Inside the Caboose. Installed wall strapping & the just made black 'Criss-Cross' Angle Bracing Support - one looks thicker, but this is just the (oh here we go again) 'angle' of the photo
Pic 8) Close up of the far back corner.
Next deed tomoro will be sealing the top of the pitched roofing iron - think I have it sorted, so should be one more job out of the way, and a further update on completion.
Another 1/2 day at it, sorting the roof top - never done the likes before, tho think this will prevent any rain entering ?
The roof sheeting corrugations has been an unexpected challenge, tho once the remedy was seen, it was just a matter of doing it.
I employed a length of timber in this situation which serves two purposes, a) to fill in the gap, & b) to further secure roofing and the capping. the semi circle capping I scored from the roadside, 'council-kerbside-cleanup' about 3 months back, came in very handy !
Fotos tell the story :
Pic 1) A piece of cardboard to represent some 120mm wide angle flashing, which was my 1st original intention, tho as seen, this would not be very successful in a cross-wind rainstorm
Pic 2) After cutting, filing, rust proofing and paint/sealing the roofing cuts to accommodate the timber to slide inbetween, I then screwed the roofing to it, both sides, to reduce gaps and secure the timber in place. Then used clear roofing Silicone along the entire edges both sides, about 2/5th's a cartridge.
Pic 3) The Semi-Circle 'Capping' was then screwed to the timber at the Top, then each side to the roof-iron using hex-heads with rubber grommets. I also applied clear Silicone liberally to each screw after they were in place.
Pic 4) The semi-circle capping is looking like a pretty neat finish ?
I will be cutting some wood circle disc to cover the ends, maybe half circles , for final roof weatherproofing and to hide the ugly bits
Hopefully the Door will come together and be installed sooner than later ?
You going to be putting some floor over that bracing to slide around the pier base ?
Might help stop critter invasion if you can make a flap to fold over and seal the slot in the front part. A bit of soft carpeting or similar could give you a reasonable seal for humidity and nasties.
Nice work btw, very impressive solution for the situation.
You roof cap solution is excellent but I'd leave it so it could breathe along the bottom edge to get rid of heat. Roof seems steep enough to prevent water moving up over the top and is high inside the cap. Again, nice solution.
you going to be putting some floor over that bracing to slide around the pier base ?
Might help stop critter invasion if you can make a flap to fold over and seal the slot in the front part. A bit of soft carpeting or similar could give you a reasonable seal for humidity and nasties.
Good question brent, i have thought about 'closing up around the base tho in a very much simpler fashion, that being just some 'rubber stripping' tacked on the base and just reaching/rubbing on the concrete ground, may also place a flat strip of something on the crete so the rubber does not hit the abrasive crete and give it a pretty good seal, see how that goes for now ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by zeroid
nice work btw, very impressive solution for the situation.
You roof cap solution is excellent but i'd leave it so it could breathe along the bottom edge to get rid of heat. Roof seems steep enough to prevent water moving up over the top and is high inside the cap. Again, nice solution.
Yeah, worked out real good mate There is venting right along each side where the roofing and the wall tops meet, tho I may incorporate another vent and/or fan at the very top of the pitch as heat will hover up there.
Appreciate your comments and input, as there is a lot to consider and easy to miss some things,
Cheers
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
your new outback dunny is lookin great bob, bet ya can't wait to sit in it all night lookin at the stars :d
mike
Mike, plenty of great ideas, quotations & even $Million inventions from all over the world have come from inside dunnies,
Getting there !
Between storms & heavy showers I have finally come up with a way to incorporate and build a Door. I had no idea how this was going to be done at the start, didnt even cross the mind..
Having considered which way its best to swing, what side to be on, will it clear the little astro gear shed, granite benches, the roof & having it weather proof, There has now come to the forefront a Plan.
Have decided it needs to be in two pieces, one door and a removable top triangle piece as the scope's highest point sits approx 3-4 inches under the highest point of the roof - It was either to build a higher 'caboose' by nearly 2 feet or cut my Peir down a couple of feet. high caboose will look like an eyesore and catch more wind - lower the pier also makes for rather awkward viewing sessions, & lose sky altitude with sheds & shrubs being so close ...
The weather has stopped me cutting the plywood down to size, oiling and drying time ect, tho with the door concept finalised, I was able to modify some hinges as they need to have a larger base plate so to accommodate the swinging path which now needs 270 degrees from a closed posi to right around to shed outside wall, this enables an 'entry point' on the near side of scope gear shed but also as a closed barrier with another latch at the 180 deg posi
Sounds a little much to pitcher at the moment but will see it in action down the track...
Anywho, : as usual, a couple of pics of the new modified hinges and small a piece of timber 'same thickness as door' to show how it fits when closed, the hinges will also be counter sunk into the timber frame & door will also have a thin rubber membrane for better weather sealing,,, hopefully...
Another bit done.
Some adjustments and size reductions to the door for a good fit, also needed to cut back some roof overhang on the far side so the door could swing under it and all the way around to rest/latch against the far wall, this gives me another more convenient way out of the area, I can also have the door 'as shown in the 2nd pic' positioned to close of this corner if need, but leave access to the scope from the garden shed with the white chair which will have the Astro-Lappy and be the Control Room
Also needed to 'pack out' the lower door hinge as the 'Caboose Front' door frame is not quite plum
And purchased some soft rubber matting which I 'knifed' into strips for a pressure seal around the door frame, will attach these another day along with the Triangle top section above the door.
Looks good mate Inspiring stuff. There's no way I'll be able to pull of most of that myself, will definitely need a kit or pay someone more knowledgable! I'm thinking I might start the ground prep for a slab though and start putting in the braces and concrete wire, level it all off etc so the spot is earmarked and I can do bits here and there over the months like you are. Those planets are just about ready for ya !
Looks good mate Inspiring stuff. There's no way I'll be able to pull of most of that myself, will definitely need a kit or pay someone more knowledgable! I'm thinking I might start the ground prep for a slab though and start putting in the braces and concrete wire, level it all off etc so the spot is earmarked and I can do bits here and there over the months like you are. Those planets are just about ready for ya !
Very advantages for some of us mate, speshly in the Burbs with small yards, yeah, take it one step at a time = slowly but Surely !
Me, Trailer & Cement Mixer are available if you want to save a few pennies
, ,
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Yeah a great little project to follow this, really enjoying it, cheers Bob
Mike
Thanx again for your feedback Mike & glad your finding it interesting
. Keep up the great work 
Mike, plenty of great ideas, quotations & even $Million inventions from all over the world have come from inside dunnies, 
