Gina

A bit more pruning this morning mainly to tidy up the trees but removed a couple of branches that stood up above the rest as viewed from the observatory pier top. The edge of the dew shield can be seen at the left edge of the image.

The tree pruner arrived about teatime and I've been pruning. I didn't think to take a photo before doing the job - guess I was too keen to get on with it but I found a photo in my collection from earlier which gives a pretty good idea. The apple tree on the right has been almost destroyed by the goat eating the bark but she hasn't touched the elder tree on the left which has been the main trouble. Just taken another photo (after the prune) from the same location - the east window of my living room.

A gearbox seems to triple the price!

Limit switches re-installed with the new screened 4 core cable.

I haven't got time to watch that long video either!!

Yes, I've just started watching the video and the hazards certainly put me off. It seems worse than ABS filament, much worse!! I gave up on ABS because of the need for fume extraction. The other thing I noticed was the small size. This is evidently geared to small, precise component manufacture. After thinking that maybe I might try one when my funds recover as the price is reasonable, I now think "No - too much trouble".

£20 for 500g is similar to the most expensive filament so not that bad.

That's interesting! Please let us all know how you get on with it and the running costs etc.

I'm interested to see your roof design. Looks like you'll need substantial counterweights. Good luck.

Internal wiring of the control box is complete.

New power distribution box.

A decent lunar image. The MN190 scope and EQ8 mount.

Found some pics in another thread.

I had help with the 5m long cladding - two SGL members 😀

Ah!! One clear photo amongst dozens!!

OH NO!!! Looks like I started hosting my individual webcam images on photobucket!!!

Looks like I've still got the odd good photo 😀 Maybe I'll have enough - I don't need a full "blow-by-blow" account of the build!

Grumble, grumble, grumble. Now I know where most of my decent build photos have gone. Just have to use a few webcam shots I guess, and apologise for the poor quality.

I had to buy a large tarpaulin!

Good job I didn't host the webcam pics that way!

Pouring the pier and block - photos ruined by PhotoBucket. I shall never never rely on a photo hosting service to host my photos!!

Found some in another thread.

This is when the observatory was almost finished apart from the internal fittings. I know I had some good photos of building all the framework. I'll search the SGL archives again!! This is the end of this build thread.

I modelled the observatory on the computer (in SketchUp) which I might mention - not sure.