At last i have started building my observatory, still loads to do but the main construction is complete. The main part of the observatory was a 7ft x 6ft metal panel shed which i got from Argos for £150, this is sat on a base of 20 20" x 20" flags that i laid back in March giving them time to settle, the problem with flags is water rises between the cracks, so on top of that is a concrete base which the 7ft x 6ft metal panel shed sits on.

The biggest problem i had was the overall size of my back garden which is quit small, so i had to do a bit of lateral thinking. i decided on folding stilts so maximising the available space remaining. I have hinged the folding rail to the main rail on the top of the observatory and the legs that support the extended rails fold back up in on them self at the far end of the rail and secured.

Once both stilts are extended a cross member is dropped into place across the top of the two rails at the end of the rails so not allowing the legs to spread and the roof to de-rail and even fall off.

Another concern i had was i didn't want all of the roof to be supported on the folding rail so i extended the rail on the main observatory by 3 inch which the last caster sits on so the main weight of the roof is evenly distributed across the main observatory rail and the folding rail.

The overall build cost me with materials and including the Metal panel shed £300, it took me 10 days to complete, i did loss a couple of days in between due to bad rain, but i got the main piece of work done within 2 weeks which is the time i took off work to do it .