Quick Dome -- Plans for a portable observatory dome
QuickDome Hexagonal Observatory Plans will allow you to build an
attractive, light weight, rotatable observatory in just one day.
Quickdome Hexagonal Observatory Plans will allow a single person to
construct and assemble an attractive, light weight and manually rotating
observatory. QuickDomes' intriquing hexagonal design borrows from the
fundamental strength of this solid in geometry, providing high strength per unit
volume. QuickDome is light weight and fully rotatable by hand, durable and
weather resistant. With a 8 foot diameter floor and a 7 foot ceiling, it can
easily accommodate a 14" SCT on a pier or tripod and most folks (under 6.5") can
easily stand anywhere inside the dome. QuickDome plans include hardcopies of
step-by-step instructions, fully illustrated 3D isometric drawings with
dimensions, lists of materials, retail suppliers and required tools. A Microsoft
Wordpad CD with all documentation is provided as a backup.
The QuickDome concept was cheifly motivated by my purchase of a Software
Bisque Paramount GT1100 mount for my new Meade 12" SCT and SBIG ST2000XM CCD
camera. After spending $15,000 on equipment, I was financially tapped. How could
I afford an observatory, I thought, when the least expensive rolloff started
around $2000.00 and a dome about $5000.00? Other considerations were the amount
of labor required and the cost of tools I might need to buy in order to complete
the installation. To top it off, I have only a small 900 square foot backyard,
and living at the edge of a canyon provided no access for a delivery truck. What
I needed was a solution to all these problems. After considering a number of
options, I hit on the QuickDome design.
The QuickDome Hexagonal Observatory is based on the use of styrofoam panels
which have a reflective plastic outer skin (You can use the light blue panels as
well). These panels are commonly used between house walls for insulation
and are in expensive and easily sawn or shaped using simple hand tools.
QuickDome wire and Mylar washer connections bring the structure together, an
internal and external sealant and tarpaulin stripping makes it impermeable to
the weather. The QuickDome design can be easily modified to allow it to be used
in climates with lots of snow and or strong winds. Best of all, QuickDome can be
built in one day by a single person, assuming you have purchased all required
materials and tools. So if spending $300 sounds better than spending $3000 for
an observatory, then QuickDome Hexagonal Observatory Plans are the way to go.
Why purchase the QuickDome Hexagonal Observatory Plans?
- Easy to follow, step-by-step, illustrated instructions guide you through construction and assembly.
- All materials are easily obtainable at local retail sources.
- QuickDome can be constructed and assembled in a single day by one person.
- Plans include a hard copy and a CD backup (Windows Wordpad documents).
- Observatory rotates smoothly by hand.
- Attractive, light weight, durable and weather resistant structure.
Pricing
| QuickDome Plans | QuickDome Model# | Contents | Price ea. | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QuickDome Hexagonal Observatory Plans | QD-1 | 1 hd copy of plans w/Windows Wordpad CD backup | $29.99 |
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