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Andy Dodson | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> H.S.T. (Huirangi Search Telescope) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

H.S.T. (Huirangi Search Telescope)

A pictorial album of the construction of the HST
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13 Feb. The offending Dynabolt in the East (last) wall, - in place at last
13 Feb. The offending Dynabolt in the East (last) wall, - in place at last		 13 Feb. The dome now on the assembled ring, with the dome wheels on
13 Feb. The dome now on the assembled ring, with the dome wheels on		 13 Feb. A close up of the dome wheels seen from above. (before the top gaurds are installed)
13 Feb. A close up of the dome wheels seen from above. (before the top gaurds are installed)		 The framing with some extra nogs to support the corner flashing. The framing is braced to ensure the diagonals are equal,
The framing with some extra nogs to support the corner flashing. The framing is braced to ensure the diagonals are equal,
15 Feb. The framing braced to ensure the building is 'square' as the cladding goes on.
15 Feb. The framing braced to ensure the building is 'square' as the cladding goes on.		 15 Feb. The cladding more than half way complete. Yep, not as hot up there today with the wind blowing
15 Feb. The cladding more than half way complete. Yep, not as hot up there today with the wind blowing		 16 Feb. The cladding is completed, (the corners will be flashed) and the dome support framing is started.
16 Feb. The cladding is completed, (the corners will be flashed) and the dome support framing is started.		 17 Feb. The support frame for the dome has been started
17 Feb. The support frame for the dome has been started
19 Feb. Cutting the ply for the door
19 Feb. Cutting the ply for the door		 20 Feb. Infill nogs to support the dome ring
20 Feb. Infill nogs to support the dome ring		 22 Feb. Jigsawing out the curve in the roof panels to take the dome ring. Cut panels in the background.
22 Feb. Jigsawing out the curve in the roof panels to take the dome ring. Cut panels in the background.		 22 Feb. Routering out a 5 mm channel in the 12mm ply to accept a tongue for the butt joints. Channel detail inset
22 Feb. Routering out a 5 mm channel in the 12mm ply to accept a tongue for the butt joints. Channel detail inset
28 Feb. Work on the 26-28 Feb has completed the ply roof and dome ring. The ply will be flashed & glassed
28 Feb. Work on the 26-28 Feb has completed the ply roof and dome ring. The ply will be flashed & glassed		 28 Feb, Exterior detail of the tongue in the ply butt joints
28 Feb, Exterior detail of the tongue in the ply butt joints		 28 Feb. Interior detail of the dome ring. There's a 3mm foam seal between the base of the glass ring and the ply
28 Feb. Interior detail of the dome ring. There's a 3mm foam seal between the base of the glass ring and the ply		 29 Feb. Door detail
29 Feb. Door detail
29 Feb. With help from Murray & pup Herman, the dome is now on. The dome rotates with just finger pressure.
29 Feb. With help from Murray & pup Herman, the dome is now on. The dome rotates with just finger pressure.		 3 Mar. Going over the door edges with the plane.
3 Mar. Going over the door edges with the plane.		 3 Mar. Chiseling out the door lock mortice
3 Mar. Chiseling out the door lock mortice		 3 Mar. Marking out and checking out the door for the hinges.
3 Mar. Marking out and checking out the door for the hinges.
3 Mar. Checking out for the door hinges
3 Mar. Checking out for the door hinges		 3 Mar. Attaching the upper shutter motor
3 Mar. Attaching the upper shutter motor		 3 Mar. Uppr shutter motor detail
3 Mar. Uppr shutter motor detail		 3 Mar. Screwing the dome rotation toothed bars on
3 Mar. Screwing the dome rotation toothed bars on
11 Mar. Obs. interior. Dome rotation control box on LHS with remote switch.
11 Mar. Obs. interior. Dome rotation control box on LHS with remote switch.		 22 Mar. The obs. with flashings. Looking SE
22 Mar. The obs. with flashings. Looking SE		 22 Mar. The obs from the West showing the door
22 Mar. The obs from the West showing the door		 22 Mar. The bench for the PC's etc
22 Mar. The bench for the PC's etc
22 Mar. Bench detail
22 Mar. Bench detail		 12 Apr 2008, Photo by Melanie Cooper, Carrying the 14 LX200R out to the observatory. (115 lbs)
12 Apr 2008, Photo by Melanie Cooper, Carrying the 14" LX200R out to the observatory. (115 lbs)		 12 Apr 2008, Photo by Melanie Cooper, ABout to take the 14 LX200R into the observatory
12 Apr 2008, Photo by Melanie Cooper, ABout to take the 14" LX200R into the observatory		 12 Apr 2008, Photo by Melanie Cooper, Myself & Murray holding it up to the wedge, & Rodney putting the cap screws in
12 Apr 2008, Photo by Melanie Cooper, Myself & Murray holding it up to the wedge, & Rodney putting the cap screws in
12 Apr 2008, Photo by Melanie Cooper, The scope on the pier
12 Apr 2008, Photo by Melanie Cooper, The scope on the pier		 12 Apr 2008. Photo by Rod Austin. Melanie's shooting position
12 Apr 2008. Photo by Rod Austin. Melanie's shooting position		 12 Apr 2008, The 14 LX200R mounted
12 Apr 2008, The 14" LX200R mounted		 12 Apr 2008, The 14 LX200R mounted
12 Apr 2008, The 14" LX200R mounted
31 May 2008, Mounting the 10w solar panel to keep the shutter battery charged Deb assisting 39 weeks pregnant
31 May 2008, Mounting the 10w solar panel to keep the shutter battery charged Deb assisting 39 weeks pregnant
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comment | share
Mat Jury 23-Jul-2008 03:14
Wow, thats a serious Pier
ursula 17-Mar-2008 09:23
Evenin' Andy,
Great progress - you're doing excellently well ! Some of the pics are fmailiar. My favourite (artistically) is the lowering of the two pavers. Could be disappearing into a wormhole or black hole.
Great stuff.
Ursula.
Ravi and Lakshmi Iyer 12-Mar-2008 00:47
Amazing job Andy. Excellent. Well done.
Guest 01-Mar-2008 04:21
looks great Andy, you guys have done an amazing job.
michael raynes
Michael Kruse 16-Feb-2008 04:48
Looking good Andy
John Cooper12-Feb-2008 08:49
Very interesting, well documented.
Andy Dodson03-Jul-2007 15:20
Hi Kim,

48" Sonotube " That's some Sonotube ! This new pier is nowhere near as massive as my existing pier, but I'm learning I think, and will be more than is really required
andy
Kim Colter 29-Jun-2007 00:11
Andy
When I was building the observatory that the 40 inch Dob is in, I dug a hole with a shovel that held the lower half of a nine foot piece of 48 inch sonotube. When the sonotube was in place, filled with re-bar, and ready for the five cubic yards of concrete it took to fill it, I wondered if some spy satellite was going to spot it and send the Blackstone types out to see if I was constructing a ground launched cruise missile site. I remember muttering, "I didn't know astronomy involved this much digging." Your pics are reminiscent of those days. Your pier looks solid.
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