Observatory

[Ignatieff]

I am in the hunt for interesting buildings for possible future scenarios.  The winter project is an observatory, based on Mount Palomar in California.




I will scratch build it if necessary, but I was wondering whether anyone knew of any ready built models for sale.  I want it to be no more than 15cm across and about the same high.  If I have to scratch build it, any hints and tips??

thanks in advance

[Westfalia Chris]

I would suggest styrofoam balls if you have to scratchbuild it. My local crafts store sells hollow ones at various diameters which can be separated into two hemispheres. YOu could then easily add the shutters from the second hemisphere, finally place it on a substructure.

Of course, getting the surface completely flat is a bit of a problem. Plaster works well, but takes ages to sand properly.

[Cory]

I built a very similarly shaped dome temple once by putting an old plastic mixing bowl on top of a round cardoard box I got from a craft store. In your case the flat top that would leave you can be covered by the overhead doors.

[fastolfrus]

This may sound a bit odd but.... (and yes I am sober tonight and have my glasses on)... on first looking at your Mount Palomar picture my immediate thought was "head of a robot" - a bit like "the Iron Giant" perhaps ? but don't think you could get one 15cm across, but you might find a Cyberman helmet, perhaps in a charity shop, there should be a few trashed ones appearing on car boot sales too (though you may have to wait until January/February)

Otherwise, you've got me stumped at the mo.

[Ignatieff]

you sure you've not been drinking Mr. F?

[argsilverson]

the only recommendation I can do is for the Megaminis set of astronomy instruments, it comes with a telescope and two globes.

Of course the teelescope is far smaller than the one required in your model, but can be used for a scientist's den atop his terrace!

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

They have some domes at warhammer world made from colenders.

[Chairface]

I'd have a look at plumbing supplies at your local building store.

[Ignatieff]

Excellent suggestions all!  Many thanks

[Overlord]

I'm not aware of anything ready built that would be suitable.

What about these as a start for a scratch build?:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DUMMY-FAKE-DOME-CCTV-SECURITY-CAMERA-RED-FLASHING-LED_W0QQitemZ180307439592QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CCTV?hash=item180307439592&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BN-Photo-dome-snow-globe-photo-frame_W0QQitemZ130270250482QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Photo_Frames_Display?hash=item130270250482&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Ignatieff]

Overlord

Brilliant!

And I can scare the neighbours as well!

Thanks

[fastolfrus]

F jnr suggests baubles - there are lots of oddshaped Christmas bits knocking about the shops at the moment (not including the staff and the customers), but there was a playset a few years ago that featured an observatory (possibly Batman micro-machines although there may have been a spiderman one too)

[fastolfrus]

Been thinking a bit more about the dome headed shape....I've seen something somewhere that matches really well, but in the meantime how about :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/England-Swing-Top-Bin_W0QQitemZ330288311387QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Kitchen_Accessories?hash=item330288311387&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1296%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

(that isn't necessarily the cheapest one, but this one looks psychotic :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/frog-swing-bin_W0QQitemZ180307566515QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bedroom_Furniture?hash=item180307566515&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

Or how about :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Star-Wars-R2D2-Play-Set_W0QQitemZ220317426935QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Construction_Toys_Kits?hash=item220317426935&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1298%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Argonor]

I'm not aware of anything ready built that would be suitable.

What about these as a start for a scratch build?:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DUMMY-FAKE-DOME-CCTV-SECURITY-CAMERA-RED-FLASHING-LED_W0QQitemZ180307439592QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CCTV?hash=item180307439592&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Oh my - what's the diameter of such a thing? RSF vehicles/spaceships are flashing past my inner eye... 

EDIT: Just found the diameter: 12 cm - and appr. 12 cm high, too 

[zebcook]

For a more accurate to period observatory (albeit with more challenging details), might I suggest this one?



Yerkes was built in 1897 and housed the largest refracting scope in the world. Just the thing for observing that Martian invasion!

More info can be found here: http://astro.uchicago.edu/vtour/history/



PS. It's also very good for Cthulhu adventures.