Turn around

nightshade · #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 08:44 AM

Do any of you have a shed on a turntable,I have looked at vehicle turntables
but at £6000 and up these are non starters are there plans available to build your own ?

wildlifesnapper · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 11:34 AM

Hi there,

google "garden observatory plans" and there are a few interesting ones on there where people have built there own sliding roof sheds/domes.

neil

caladina · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 06:52 PM

how about mounting the shed base on 6 or 8 shopping trolly wheels or simalar,
have a motor driven wheel to turn the shed, obviously it will need a track or guide to keep it in a circle

also as you probably know will need a input for the motor to keep it in time with the earths motion if doing long exp pics

maybe you can get just the motor drive from a proper obs'

have you looked at components for proper motorised obs' ?

mind you if you not worried about keeping the motion of the shed its self in time with the earth then you should be able to turn it with and 240 motor or even manully

shopping trolly wheels are fantasticly usefull, i use them for moving smashed cars, even with the engines still in

personally i would leave the shed base fixed and have the seating position along with the scope and roof / dome that rotates,
if you get an iron works to make the large circular track for the roof / dome to rotate on the rest you might be able to do yourself

nightshade · #4 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 12:34 PM

I must admit the reason I posted here was that you were the most likley group to have the Info.
I actually have always wanted a rotating hide/summerhouse to follow the sun and wildlife as it moves around my garden and of course do the occasional stargazing

Thank you all for your help

caladina · #5 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 07:12 PM

so nightshade, any idea which type of design you are thinking would work best for you yet?

Meta menardi · #6 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

I must admit the reason I posted here was that you were the most likley group to have the Info.
I actually have always wanted a rotating hide/summerhouse to follow the sun and wildlife as it moves around my garden and of course do the occasional stargazing

Thank you all for your help

The guy next door but 2 has a lovely rotating summer-house, propbably from about 1920 or so. Never been used in the last 20 years. Makes yer cry.

caladina · #7 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 02:18 AM

hmmm, just had a thought, what about old funfair / playground equipment, i did see a specific scrap / salvage yard a few years back for that type of stuff, no idea where but they would have large turn table bases and tracks

badgerwatcher · #8 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 03:50 AM

Wy not have a circular or octagonal shed with glass walls from waist height upwards, and blinds on each section. Then you can move which windows you are using.

Wild-Woman · #9 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 05:56 AM

What about the creatures that live under a shed? eg hedgehog, fox? Eek!

nightshade · #10 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

What about the creatures that live under a shed? eg hedgehog, fox? Eek!

The rotatery will move only slowly powered by a man with a red flag and a whistle, no animals will be harmed in the production of this heath robinson device

caladina · #11 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 02:32 AM

of course you could spice things up and see if anyone is breaking up a military tank, turning turret and scope housing in one

Meta menardi · #12 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caladina

of course you could spice things up and see if anyone is breaking up a military tank, turning turret and scope housing in one

Good thought! What about a naval dockyard, full sighting and ranging systems, and protection against the sky falling on your head.

Wild-Woman · #13 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

powered by a man with a red flag and a whistle

He he! Can we have a picture? This we MUST see.

nightshade · #14 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

Wy not have a circular or octagonal shed with glass walls from waist height upwards, and blinds on each section. Then you can move which windows you are using.

Badgerwatcher,I thought we had lost you at one time,what an emminently sensible idea

but being a man with an idea I will try and see it through
There may be a delay though as I have just had my family build a posh hardstanding for the Tin Tent and the next project is to rejig the short
"stream" that brings in so many birds the rotator is to sit there under a Weeping Birch

nightshade · #15 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caladina

hmmm, just had a thought, what about old funfair / playground equipment, i did see a specific scrap / salvage yard a few years back for that type of stuff, no idea where but they would have large turn table bases and tracks

Caladina you jogged my mind with that suggestion,I have seen something similar near here, thanks