Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Last January I got a call from the Astronomy Club of Akron, of which I'm a member but don't often have time to participate, in regards to a 1968, 10'6" Ash Dome that was donated to the club by a wonderful lady who's husband unfortunately had passed away a few years ago. The club didn't have a need for the dome and asked if I could remove it.
Freddy Huffman, a long standing, very active club member and I went to have a look. the Ash had been neglected for quite some time. Wasp nests and old axle grease filled the tracks and rails which prevented the motors from doing their thing and the dome had been painted with that aluminum RV paint which was no longer holding up. This would be a project.
We went out and dis assembled the dome in April. I wasn't able to take pics because it was pouring down rain.
Next the Ash was sand blasted, sanded, degreased and scrubbed down to get it back, as close to possible to it's original glory.
Since I picked up the Meade 178ED, my old Sirius Dome was just too small so we figured the Ash should replace it.
Here's the HOC as it used to be.
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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My son, Jason and I removed the Sirius and replaced some decking.
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Rusty came out for our star party, BEOTS, a few days early to lend a hand. Building round stuff out of square lumber is always interesting.
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Making some progress.
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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The next evening we had the dome installed and the shutter motor in. The following morning Rusty put the rotation motor in while Jay and I put the siding on.
Miller time
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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We got the equipment in thursday and BEOTS started Friday.
CNsters at BEOTS
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Twilight and Half Meter's 30 incher.
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40233
Loc: montana
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Scott, what a magnificent Dome! It's so good to see something of this calibur rescued, & restored; couldn't think of a better place or family to give it a new beginning! 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Joel
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 2585
Loc: Merrimack, NH
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Cool pictures Scott! Thanks!
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Joel
10" LX200GPS UHTC-SMT
Vixen 80EDsf
Canon unmodded 350D
QHY8
Turkey Hill Observatory
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JAT Observatory
Got Cookies?
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 6788
Loc: Eastern PA
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Nicely done Scott.
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://www.jatobservatory.org
Currently a SV102A, WO 66mm & 10" LX200GPS OTA on a Paramount ME
(these OTAs subject to change without notice)
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Thanks guys. I really like the old classic stuff. I'll never part with the 1970ish 12.5 f/8.
It was a lot of work but this thing was made to last. It just needed some TLC and now I think it's ready to work for another 40 years.
It really did clean up nicely
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Another view
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Of course it wouldn't be complete without displaying the sign that Mike Lewis had made for us.
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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I had thought about putting up an 11'6" Sirius that I had but the lower shutter design hinges out so it would hit the "Tardis" observatory when it rotated.
The Ash is designed so the lower shutter detatches for viewing near zenith.
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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And reattatches for viewing lower, all by the pull of a lever that controls a heavy duty latch.
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Rotation motor
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Original throw switches for rotation and shutter operation
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RobVG
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 739
Loc: Seattle Washington
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Very cool Scott. Restoration projects can be so rewarding.
Did you use anything to protect the finish after the sandblasting?
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C11 SGT(XLT)CG-5
Observatory (page 5)
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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The fellow who had the dome had glued 1" thick black foam rubber to the inside. This was a mess. All dry rotted and nasty. The glue just wouldn't come off so the last big project here is to paint the inside with some of the roll on Rhino Coat truck bed liner stuff. Should work to cover the glue and retard the sound bouncing all over in there. Those of you with domes know, the sound plays with you a bit the way it bounces.
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Scott Horstman
Vendor- Backyard Observatories
Reged: 03/11/04
Posts: 8074
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Quote:
Did you use anything to protect the finish after the sandblasting?
Hi Rob. It's aluminum except the ring is Galvanized. We thought about spraying it with a good primer (and special primer for the Galvanized) and then white or silver paint but it looks pretty classic so we figured we'd see how it holds up as is.
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