The Starzend obsy build.

[Wyvern]

Been following and enjoying the observatory build threads on the forum, so I thought I'd "man up" and throw my build into the pot.

Firstly, buy a standard stupidly cheap, apex 8x6 shed from a retailer who decides to go out of business. ( Thanks Focus - I guess appropriate when you consider the sheds final useage!!??), then - 

A- Clear the ground, dig two foot deep hole for pier, insert and level up pier, start mixing concrete to fill around pier upto ground level. Have a drink,...... have several!!! - Enjoy the caffeine hit.

B- Lay paving slabs and enjoy levelling them up intensely on ground that has more undulations than is physically possible . Ensure Foreman finds work to be of satisfactory standard.

C- After so much fun, mix more concrete and fill pier almost to the top to make it nice and solid. Lay two piece floor on the perfectly level slabs and have Foreman again check proceedings.

D- Erect rest of "shed" with suitably accosted assistance. Don't walk into now solid pier during this part as this will hurt. Paint "shed".

E- Board up windows in the "shed" cos I don't need them. Paint "shed" again.

F- Fix solid timbers around front and both sides of "shed". The side pieces will support the wheels for the RoR (Roll off Roof).

G- On a line just above the side pieces, release any pent up tension or frustration by sawing the "sheds" roof off. Gosh, I feel so much better, hence the wry grin!! Therapy can be so much fun.

H- Have accosted assistant raise up roof - She's got an unnatural power to weight ratio- and slide in scaffold boards to rest roof back down on, thus leaving approx 1"gap between body and roof of "shed".

I- Using same size timber as the side timbers, fix good solid wheels to both sides of the roof for the observatory - (it's now no longer a "shed") -  roof to run on.

J- Affix suitable shuttering to stop (a) the wind whistling through the gaps and ( the roof falling off rails. This is done by the tried and tested method of trial and error, the pre portion of which is left entirely up to individual choice and level of patience. Also remember to fix a "back stop" on the rail, remembering that it's a Roll off Roof observatory, not a Rolling off Roof into the hedge line.

K- Make collar to fit into pier and fix Meade wedge in position. Before anyone asks, yes I do keep the scope body elsewhere , fitting it to the wedge takes just a couple of mins at the start and end of the observing session. This, after some work with the tape measure to calculate maximum pier and wedge height, enables the scope to view right down to the horizon over the observatory sides. The only "obstruction" is a tree to the N of the obsy with the roof itself rolling to the North and lying under the hedge line. My NW - N horizon is my worst with a hill rising to some 15 degrees altitude, though the same hill shields the skyglow from Aberystwyth some 7 miles away so I'll forgive it being there!!!

L- Deck out interior with suitable mod cons and invite friend to "official opening" ceremony.

Ta dah........ Done it.

I should point out that I've glossed over several minor items to try and show just how "easy" this type of conversion can be. The whole build took place over a couple of months, work happening when weather allowed..... that's why all the photo's show blue sunny skies...... which of course we get here all the time anyhow!!!!

So..... when are YOU going to do your build?..... no excuses now!

Les

[Gina]

Looks good   I see you have a "working dog"   Lovely

[r3i]

Very nice shed conversion job Les.  Looks like you've got a big sky to go at.

Especially like the last photo, your dog looks like it is sizing up the pier as a convenient alternative to a lamp-post.

[Clockwork_Orange]

Nice one Les

Like the build, you have made a very nice job of it. Hope it gives many years of good service to you.

If you put a heater in the greenhouse next to your obs you could use that as your warm room  . Only kidding, I know from a previous post you dont particularly like the idea of warm rooms. Plenty of room to the righthand side to bolt one on in the spring if you change your mind.

Regards

John 

[Wyvern]

Thanks for your kind remarks,

Gina - Yep, she's a "working" dog OK, German Shorthaired Pointer going by ..... what else but "Star".

Mike - She can size it up all she likes, we kept threatening her that this was going to be her outside kennel...... don't think she was impressed....... no lamp posts within a mile either........ result!

John - Really, nothing against cosy warm rooms. You imagers need somewhere to sit and relax while the technology does all the hard work.         Us visual types enjoy roughing it!! 

Thanks again. 

[DrRobin]

Very nice Les.

Just two questions, (1) How do you retract the roof without it hitting the scope? and (2) from Mrs DrRobin, can we have some more pics of your dog please?  We thought she might have been an English Pointer, but I will let Mrs Dr know.

Glad to see Star is helpful, guarding the site.  Our own dog just runs around and picks up small pieces of wood to chew, usually the piece I have just cut and sanded to fit.

Robin

[Wyvern]

Hi Robin,

I don't leave the scope on the mount when not in use, so provided you remember to remove it before closing the roof - not forgotten yet - all is well. The height of the pier + wedge was calculated to be just below the cut in point / photo G.

To satisfy Mrs DrRobin may I point you to her very own facebook page at   Waldburg - GSP

Many thanks

Les & "Star"

[Tinker1947]

Very nice neat job, you have done there.....

[laser_jock99]

Bit late- but good build there!

[Beulah]

Surprised I didn't see this before....you live in a fabulous area.  

Lovely to see Star and your wife, my pal.

Hope to see you guys on the 4th, life permitting!

[perfrej]

Looks great! But the dog doesn't wear a proper bow-tie... I thought people on the British Isles had some style.

/per

[Wyvern]

Hi Per,

Dog has an alibi............ It's a German Shorthaired Pointer not English Pointer........ and it's wearing her work overalls so the bow tie doesn't get dirty. 

Best wishes,

Les

[perfrej]

Haha!

Well, you know how it is... You put your best jacket and a really nice pair of pants on and leave for the party. Everybody else is dressed in a proper suit and the first question you get when you enter is: "Oh, going fishing, are we?"

/per