784 replies to this topic

[rwiederrich]

John set up and was imaging..or well aligning and calibrating his very awesome 16"RC on a very impressive Cronos mount.

He and I ae going to work out some kind of arrangment for him to keep it here in my OB. It's far to computerized for me currently...I'll need a year of classes to bring me up to speed on it.

He has all the bells and whistles...Awesome SBIG camera electric camera rotator..and freeky cool filter wheel.
TAK spotter and this scope can do everything.....I'm floored. He said it is well worth more then 120K....

And he wants to keep it here.....

Rob

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[Chris Schroeder]

I can see why he wants to keeps it set up all of the time. That must take quite a bit of to set up and tear down. Impressive though

[rwiederrich]

I can see why he wants to keeps it set up all of the time. That must take quite a bit of to set up and tear down. Impressive though

Yeah it took us 5 hours to set up...it's pretty intriquate.

A true professional instrument.

He said he wants it in a permanent location so he can just come out and use it.
I would make some casters for it so I can roll it around then lock it down when it is in use.

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Well had my Systic fybrosis walk and I'm home...I visited for a bit with John..then RobVG showed up from Seattle.

He came by to help me with the West wall of my OB and while he was here I employed him to help me remove my Cave mount from the 8ft pier....BOY was that fun Rob....

Ok OK..I thought it was about 120lb..but maybe it was more like 175lb.... We did good and your muscley help was very much appreciated. Thanks so very much again.

I'm sorry we didn;t have more time to talk and I forgot(through all my gabbering) to show you my mirror making area...

Guess we were too busy framing walls and *huffin* heads(Cave GEM heads) to get to any of that.

Well maybe next time you can come out for some viewing and some less rushed chatter.

You were a life saver today Bro.

Here are some pics of the work we did.

Rob(the other Rob)

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[rwiederrich]

Here is one with my office and in the distance is the headless pier(with my green 6"f/15).

Thanks so much Rob for helping me.

Rob

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[rwiederrich]

Now Kerry (Sky Captain) and his lovely wife Cindy will be coming over for a few this evening to marvel at John's amazing 16" RC and mount.....and to do some viewing with Kerry's 12" Lightbridge...I can't wait. Earlier Rob met John for the first time and they chatted about scopes and stuff...here is an image of them in John's camp.

We had a grate time visiting.

Rob(dig that scope)

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[wormstar]

That's a sweet rig, I could easily swing the 120k$ for a similar setup.
Of course I would be living in the boxes it shipped in

[RobVG]

It was really nice meating you Rob. That's quite a compound you have there

I had a good time working with you.

I think you should weigh that head before you hoist it up- just out of curiosity. I't may be 125lbs but as soon as we picked it up off the pier it felt like 500. I'm sooo glad we didn't drop it...

Clear skies,
RobVG

[Scott Horstman]

I'm not sure what your better half will think about this idea Rob but if John wanted to set up permanent at my place I'd go ahead and pour a 12x12 (at least) slab and build a "guest" observatory for him. The one your working on is sized to fit the new scope just right but you aint putting the RC in there too.

God I love offering up ideas to help you spend your money!

[mikey cee]

Rob....The easy part is getting the 16" RC in the observatory. The hard part could be getting it out....if you get my drift. :whistle:Mike

[rwiederrich]

It was really nice meating you Rob. That's quite a compound you have there

I had a good time working with you.

I think you should weigh that head before you hoist it up- just out of curiosity. I't may be 125lbs but as soon as we picked it up off the pier it felt like 500. I'm sooo glad we didn't drop it...

Clear skies,
RobVG

Rob your help was so appreciated...and meeting you was great too. You're a great guy...and CN buddy

Hope to see you at a party soon.

You were my hero with that EQ head.......

Rob

[GShaffer]

Both you guys know this is a family oriented forum.....You have to stop all this "meating" and just "meet" like regular folks

[rwiederrich]

I'm not sure what your better half will think about this idea Rob but if John wanted to set up permanent at my place I'd go ahead and pour a 12x12 (at least) slab and build a "guest" observatory for him. The one your working on is sized to fit the new scope just right but you aint putting the RC in there too.

God I love offering up ideas to help you spend your money!

I appreciate that very much. One thing I'm considering is permitting him to pay for a small 8x8 building with pad. So he can keep it permanently set up......If he likes that idea then that might work too.

The more I think about it..I'm not sure I want it to share my OB..cus I'd be limited to were I can go inside.

Plus I would have to either cut up the floor and add a concrete footer or reinforce the floor some how.

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Well things have been a bit slow here getting my OB finished..far to much family drama...to let that happen....

Well it was clear today so I jumped on it and through up the East wall with its window. I leveled the walls and placed external bracing. I will now make internal corner bracing and then begin to side it in the next few days....Since it is suposed to be clear till the weekend then it's suposed to rain again..

After I power nail it down and finish the siding..I'll work on the roof suport system. Sometime in all that I'll get some help to relocate the steel pier to its new home....

Here are some new pics.

Rob

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[rwiederrich]

Here is one of the concrete pier base. I'm so happy it is so level and flush to the floor...just like I planned.

No tripping over the edge in the dark.

That hole in the floor is for electrical conduit for the pier.

Rob

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[rwiederrich]

And lastly one kinda elevated looking across the way from the scope garage.

Fun fun fun.

Siding next.

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[Steve Fisher]

Since it is suposed to be clear till the weekend then it's suposed to rain again..
Rob

Reminds me of the summer we lived in Issaquah. (sorry Kerry) Then we moved to the Lakewood/Tacoma area for the next three years so we could enjoy the waterskiing season on American lake. July 4th through July 28th.

Looking good Rob.

[rwiederrich]

Since it is suposed to be clear till the weekend then it's suposed to rain again..
Rob

Reminds me of the summer we lived in Issaquah. (sorry Kerry) Then we moved to the Lakewood/Tacoma area for the next three years so we could enjoy the waterskiing season on American lake. July 4th through July 28th.

Looking good Rob.

Oh..Kerry gets more rain then I do for sure....we're in a rain shadow area.....Thank the Lord.

Another sunny day....and we'll be siding.

Onyone want to come by and help me move the pier into the OB

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Well I finished the siding today and added the step suport to the frame under the doorway. Had some CN friends from Bend Oregon stop by so we visited for a spell.

Now I need to work on the roof support beams.

No pics at this time...my camera is not allowing them to be downloaded to my computer.....

I was gone for most of the day doing arrands.....Man why is it always on nice free days I have to be about *OTHER* things. OH well...I'll get it done. I have 3 people on the crew now...Me..myself..and I.

Rob

[rwiederrich]

Got some pics of the siding of the OB.

Here is one of the West side and finishing the south wall.

Rob

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[rwiederrich]

Siding around the window.

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[rwiederrich]

And an elevated view of the nearly completed siding.

Now I'll clean up a bit and then prepare to set the support beams for the roof roll off portion.

Rob(thanks for peekin in)

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[astrotrf]

The three of you are making great progress!

[rwiederrich]

Yeah *we* can get things done when need be..but I don't think my two *buddies* are gonna be enough when it comes to setting 2 2ft 4x6 treated beams....10ft off the ground.

Nope..these guys are lazy when real work is called to do.

Here are more pics of the completed *shell*.

This was taken from my office second floor window.

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[rwiederrich]

and one of the completed door step..looking inside at the pier base.

Now I have to find a door for cheap. I'll be siding the interior with peg board..so I can hang shelves and pictures very easily.

Rob

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