Domes - Material - Colour

[Radar]

What material would be a good material to use for a very light weight rotating dome?

Also what is the point of making a dome white? I would have thought a dark matt colour was better (absorbs stray light).

Ray

[hpcoolahan]

well white does keep it cooler through the day!

less to cool down of a night.

Cheers
Pat

[Radar]

Yeah heat is the only thing I can think of. Hmm, I'm in deep thought.

Ray

[Tenacious Del]

It could be easier to see the outline of white coloured objects in total darkness rather than black. Could also be a safety issue. :confused:

[beren]

:itsme!: Go white Ray, apart from keeping the inside cool and resistance to paint fade it just looks the part :biggrin: Baz or Sheviil might be able to help with suggestions for Dome material..... fibreglass ? might be expensive, not sure of the costs for a manufactured one from Sirius etc

[timthelder]

Hmm, I'm in deep thought.

How about a nice pale blue?:biggrin:



suggestions for Dome material..... fibreglass ?

I'm not familiar with what building materials you guys have to work with,cost,etc,BUT if I were to make a suggestion,it would be to make the petals out of a thin plyboard,3/8"(10mm?)thickness.And cover it with...

There is a fiberglass material that is used in motorboat repair,car repair,etc,in which you mix up a solution of bonding material,soak/dip the strips or sheets of fiberglass in it and apply it to whatever surface you are working on.Maybe even possibly in a spray on application.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7CbDhJ3yZws

one idea.....

[CanisMajorTom]

There is a fiberglass material that is used in motorboat repair,car repair,etc,in which you mix up a solution of bonding material,soak/dip the strips or sheets of fiberglass in it and apply it to whatever surface you are working on.Maybe even possibly in a spray on application.


I have to agree with Tim. I have worked with fibreglass and it would be perfect for what you want. Keep it white.

Tom

[Tenacious Del]

never done any fibreglassing myself but it sure looks like the way to go.

Del

[poppasmurf]

I have plans for rotating dome that uses plywood frame with masonite petals that I got of the net somewhere. I also agree to keep it white.

[Red Giant]

Hi Popsmurf, would love to see those plans of the petal roofed dome if you can post a link.

thanks

Red

[hpcoolahan]

Hey Red ,, hope these might help .
They are the plans from the observatory i built.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Observatories/files/my%20observatory%20neally%20done/

if you need any help ,,just ask or send a pm.


Cheers
Patrick

[poppasmurf]

Hope these are what you want, they are in pdf format, also have word doc which gives a clear idea of what it looks like, but its too big for upload(1122kb). Still can't remember where I got them on the net or who designed them. Let me know if the attachment works.

[hpcoolahan]

Hey there PoppaSmurf,

Those plans do work great!! there the ones i used to build mine with,,, some details and other plans in the post i did above..

Cheers
Pat