Cladding

To my surprise the cladding arrived this morning and not Saturday as arranged (not complaining). So another chance to get on, 5 sides have been done. Very simple to do just attatch the end strips and slide the 300mm pieces in, therefore aligning perfctly with the top that will soon support the fixed ring. I have also battoned at each 300mm intersection to provide additional strenth and support.I am nearly ready for  a fellow society member Tony to measure up for the steel door. He is the same chap who made the door for the last observatory. The doorway in will be on the left side nearest the fence (north facing) this affords easy acces when scopes are parked.

Framework

The wind was a bit fierce and luckily the rain cleared to allow long enough for me and my daughter to get the framing up. It gave her 40 minutes away from essay writing so I think she didn't mind helping. So what have we got I decided that the observatory would be  hexagonal in shape. I have used 3" x 2" for the general structure and used the same for the flooring, once. Not a bad morning's work. Apologies to "Nutty" and "Jack" I had arranged to get a days golf in today but the bad weather has left me a little behind schedule. I have the cladding coming tomorrow for the exterior sides so todays job is to cut the batons and to get rid of the rubbish.

What conservatories were made for

  When the weather is foul and the work still needs to be done do I don the wet weather gear and wellies and slog it out like a true Brit, NO WAY that is what conservatories were made for I have spent the last few hours glueing and screwing the framework together in comfort and watching the first day of the British Open Golf. It has eased up a bit so I think will brave it and get on. More pics soon.

Groundbreaking for the new Hills Observatory

Welcome back to all my fellow bloggers. Apologies for the delay but I am back, and pleased to announce that groundworks are under way on my new observatory.
I have decided to have a go at a dome. Gasps I hear all around. I just dont have the space for a roll roof. It will be a six sided wooden framework below a 6 foot dome. Dome concepts are still developing at present fibreglass is the preferred option. I have taken some ideas from many of the amateur domes I have seen and will post some links to the shortly to some of the amazing projects out there.
My view has somewhat improved with an almost to the horizon view to the south.

Above is a shot of the garden where Hills Observatory is to be built. I was quite lucky in the respect that huge patio slabs have been laid previously and are level. I have removed 2 slabs for the hole for the pier. A work colleage is making me a custom made pier. I have dug a reasonable depth but hit solid clay and rock. so the pier fixing bolts will be raised a couple of inches higher on the observatory floor after the flooring is fiited. No great worries really better that than a bad back trying to excavate another 6 inches. 

Everthing is nice and level and now waiting the concrete pour. Hopefully this afternoon! fingers crossed.