Building G D Obsy

2.4 metre by 3.6 metre cement base

Starting at the base???

The base with services pipe installed and the Optical instrument platform. The base was 150mm (6") of cement thick with the overall area being 2.4m (8ft) by 3.6m (12ft). The optical instrument room is 2.4m (8ft) by 1.5m (5ft) and lies within the overall area. The instrument platform is raised by 100mm (4") and exactly leveled.
Timber base supports around the edges

Base with timber supports these are bolted down to support the whole structure. As you see the pipe has been cut back keeping it long stopped waste blocking it. by the way the edging was recycled from an old green house. They looked really good until the cement spilled over all adds to the strength. The base was poured onto a plastic sheet to stop the damp rising.

 
Plastic rain guard with timer on top
The plastic rain guard is fitted under the bottom timbers of the panels. The rain guard is 150mm (6") damp proofing plastic. The gap between the instrument room and the control room is for cable access.
First uprights
The first section of the Optical room is erected. The panels are either 1.8m (6ft) long by 1.8m (6ft) high going down to 1.7m (5ft 8") at the front for the centre panels. The side panels of which there were two of each size were 2.4m (8ft) long and 1.5m (5ft) long.
Uprights being installed
Both ends on and now we can see the drop of the roof towards the front. The door way is front left and is wider than a normal door to allow for changes to equipment.
Internal partitioning
The dividing panel from the control room to the instrument room is built up this will also have a door and a double glazed window. Each room has it's own independent set of white and red lights. This helps red to aim with night vision and white when packing up or generally working in the control room.
The roof goes on
Something's need two. My friend john Fletcher helps with the roof plastic covering and lifting the runoff roof section onto the run ways. The runoff roof was made up on the ground but the run ways were installed first as they then dictated the measurements of this section.
Sliding roof panel and runway
It's getting dark most days ended like this but screwing the timber together helped reduce the noise so you could work on a bit. Notice the run ways 50mm (2") angle iron and dolly wheels for the runoff roof section. Pre painting the timber and iron work helped speed up the build no end.
Ship lap sides
The first side goes on this really stiffen up the building. Ship lap timber is easy to work with and gives a pleasing finish. The help of a second person speeds up this part of the build no end too.
View of the inside note the tea chair and insulation
The view from inside the chair helped when drinking tea and working out the next step finishing this side also helps shelter you from view when it all gets to much you can pretend to be working on the other side????. Note the builders paper a tip from my friend Graham helps water proofing and heat lose/radiation from the control room.
Time for a cuppa
It time for a break not to many thought as once you start its hard to put the tools down. Tramping around the site makes a mess of the ground but shell have to be broken you know. Just the door and internal work to do. The control room has rock wool insulation in the walls and a 4mm (1/5") plywood lining to help keep heat in. The instrument room has no insulation to help keep the scope at an ambient temperature.
The door goes on let me in

Door goes on Steve who helped with the ship lap looks on in awe or perhaps "awe that's the door, right ok". Within the design have been build some security measures like angle iron in the walls and doors as well as other measure which you would think of to suite your situation. All the materials need to be fire proofed in some way I used the materials from my local builder merchants who were very helpful in all sorts of ways thanks guys.

"That's it easy, well with friends and splinters yes"
Side view of observatory and open instrument room
The roof slides back over the control room which aids in stopping convection currents rising from the control room and reduces the room taken up by the run off roof.
Looking down into the instrument room
Here you can see the run way and instrument room
View of the instrument and control room viewing window
The scope and double glazed window made from perspex. The wholes in the run off roof are to reduce heat build up in the instrument room. Note the lack of insulation in this rooms outer walls. But they are lined to help weather proof them and aid with security.
The control room with its mostly home built instruments
The control room the main cabinet is heated and has a thermostat control to protect the instruments. Most of the instruments are home built as radio astronomy uses odd frequencies and the imaging PC is an old 486 as this is all that's needed. A laptop would be more useful in the future and easy data analysis ( and save room).