Mansfield Observatory

[Smartbomb]

Greetings people.

I thought I'd share with you the beginning of my observatory build for anyone that's interested. It will probably be a pointed lesson in how not to do it, as I've never attempted anything on this scale before!

I've taken inspiration mainly from three other builds on SGL, namely r3i, yesyes, and Malc-c. All are outstanding examples and if mine ends up half as good, i'll consider it a success.

It will be a sliding ro-ro roof type, built of timber, and will be 16'x8' in total with two 8'x8' rooms.

I'm building it at my dads place. This is for several reasons:

1: my place suffers heavily from LP, his does not.

2: my views are between 40° and 55° minimum above the horizon, his are 15°-ish

3: the wife wouldn't let me

I actually started the build last autumn, but several "real-life" problems caused the going to be extremely slow. Also, because the land slopes down very steeply towards a lake at the bottom of the garden, the groundwork took way more time (and concrete) than I'd originally imagined. Strangely, I didn't take any pictures of the concreting process, but I've taken a few since and if I can figure out how to post them on here I'll do that at a later date.

[kirkster501]

Looking forward to your build mate - good luck.  I am down the road from your in Radcliffe.  I am also starting out my build.  I did some marking out last night and have bought paving slabs, bricks and pier mounting stuff.  Going to start in earnest when (if i ever) I get some time off from dad duties.

Steve

[damnut]

Hi there,

Post up pics as you go, Mansfield is not bad for LP!!

[laser_jock99]

3: the wife wouldn't let me

LOL

[Smartbomb]

Thanks for the positive replies. I've managed to get a bit of actual construction done today so the floor is now down with a damp proof membrane below it. Also I've cut the OSB floorboards to size (for some reason they varied by over an inch), screwed them down and given them a coat of bitumen based paint, not for any long-term protection but mainly just for during the build when I can't cover it adequately.

I've also cut the corner posts and middle support posts to size and fitted them and painted the cut ends.

Next up will be the two 16' beams across the top which the rollers will run on. Hope to get that sorted on Sunday, weather permitting.

[r3i]

Hi Smartbomb,

Best of luck with your build and look forward to seeing lots of pics of your progress.

[Smartbomb]

Hi Smartbomb,

Best of luck with your build and look forward to seeing lots of pics of your progress.

Thanks mate. Your build is one of my "want that now!" Observatories.

Any ideas how I go about posting pics, by the way?

[damnut]

Hi Smartbomb,

To post pics click on 'more reply options' button on the bottom of the reply to topic option. You will then be able to select pics and add to your post.

Hope the obsy is coming along nicely.

[Smartbomb]

Right, having to resize many photos so this will be slow going.

This was obviously after finally finishing the concrete base and putting the frame for the floorboards down. Had the devils own job getting it level as the gradient of the downhill slope is around 30 degrees.

[Smartbomb]

Floorboards down. Strangely they were around 3" longer than the beams and had to be trimmed at one end. I'm putting that down to discrepancies in the timber merchants measuring process, not mine.

I put a vapour barrier underneath the floorboards, although I don't think it was necessary, the floor frame is lifted 2" above the concrete base as you can see from the pics, so water should just run away underneath.

I know it looks like the far right corner is way higher than the rest, but it isn't, its my Rubbish photography skills, I can't hold a phone straight lol.

PS Thanks Damian for sorting out the pic-posting.

[Smartbomb]

Coat of bitumen-based paint, mainly to help protect the OSB during the build. Although actually, I quite like the black...

[Smartbomb]

Far end posts up. Can also now see the pier block.

Will post up some more tomorrow. Food is calling.

[damnut]

That is coming along nicely, hope you missed the downpour & hail earlier.

[r3i]

Great progress and it looks like you are in a fantastic location.

[todd8137]

Nice job I own a obsy and it's priceless on those cold winter nights shut the roof and lock the door saves lots of time looks like the Kirkby in Asfield observatory as some competition now

Pat

[Smartbomb]

Thanks for the positive comments.

Here's where I'm now currently up to. Got to wait for more timber to be delivered, hopefully tomorrow, although the weather forecast for the next week or so doesn't look promising so it might be a while before any more progress is made.

[damnut]

Great shot and good progress, glad to see that you have not got the wind turbines in view!!

[Smartbomb]

Day off yesterday so I made an early start, given that the forecast was for rain after lunch.

Roped in some help from my dad and managed to get quite a bit done, despite having to make 2 trips to Wickes for various bits and bobs that I'd forgotten.

Got all the upright support beams cut and fastened in place, and each cut beam had just enough left over to make the noggins. I obviously planned it that way.... (insert joke here...)

Also got vapour barrier cut and fitted on two sides. Was not easy to it being rather too parachute-like in the wind...

I have to say I'm quite pleased so far. Here's how it looks at the moment.

[Smartbomb]

Another one...

[Smartbomb]

And one more..

[damnut]

Nearly there, its looking very good, when it's watertight you'll  have to find a spot for the box of sherry!!

[Smartbomb]

Already have the beer fridge waiting.

[Smartbomb]

Didn't really manage to get much done this week, although I did get the interior and exterior door frames in. Some extremely heavy winds earlier pretty much ripped the vapour barrier to shreds so Ive taken it down and am waiting for the cladding to arrive this coming week before putting it back up. Talking of cladding Ive gone for 22mm x 120mm "loglap" in Western Red Cedar. It looks reasonable from the pictures and its guaranteed for 15 years so it will probably outlast me!

I'll post some pics next week when the cladding starts to go up.

[damnut]

You are lucky did you see the roof on Tesco go!! Red Cedar Cladding sounds very nice.

[Smartbomb]

So the cladding is arriving to tomorrow and I have a decision to make. Do I just nail the stuff up and have lots of heads visible, or do I use some hidden fasteners? If anyone's used the hidden system before can you please post up which you used and where to get it from please? Any thoughts are appreciated.