I'm glad you're enjoying it Lester, would you like to enjoy it more and come up here and help me finish the damn thing off? It's taking me forever and the novelty is starting to wear off. I want to start using it!!!
I have been looking many many times on the images of your observatory and wonder why did you roll off the roof in a 90° angle from the main builgind and not just roll it off over the warm room ?
There were a number of reasons Rainer. Firstly the by doing it this way I could mount the rollers directly under the trusses and not have to add a support member to each side of the roof. Secondly, to roll it across the top of the warm room would have meant finding someway to support the rail bearers. This would have meant either mounting posts against the end wall (which I wasn't keen on) or installing very tall poles at the end of the warm room. I could probably have worked something out, but it was just so much easier to do it this way.
There were a number of reasons Rainer. Firstly the by doing it this way I could mount the rollers directly under the trusses and not have to add a support member to each side of the roof. Secondly, to roll it across the top of the warm room would have meant finding someway to support the rail bearers. This would have meant either mounting posts against the end wall (which I wasn't keen on) or installing very tall poles at the end of the warm room. I could probably have worked something out, but it was just so much easier to do it this way.
Hi Paul,
Thanks and it is understandable and as you have plenty of space building in a more simple way is always better.
I'm glad you're enjoying it Lester, would you like to enjoy it more and come up here and help me finish the damn thing off? It's taking me forever and the novelty is starting to wear off. I want to start using it!!!
Hi Paul,
I wish I lived a bit closer, it will not be long now and you will be using your observatory. I have just started building a roll off roof type observatory, and its good to see how others are made.
Well the roof sheets are on and it's time to measure up for the steel section of the pier. Easiest way.... drag the G11 in there and see how much extra height I need and still get under the sliding roof.
I know I could lay the RA axis flat to close the roof and go for a high pier so the OTAs clear the tops of the walls, but it's not really needed. At the max height of the tripod now I should be able to get 1.5 hours of M31. That's about as low as I would want to go anyway so if I make the final height of the pier so the scopes clear the roof perlins by 25mm then I'll be laughing.
The end result is I need a section of steel pier around 400mm long. That will put the bottom of the G11 at 1250 mm above floor height. At this height I can look through the 8" sct with guidescope on top and only need a single step stool to reach the guidescope.
Paul, that is a great looking observatory you got coming along. And you have an amazing location for it, looks perfect. Just thinking aloud here, instead of a ladder why not put in a stepped up false floor around the pier. So you can step up to the scope.
why not put in a stepped up false floor around the pier
That is an option I've considered Fahim. It's part of the layout that is still to be decided. It just depends on how much of a "trip" factor it will be when moving around the scope.
Looking good Paul ! Although the novelty of building wears off during construction you are going to be thrilled with the end result. I am going to be relocating my obs in 4 weeks time and am not looking forward to it at all. I am going to have to dismantle the whole shed screw by screw, lift the slabs and cart it all 100kms to my new location and then put it all back together again ( I hope ). I also have to move my furniture etc and I'm getting a bit old for this stuff.
However the benefits of dark skies are going to more than compensate for the effort.
Ah now Steve, here's one of the benefits of putting the Observatory on stumps. If I ever need to move and want to take it with me, all I have to do is cut six posts, remove the roller guide rail bearers and hoist it onto a truck and away I go.
Ah now Steve, here's one of the benefits of putting the Observatory on stumps. If I ever need to move and want to take it with me, all I have to do is cut six posts, remove the roller guide rail bearers and hoist it onto a truck and away I go.
Well that's the theory anyway
I had thoughts of simply lifting my shed into a truck as well but on checking rental truck details I found that the 3 tonne ( largest allowable on A class license ) truck dimensions state 2.2m x 2.2m for door opening and my obs shed is 2.4m deep by 1.8m high by 3m long .... so that idea took a dive. Hence the screw by screw approach. At least I specifically chose a shed which was constructed with screws and nuts and bolts rather than pop rivets because I knew I would be moving. I just have to number the parts with a marker pen for re build and take some pics for reference because I had it assembled by the shed supplier. It shouldn't be too hard because I had already removed the gable roof which was the most complicated structure .... the walls are fairly straight forward by comparison and my adapted flat roof simply lifts off it's tracks. There'll still be a bit of finger crossing as I will be alone for the rebuild. Isn't astronomy fun
Aint it though
I know that if I have to move mine it will be a bit more than a Class A license. Fortunately I have a Class O type LR (Light Rigid), which I think is up to 10 tonne (I'm sure someone here will know for sure). Mind you I don't think that will help as the Obs is 3.06 m wide.
Paul, If you ever need to move yours I have a truck licence, Can drive a semi if need be... Understand though, you put that obs on the back of a truck with me at the wheel.. I dare say you'd never see it again... And I'd have a mighty fine observatory in the middle of suburbia..
" Beware truckie's offering transportation of observatories "
Although I'm sure Alex would never do such as thing to a fellow IIS member.
Don't forget we can locate you with google maps these days Alex.
To get back to the subject of moving the obs .... I suddenly had a brainstorm this morning .... I may be able to just remove the corner panels of mine and unscrew the corner connections of the frame to end up with four mostly clad sections .... I'd only have to remove the sliding doors and roof tracks .... hope it works .... it would be a lot less hassle. Ah well I'll find out in about three weeks or so.
Good luck with it Steve. I hope it works out that way. Should make you move a lot less of a hassle, especially when it comes to putting it all back together again. You know how that goes, there are always a few extra nuts and bolts left over and the head scratchin' starts.
Good luck with it Steve. I hope it works out that way. Should make you move a lot less of a hassle, especially when it comes to putting it all back together again. You know how that goes, there are always a few extra nuts and bolts left over and the head scratchin' starts.
I already have a screw top plastic container put aside for the screws etc and if it works the way I want there won't be that many.
Unfortunately no Phil. Due to a few hiccups in the road of life there has been a bit of a go slow on the observatory for the past couple of months. HOWEVER....I believe there will be some more activity Wednesday or Thursday next week. Stay tuned.
HI ,
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO THROW SOME WIRES INTO THE MACCANO SET AND MAKE YOUR EX...SPARKY GREEN ... jUST LET YOU KNOW YOU ARE DIGGING THE TRENCH!!600MM DEEP.
Cheers Zub
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I want to start using it!!!
And I'd have a mighty fine observatory in the middle of suburbia.. 
jUST LET YOU KNOW YOU ARE DIGGING THE TRENCH!!600MM DEEP.
