My New Roll off Roof Observatory

[Si W]

Hi All

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 .

I hope you all like it.

Thanks

Simon

[rawhead]

Looking good

Just finishing Mark II roof on my obsy/shelter today. Pooped!

Cheers

[Bizibilder]

That is an exellent solution to the rail/space problem! A very nice observatory that you have there Simon!

[RogerTheDodger]

Took me a few mins to work it out from the pictures, but that is rather ingeneous!

[Gina]

Interesting A clever idea - I like it

[Freff]

Ingenious, well done and practical.

[JamesF]

It is indeed. If you had much less space you'd need a cabriolet obsy

James

[Si W]

Thank you all for your comments, believe me it wasn't a sudden inspiration, i had a few sleepless nights and a lot of head scratching to figuring this one out.

[Si W]

I've been quite busy over the last 6 weeks since I first posted this thread. I've managed to get hold of a second had PC with a 2.8 GHz processor, and a Gig of RAM from a mate of mine for a good price, what I really wanted it for was it has Windows XP, which is great for most Astronomical software as far as comparability is concerned, as well i managed to get my hands on a small metal Computer desk which was destined for the tip, and fits perfectly in my new observatory.

The first job was to get it on my wireless network, the problem i had was with the observatory being all metal, it was drowning out most of the signal from my wireless router in the house, so I went to Maplin and got an antennae style wireless adapter drilled a hole in the side of wooden rail and pushed the antennae though, whipped a bit of silicon around it to water proof it and it works a treat.

Once I'd loaded all my Astronomy software/files/picture's etc. I decided to set-up a VNC link between my laptop in the house and PC so I can tap into the observatory PC and control everything including the telescope, I'm using VNC viewer which is free to download off the Net. Next was file sharing over the network so i could move files to and from the laptop and PC over my home network. Once that was done i installed a webcam in the corner of the observatory so i could keep an eye on the telescope from in the house on my laptop.

The next purchase was 4 storage box's just to keep everything neat and tidy and out of the way, i have also installed a red low wattage light so not to disrupt my night vision.

What i have done just before we had them bad winds a few weeks ago was to fit some G clamps on all 4 corners of the observatory, mainly to secure the roof from the wind, but also to keep the local scallies from lifting the roof off and getting in.

With the mains to run everything i have used an old plastic drill case to keep the plugs and plug banks dry when the roof is rolled back and the computer supply under the desk but off the ground, and also out of the way so there not a trip hazard at night. The only job now is to run mains underground from the house with a permanent supply, once that's done I can fit an alarm system and use the web cam as a security camera, and that's everything done.

[Gina]

Neat Well done

[Aoraki]

Looking good, do you have any problems with condensation?

[Si W]

Looking good, do you have any problems with condensation?

Hi Aoraki

No, not as of yet, I do have small ventilation hole's near the floor, not by choice, it's where the panels overlap (must be part of the design) and fit to the base, they must work a bit like air bricks on the side of a house so the floor space can breath and damp cant accumulate, saying that i am monitoring it closely, it's looking good so far considering how much rain we've had, it's as dry as a bone.

[Vlad]

I have just seen the new observatory,. Great stuff! Mine was made in a similar manner and completed in late 2010. It, too, is a metal garden shed with my own changes to the roof. I also lined the internal walls with 8mm thick rubber matting, held on with silicone. It keeps it black and thermal, with no condensation. I think it's a great little observatory.

The scope is a 127 triplet Apo, on HEQ5 Synscan Pro.

Fabulous scope!

[yesyes]

Interesting idea to roll the roof into the neighbour's garden. Saves a lot of space..

[Gina]

[laser_jock99]

I have just seen the new observatory,. Great stuff! Mine was made in a similar manner and completed in late 2010. It, too, is a metal garden shed with my own changes to the roof. I also lined the internal walls with 8mm thick rubber matting, held on with silicone. It keeps it black and thermal, with no condensation. I think it's a great little observatory.

The scope is a 127 triplet Apo, on HEQ5 Synscan Pro.

Fabulous scope!

Your scope looks great!

[Vlad]

Hmm. Someone elses garden. Not thought of that.

It actually rolls off into public land not maintained by the council. It looks like a jungle of weeds surrounded by over two hundred small trees.

[Gina]

I expect someone owns it.

[yesyes]

probably HM The Queen.

[Chris]

You've done a great job there, were you tempted to dig in a pier?