This is the tall metal pier that I initially used with the Paramount / C11 combination. It is zinc plated, and later I primed and spray painted both piers. I also wire brushed the inside of the piers and painted them with cold galvanising paint. The piers are very heavy, I think that the short one alone weighed about 100kg. I almost gave myself a hernia lifting this one onto the concrete base! You can also see the floor mounted services just next to the base of the pier (electrical power points, USB plate, ethernet plate). The USB and ethernet is wired up to the control room. From there, the USB can be connected to the observatory notebook PC. The ethernet is connected to a network switch, and runs underground up to the house (about 60 metres). The floor covering is vinyl, chosen for its servicability, resistance to moisture and cushioning properties in case of an accidental dropping of an eyepiece, etc.