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Andy Dodson | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> H.S.T. (Huirangi Search Telescope) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

H.S.T. (Huirangi Search Telescope)

A pictorial album of the construction of the HST
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A 9 5/8 casing pup joint from a pipeyard for a pier
A 9 5/8" casing pup joint from a pipeyard for a pier		 Brent cutting the casing
Brent cutting the casing		 AD & Brent grinding and grinding....
AD & Brent grinding and grinding....		 Brent welding
Brent welding
Above ground pier ready for painting. Below ground pier in background
Above ground pier ready for painting. Below ground pier in background		 Drilling & tapping the flanges to an M8 bolt pattern
Drilling & tapping the flanges to an M8 bolt pattern		 pier ready to go to the site
pier ready to go to the site		 The dome arrives
The dome arrives
unpacking the dome
unpacking the dome		 site topsoil removed
site topsoil removed		 Drilling a hole for the pier with a 500mm auger.
Drilling a hole for the pier with a 500mm auger.		 24 Nov 2007, Checking the depth of the hole for the pier
24 Nov 2007, Checking the depth of the hole for the pier
24 Nov 2007, Ramming the fill in the hole
24 Nov 2007, Ramming the fill in the hole		 24 Nov 2007, Re-checking the hole depth
24 Nov 2007, Re-checking the hole depth		 24 Nov 2007, Checking the base height - a little more clay needs to be taken out
24 Nov 2007, Checking the base height - a little more clay needs to be taken out		 24 Nov 2007, Taking more clay off a high spot
24 Nov 2007, Taking more clay off a high spot
25 Nov 2007, Rod takes a break and checks out solar minimum
25 Nov 2007, Rod takes a break and checks out solar minimum		 25 Nov 2007, Fast spadework from Sharon
25 Nov 2007, Fast spadework from Sharon		 25 Nov 2007, Base levelling. Sharon, Rod & Brent
25 Nov 2007, Base levelling. Sharon, Rod & Brent		 25 Nov 2007, Rod in action
25 Nov 2007, Rod in action
1 Dec 2007, Two pavers were lowered into the hole to form a firm footing for the pier
1 Dec 2007, Two pavers were lowered into the hole to form a firm footing for the pier		 1 Dec 2007, The lower ½ of the pier weighing several hundred kg is lowered into the hole
1 Dec 2007, The lower ½ of the pier weighing several hundred kg is lowered into the hole		 1 Dec 2007, The pier boxed vertical with pegs, and with 2 bolt holes pointing North
1 Dec 2007, The pier boxed vertical with pegs, and with 2 bolt holes pointing North		 1 Dec 2007, Mixing concrete for the pier inner and annulus
1 Dec 2007, Mixing concrete for the pier inner and annulus
15 Dec, Rod working on the reinforcing mesh
15 Dec, Rod working on the reinforcing mesh		 15 Dec, The reinforcing completed
15 Dec, The reinforcing completed		 15 Dec, Boxing around the pier
15 Dec, Boxing around the pier		 15 Dec, Ready to pour concrete
15 Dec, Ready to pour concrete
20 Dec, Ian with the mixer he borrowed, checking the weather ?
20 Dec, Ian with the mixer he borrowed, checking the weather ?		 20 Dec, The concrete mixed and the pad poured
20 Dec, The concrete mixed and the pad poured		 20 Dec, Ian celebrates
20 Dec, Ian celebrates		 20 Dec,Final touches
20 Dec,Final touches
20 Dec, scrubbing down the screeding timber to re-use for the framing,- well it's $7/m !
20 Dec, scrubbing down the screeding timber to re-use for the framing,- well it's $7/m !		 9 Feb, Cutting the framing
9 Feb, Cutting the framing		 9 Feb, 2 walls up, 2 to go. The photo isn't sharp, but the light was fading
9 Feb, 2 walls up, 2 to go. The photo isn't sharp, but the light was fading		 10 Feb. Rod measures the cladding ready for cutting. I had to change the contrast on this pic, it was washed out with the rain
10 Feb. Rod measures the cladding ready for cutting. I had to change the contrast on this pic, it was washed out with the rain
10 Feb. The assembled walls & DPC laid, - all ready for Dynabolting
10 Feb. The assembled walls & DPC laid, - all ready for Dynabolting		 11 Feb. 3 of the wall frames have been bolted to the pad. The 4th will be done after the pad has been used to assemble the dome
11 Feb. 3 of the wall frames have been bolted to the pad. The 4th will be done after the pad has been used to assemble the dome		 12 Feb The assembled dome (less shutters) ready for mounting. Brent lend a hand to bring the assembled dome back in from the pad
12 Feb The assembled dome (less shutters) ready for mounting. Brent lend a hand to bring the assembled dome back in from the pad		 12 Feb. All the wall frames up and ready for cladding
12 Feb. All the wall frames up and ready for cladding
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comment | share
Mat Jury 23-Jul-2008 03:14
Wow, thats a serious Pier
ursula 17-Mar-2008 09:23
Evenin' Andy,
Great progress - you're doing excellently well ! Some of the pics are fmailiar. My favourite (artistically) is the lowering of the two pavers. Could be disappearing into a wormhole or black hole.
Great stuff.
Ursula.
Ravi and Lakshmi Iyer 12-Mar-2008 00:47
Amazing job Andy. Excellent. Well done.
Guest 01-Mar-2008 04:21
looks great Andy, you guys have done an amazing job.
michael raynes
Michael Kruse 16-Feb-2008 04:48
Looking good Andy
John Cooper12-Feb-2008 08:49
Very interesting, well documented.
Andy Dodson03-Jul-2007 15:20
Hi Kim,

48" Sonotube " That's some Sonotube ! This new pier is nowhere near as massive as my existing pier, but I'm learning I think, and will be more than is really required
andy
Kim Colter 29-Jun-2007 00:11
Andy
When I was building the observatory that the 40 inch Dob is in, I dug a hole with a shovel that held the lower half of a nine foot piece of 48 inch sonotube. When the sonotube was in place, filled with re-bar, and ready for the five cubic yards of concrete it took to fill it, I wondered if some spy satellite was going to spot it and send the Blackstone types out to see if I was constructing a ground launched cruise missile site. I remember muttering, "I didn't know astronomy involved this much digging." Your pics are reminiscent of those days. Your pier looks solid.
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