ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Wanna make a scope? Or better still, grind a mirror yourself. Or, you have some good tips in making a really useful accessory? This is the place to show what your hands can do...
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Barry
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ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Barry »

Finally!!!

Wowee, the plan is coming together! A while back I sent my design concept and dimensions to a building engineer. A couple of weeks ago I received the engineer drawings for the structural support. The drawings look fantastic, hi-tech and very professional. And get this, the awesome guy did it for free! Last week I started buying steel and cutting, drilling, welding and assembling.

The very next day, I got a message from a company called Diversified Computing and Consulting. They have very generously donated $500 to get the observatory started and have pledged $500 every month for the next six months! Wow! I am blown away and was really lost for words. Such generosity is rare and I am sure that future patrons of this resource will be very grateful. I know I am!

I also got a $100 donation from a troop-commander of mine from my army days, two astronomy mates, a church friend, plus a pledge at tax time from my insurance broker! There’s a long way to go, but all this certainly helps! At any rate, it gets it all moving and that’s often the hardest part.

This week I have bought the bearers and cut them to size, cut the support studs and cut and drilled all the joining brackets. The welder is coming tomorrow to weld all the brackets on then I can start bolting it and erecting it!! WOOOHHOOO!!

To keep up with progress, Here's a link to the project.

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Clifford60
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Clifford60 »

HI Barry,

Congratulation!, How nice if I can build one here or nearby for the same purpose.
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Airconvent
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Airconvent »

Congrats Barry on your latest venture! Can't wait to see it completed. :)
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Barry
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Barry »

Slowly getting little bits done at a time now. I only get about an hour of daylight after work at the moment, so it's frantic activity the moment I get out of the car.

Progress so far. http://asignobservatoryii.webs.com/obse ... uction.htm
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Barry
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Barry »

WOOHOO! The Bearers are up! It took a few hours today and into the night, but the hardest part (heaviest) is done!

Progress report here. http://asignobservatoryii.webs.com/obse ... uction.htm

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Airconvent
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Airconvent »

Wonderful view even without the dome, Barry! :)
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kensou
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by kensou »

this is way too awesome!!
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Clifford60
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Clifford60 »

wow, such a nice view, with a dome it will be superb.
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Sam Lee
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Sam Lee »

Hi Barry, you have a great write-up of ASIGN II in your website, the cardboard model is a beauty!
Post us more photos along the way!

Sam
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Barry
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Re: ASIGN Observatory II is back on track!

Post by Barry »

Thanks guys.

It doesn't look like much, but I got a heap done today on the observatory. Tomorrow all the studs go up. I thought I would jump in the photo and stand still for 30 seconds tonight to give a sense of scale. (I'm 6'2)

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