1965healey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 2844
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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You and your wife have done a FANTASTIC job on your obs and you need to stop kicking yourself because YOU don't think it's PERFECT! NONE of them are perfect! If you ask anyone here, and they are HONEST, every single obs build has got a couple of warts. Roofing, paint, caulk and siding cover a multitude of sins! Your job looks great and you and your wife should be very proud of what you've accomplished. Now go play in the pool for awhile!  
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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o1d_dude
o1der than dirt
Reged: 10/03/07
Posts: 1430
Loc: The Big Tomato, California
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You're being way to critical of the work you and the missus have done. You both went from not knowing much about building something to having DONE what a lot of us only dream of doing for ourselves.
That's a 5 out of 5 in my book: 
Once you get your siding up, the trim in place, and the painting done, the landscaping in, you'll be amazed at how good your observatory looks.
Of course, we'll be expecting pictures...
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Kit
"There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys." - Red Green
* A bunch of old ATM stuff that cost me next to nothing
* A bunch of new commercial stuff that cost me an arm and a leg
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2184
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"NONE of them are perfect! "
WRONG....MINE IS PERFECT! I built it and it looks exactly like I built it and it does exactly what I want it to do, and it's not pretty, but then, neither am I....There you go...just like I said, PERFECT!
And not only that, but the Ole WidowMakers is as close to mine as anybodies....perfect, well maybe not perfect, but I have to agree with the Healey-Monster...FANTASTIC is definitely a word that comes to mind. Now get out there and enjoy it!
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Steve Durham
www.margesmonograms.com
(Marge made me do it)
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1965healey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 2844
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Post deleted by 1965healey
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2184
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Post deleted by Spoonsize
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Steve Durham
www.margesmonograms.com
(Marge made me do it)
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1965healey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 2844
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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PM sent to Spoonsize, now back to your regularly scheduled thread. Sorry about the hijacking!
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28619
Loc: montana
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I agree with Karen, 100%!
You & your wife have every right to be so proud of the job you have done! You had never built anything, yet, with a set of plans & each other, you persevered & now your Observatory is almost complete! It is beautiful! Anyone that picks at it, hand 'em the tools & tell 'em to go for it  I'm glad your sweet wife made you post the pics, as we've followed it thru the process, from just a thought, to now; so we want to share your joy!
You will find, an Observatory is a work in progress; whenever you are in it, you will think, "Hey, this needs this, or that should be caulked". That's what makes it enjoyable; well except for the viewing from it. 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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THEPLOUGH
Nailed Again
Reged: 01/11/08
Posts: 3957
Loc: Carlisle, Cumbria, ENGLAND
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What can I say that has not already been said... Perfect just perfect... Now GO spend YOUR last $5 on some chocolates for that lovely wife of yours.....
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Geoff...
Nexstar 8SE -- 9X50 RACI Finder scope... 6.3 F/R.-- 13 & 17mm Hyperion EPs.. 25mm Celestron E- Lux EP.. 2X Celestron X-Cel Barlow----- Celestron solar filter + A few bits and pieces..
Never give up on any one..... MIRACLES happen every day....
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16399
Loc: Brooker, FL
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If it works, don't fix it. There are many techniques to getting the job done - many people would have mucked it up, but I salute your having stuck with it and gittin' 'er done!
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Wow, thank you all so much!
Im glad I listened to the wife, I thought about making a drawing and saying 'it kinda looks like this-thanks and seeya later!' 
You all are right too. Just like my wife, yall make a great point about getting this far with absolutely no experience.
Im feeling much better now, thanks again.  
Well, as soon as I posted earlier it quit raining and I went out to bolt down those side boards that just go over the walls, the long outside board like on Scotts wheel box, and the wife came out and we opened up the siding box to see what would happen.
Wow! That stuff will hide all flaws!
We had white and gray to choose from, and white was the closest to the house siding so we went with it.
Take a look, you can see it taking shape now, how exciting!
We were both so stunned at how pretty it became we didnt want to stop, but had to 'cos we got stumped at 'finishing' (I think thats the word) right around the fold down wall, and the wall right under it.
We gotta figure that one out. Any suggestions would be taken into consideration.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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1965healey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 2844
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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I'll send you a picture of mine when the sun comes out, I think the top of the siding is just tucked into a j-channel but I'll have to look more closely at it.
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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1965healey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 2844
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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I found this one, looks like the top piece of siding has been slipped under the j-channel.
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Thank you very much, Karen.
Good Morning yall.
I took my cup of coffee and walked around the house looking at our siding this morning, who pays attention to stuff like that? Typical man I guess, I never noticed the stuff before.
I think the wife & I are showing more care and attention to ours, than the guy who put our house siding on did. It looks like wherever there is a break hes used something, perhaps its the J channel, not to be confused with the F channel we found that I havent figured out what to do with.
Did I mention I dont get paid much for thinking? 
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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denjo
sage
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 444
Loc: Creve Coeur, IL
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I have been following your tread here since the beginning but never posted anything on it until now. You and your wife have did a wonderful job on your observatory. You both will love it and it will give you many years of enjoyment. You will just be amazed at how much more time you will have to observe not having to set everything up and tear it down each time. You two are amazing. Happy times are just around the cornor and your almost there. There is nothing esle like having your own observatory.
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Coopatory Observatory
Astro Tech 111 APO
Atlas Mount
W/O 80mm EDII F/6.8
Orion Starshooter Guider
Black Knight Binoviewer
Canon 20Da
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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Thank you very much, Denjo! Thats a very kind thing to say.
Everyday im amazed at how nice people can be here, after some of the places ive found on the web. 
Well, when the wife got off of work we put a little more siding up on the big East side wall and decided now was as good a time as any to try to finally open the roof up once.
Since I had a major part in its development, ive been leary to open it expecting it to come crashing down and kill everyone within a 50 foot radius, but it worked!
Um. we played with it here and there before but never really opened it much, and since weve added the metal roofing and the big 2x10's on the sides (2 on each West and East wall) its become alot heavier.
Im hoping it just needs the angle iron oiled a bit to clean it up and maybe the wheels came with no grease in them.
The hardest part for us was cutting the siding corners to go around the little Y braces weve got coming off the North wall.
Its gonna take an awful lot of siding. Luckily I went and got another $188.00 box of siding today which makes the second. We havent opened it yet but were dang close to needing to.
I tried to take a shot after I drilled more holes in the angle iron and opened it up partially, but it was getting dark, hopefully youll be able to see something.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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And yes, we plan on picking all those scraps up....eventually.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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WidowMaker
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/29/07
Posts: 815
Loc: Frankfort, Ky
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You can see where we had to stop on the siding, and open the roof to be able to hammer the siding down. Its clicked in and doesnt seem to be going anywhere so I went back to drilling holes in my last little bit of daylight.
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Sleep is the Cousin of Death
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csa/montana
Astro Ambassador
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 28619
Loc: montana
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Looking wonderful! You two are a great team!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
AstroTech 66ED / Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Tak LE 5mm B/TMB 3.2
7mm Pentax XL, 10mm Pentax XW
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
22mm Pan, 35mm Pan
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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1965healey
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/23/07
Posts: 2844
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Michael, it took me a week of opening and closing the roof on my obs before I finally got past the fear that it would launch itself into the drive way and crush my car when I closed it or just keep sliding on the outriggers and end up in the backyard when I opened it. Scott put a motor on mine and when it hits the stops he installed the motor cuts off and the roof stops on a dime. I learned not to tilt my head back and watch it travel unless I want to get really dizzy.
You're looking better and better every day! I can envision some white vinyl lattice around the base of it and some flowering shrubs. There's a beautiful plant called an Esperanza that would look great. Now that you're a carpenter if you ever feel like picking up a hammer again you could build a nice deck under those outriggers and maybe a couple of hammocks hanging from the outriggers for you and your wife to relax in while the scopes get to ambient temp. Once again, it's a beauty!
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1965Healey (Karen)
Woodlawn Lake Observatory
Celestron CPC 800/FT MIcro/APT Wedge
SV NHNG 80mm #0261/CG5-GT
Celestron Omni 150 XLT
Losmandy rails/rings
Starizona CWeight system
Celestron Neximage
Sony a100 DSLR/ZigView S2
Meade DS60's w/Autostar (2)
Meade LPI/Meade DSI-C/DSI ProII
750cc Honda Shadow Spirit (Thanks Dad!)
1965 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII
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Galaxyhunter
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/06
Posts: 894
Loc: Northern Illinois
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Before you staple up your foil insulation, you should plan on how your going to vent the air gap between your foil & the steel. By venting the gap, you will go a long way in keeping the inside from getting real warm. 
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Carl
Hawkeye Observatory
Observatory - "Hawkeye"
Scope - 18"f4.5 on a GEM
8" f4.9 Orion piggy backed
Drive - Sitech Technology
DSC - Sky Commander
Planetarium - MegaStar
Camera - ST2000XM
Desire - comes & goes
Talent - ZERO, NONE, NADA (But I can Wish)
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