Telescope Reviews: Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed Clone Observatory

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Equipment Discussions >> Observatories

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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus

Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 738

Re: Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed Clone Observatory new

[Re: Starman27]
#3424808 - 11/02/09 12:19 AM

Quote:

There is no secret to the roof. Looking at the picture I posted you can see that the roof section for the front half slides over on to the back sections roof. No tracks. No wheels. The roof is light enough to be lifted at an angle and pushed onto the rear section. The key to doing this is that the roofs are held in place with large plastic bolts that screw in to threaded holes in the wall. They can be easilt removed or replaced by hand. Wgen the two roof sections are together they are watertight. I'll look for detail images of the construction. I can't take new ones until mid-November as I'm not in the same state.

I would appreciate some closeups when you can post them.

Since the company is out of business, I am considering building a roof that would work like yours.

Seeing some closeups would help enormously...especially since I have never seen the building in person.

Thanks

Post Extras:

Starman27
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 576
Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed Clone Observatory new

[Re: AlienFirstClass]
#3425289 - 11/02/09 10:55 AM Attachment (5 downloads)

I have found some images that may help. The full assembly set of images can be found on the MAPUG site under Shed Observatories.

This image shows how the roof sections are bolted down. The roof sections overlap the outside walls so that water runs off and the seal between the roof and the top of the wall is tight,

--------------------
Enjoy the dark,
Herman

Meade
14 LX200 GPS SMT
12 LX200 GPS
7 LX200 Maksutov
ETX 125
TAK FS128 NSV
Sky 90II
Lunt LS60ThaDS BF1200
Canon 5D Mark II
Illinois

Iowa

Post Extras:

Starman27
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 576
Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed Clone Observatory new

[Re: Starman27]
#3425293 - 11/02/09 10:58 AM Attachment (8 downloads)

This image shows how I reinforced the center with a 2 X 4, This modification was recommended by the manufacturer and had a place to bolt a 2 X $. It was useful in this applicatioon because the two roof sections were not bolted together at the center. I used two of the bolts to hold a rubber strap arround the center brace. This held both roof sections together at the center and held them down.

--------------------
Enjoy the dark,
Herman

Meade
14 LX200 GPS SMT
12 LX200 GPS
7 LX200 Maksutov
ETX 125
TAK FS128 NSV
Sky 90II
Lunt LS60ThaDS BF1200
Canon 5D Mark II
Illinois

Iowa

Post Extras:

Starman27
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 576
Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed Clone Observatory new

[Re: Starman27]
#3425296 - 11/02/09 11:01 AM Attachment (6 downloads)

This is the vioew of the rear section with the computer cubby. You can see that the bolts were used to hold the entire building togther.

--------------------
Enjoy the dark,
Herman

Meade
14 LX200 GPS SMT
12 LX200 GPS
7 LX200 Maksutov
ETX 125
TAK FS128 NSV
Sky 90II
Lunt LS60ThaDS BF1200
Canon 5D Mark II
Illinois

Iowa

Post Extras:

Starman27
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 576
Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed Clone Observatory new

[Re: Starman27]
#3425298 - 11/02/09 11:03 AM Attachment (4 downloads)

The view from the back of the shed showing the brace and the rubber strap. BTW this building has handled 65-75 mph straight line winds.

--------------------
Enjoy the dark,
Herman

Meade
14 LX200 GPS SMT
12 LX200 GPS
7 LX200 Maksutov
ETX 125
TAK FS128 NSV
Sky 90II
Lunt LS60ThaDS BF1200
Canon 5D Mark II
Illinois

Iowa

Post Extras:

Starman27
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 576
Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed Clone Observatory new

[Re: Starman27]
#3425301 - 11/02/09 11:05 AM Attachment (5 downloads)

Since the doors on all of the sides opened up to provide more access to the lower portion of the sky, the corners were braced by bolting the shelves to them and to the center support.

--------------------
Enjoy the dark,
Herman

Meade
14 LX200 GPS SMT
12 LX200 GPS
7 LX200 Maksutov
ETX 125
TAK FS128 NSV
Sky 90II
Lunt LS60ThaDS BF1200
Canon 5D Mark II
Illinois

Iowa

Post Extras:

Starman27
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 576
Loc: Illinois, Iowa

Re: Rubbermaid Slide Lid Shed Clone Observatory [Re: Starman27]
#3425308 - 11/02/09 11:11 AM Attachment (4 downloads)

This image shows the doors open. This was when I had my 1981 C11 in the shed observatory. I hope this has helped answwer some of your questions. A shed can be nodified easily to be adapted for observiving.

If you have any more questions, feel free to aks or PM me.

--------------------
Enjoy the dark,
Herman

Meade
14 LX200 GPS SMT
12 LX200 GPS
7 LX200 Maksutov
ETX 125
TAK FS128 NSV
Sky 90II
Lunt LS60ThaDS BF1200
Canon 5D Mark II
Illinois

Iowa

Post Extras:

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