Astro Photography

   When I first built the observatory a few years ago I wasn't sure how well everything was going to function, so I used less than premium material to construct the roll off roof...well it worked just fine and sure made an "evening under the stars" much easier and tons more fun...but I now have to pay the price for skimping on the material...finally one of the main structural members failed and now it's easier to build another vice repair...Oh well, I wanted to raise it a couple inches anyway...

   Below are some pictures of how this one was done...there are lots of styles and methods to building "roll offs" but this was what I chose...with some basic tools, it's fairly easy to do...When I started the new roof, I could hardly believe that I could still see most of the original full size cross sectional drawing of the first roof on my work bench (I only laid out the drawing from the center line to one side because it's symmetrical) and therefor was able to recreate it vice reinventing it...Hope this sparks some ideas!

Visters to this page since September, '06

   Really hard to believe that I could still find enough of the original drawing on this bench to reconstruct the curvature of the original...this is the full size "half" template used to make most all the parts                           

  This is half of the cross secional view of the roof...to get the other side all that is necessary is to flip the template over and line up the center line and the bottom cut line...these parts are 3/4" plywood

  There are the 4 main "ribs" North, South, and two interior ribs...the roof will roll on a track running North/South

  The side rails are 2x10's and require a slot for the interior "ribs" to fit into to make a strong joint...everything will be glued and screwed together during final assembly

  The North/South members require doublers instead of routed slots...again 3/4" plywood

  The wheels run in steel track already on the observatory from the original construction...these wheels are the 7" solid rubber lawnmower type with ball bearing centers...two on each side rail held in place with 1/2" x 4 1/2" long bolts, flat washers and lock nuts

  Here are the 2 side rails and N/S ends ready for trial fit

  Now it's starting to look like something...no glue yet

  Most everything but the actual polycarbon roofing panel supports (1 1/2" x 1 3/4" strips to fit in the cutouts) have been fastened together

  Most of the fasteners so far are 3" long course thread deck type screws (with weather proof coating)...the original roof was completed right here and lifted to the top of the observatory (weighted 140 lbs)...as I took this picture, tropical storm Ernesto was starting to fill the sky with clouds/rain (Aug 31, '06) therefore, I will have to take it apart so it will not get soaked before any protective coating are applied...

  Well, it's raining cats and dogs here in SE Virginia, so to pass the time, I'll put on the first coat of oil based paint, except for where it gets glued together...today's glues are so good that after they dry, the wood next to the joint will usually fail before the glue joint does

  I may put on a second coat tomorrow or the next day...this roll off will be a little heavier than the original, so I will probably do final assembly in place setting in the steel track right next to the old roof...then slide the old one off to the ground and the new one over the opening...mean while...this project is on hold waiting for clearing skies...Hmmm, seems like in this hobby, I'm always waiting for clearing skies <GRIN>

   Time expended so far... about 12 hours over a couple days...stay tuned!

 

  Here goes the first few pieces...these are the hardest when you do it by yourself...you can also see what a mess my southern view is

  These are the main members, starting to get more stable...note the old roof is still in place 

  This is all the structural members...only things left are the polycarbon panels, styrofoam support strips, a ton of screws and rubber coated washers and the hold downs

  With another 3 days of thunderstorms on the way, nothing to do but finish the painting and wait 'til it clears out to install the panels...

  Time expended so far... total 16 hours...and on hold again!

 

  With the help of my neighbor, we let the old one down to the ground and rolled the new one over the scope...it was heavier than expected because it was water logged

  I've already got the turnbuckle tiedowns inside in place and the north end (the one you see) is temporary screwed to the building to keep it square with the opening while I install the polycarbon panels

  This is the first of five 26" x 8' panels...got 3 on before I called it quits for the day

   Time expended so far... total about 20 hours

   Here it is all finished...better than new...

   Total time expended about 24 hours and about $250.00...but should last for years and provide lots of pleasure...