Astrokev

Be sure to post lots of pics. I may copy your design and methods!

I was just going to ask - what have you used for the azimuth bearing? It's a while since I made a dob, but is still "traditional" to use formica and teflon pads, or is that old school nowadays?

OK Sickbag at the ready

I've just finished painting the pier...... so here it is

Yep, have to say that does look quite good. I eat my words.

All you need now is a load of matching accessories!

cheers Kev

Do you mean the short low down piece at the back or the tall piece with a cut out at the front?

I presume the latter?

No, I meant the short low down piece at the back! (why didn't I use that phrase!). I think comfortable viewing position is more important, so this will ultimately dictate the height of the axis and, hence, the amount of space under the primary end of the tube to add box-bracing pieces etc.

I'm sure your design will be perfectly stable, and it looks good.

The thought of using a relative to test observing heights made me smile for some reason!

Very nice mate. I'm going to make mine soon. I just need to decide on side bearings.

110mm plastic pipe end-stops are ideal for small scopes. Any big DIY shop will have them.

Shane,

The height of the "back brace" seems quite high. I guess this is to help keep the sides rigid, but with the result of increasing the overall height (to allow the OTA to swing into the base so as to reach the zenith). This will obviously make the whole assembly more top-heavy and reduce stability.

Is it possible to design with a lower back brace to keep the COG as low as possible? Did you consider this? Comfortable viewing height is important, of course, which you may have factored in.

I'll be making a dob base at some point this year so will be trying to optimise the design to achieve the right balance of low COG / low weight vs. rigidity.

Like the cut-outs though - aesthetically pleasing and serve a useful purpose.

I'd agree on the pricing. This is a tree house I built for the children a couple of years back (before it was quite finished):

[ATTACH]60393[/ATTACH]

It's not that different from an obsy build and was in the same sort of ballpark as regards cost.

James

Wow, but imagine the cost of the pier !

I'm sure it's very tasteful! Can you attach sound files to play a suitable fanfare?

I've also collected the pier head which has been anodized a nice deep purple - all being well I'll be filling the pipe up with concrete this evening and setting the head into it tonight - Heck, if the tracking arrives today (as it should) and I get chance to fit the wheels I could then at least get some astonomy in if we get a clear night !

Now need to book a few dry days over the coming weekend to get this thing watertight

Great. look forward to seeing more pics. I have the sick-bag at the ready, just in case, for when you reveal the psychodelic purple adapter!

Good thinking!

Thanks. All being noted down for when I eventually plan my own!

Malcolm,

Your build is looking fantastic and I'm very envious!

This is probably somewhere in the thread, but can't see it - what size studding have you used ?

Thanks

Kevin

I'm planing on using some strip brush, the sort of thing you find used for draft excluders. I've seen loads on the net, just need to find a local souce

Good idea.

I was thinking of maybe trying strip brush to help "seal" the gap between my ROR and the walls to help keep out bugs etc. Not sure whether this would work, but feels like it should. I'd be interested in knowing whether others have tried it for this purpose.

Kevin

I've read that some folks put a layer of expanded polystyrene in the gap for the same purpose. When I eventually get round to planning / building my own obs (when....!) I currently envisage having the central hole around the pier covered by a separate hatch (for access), that's cut in 2 halves with a semi-circle cut-out in the centre, that fits closely to, but not touching, the pier itself. A thin length of foam would fill the small gap around the pier. With thought, I guess there's several ways this could be achieved.

I'll have to spend some time this weekend attending to family maters (the kids keep moaning that they want to go somewhere for a day out !! )

Any planetaria in the Herts area?

Back to your design - I like the sketch and looking good. In Gina's obs design running in parallel with your own, she is designing in guttering for the warm room section. I note you're not doing this.

Just wondering if you considered this and decided that it wasn't needed?

Kev, not a daft question at all. Its my Bricky. Rather than describe how it works have a look at this Bricky Tools

Mind you I'm not as quick as Nole is

Hey, how cool is that!

Looking good. What is the red bit of kit that's lying on the top course? Haven't seen or come across one of those. What is it for? (apologies if this is a daft question)!

cheers

Kevin

Looking very good so far Malcolm. Watching this build with interest. I hope you get a run a decent weather for stage 2!