The Solar System model was constructed over a period of about 6 months at the end of 1999. This is how it was done....

The planet bases are made from concrete sewer pipes. the picture sequence shows us lowering a base into the ground, concreting it in and painting it black. The tops of the bases are made from stainless steel which was shot-blasted. The bases were filled with concrete and the tops set into the concrete after a few fine adjustments. Then the smaller planets were screwed in place. Saturn and Jupiter were welded in place on the stainless steel tops.

Construction of the Sun was another matter.... The Sun is made from 2 fibreglass hemispheres manufactured for a septic tank. We cut a hole in one hemisphere and then fibre-glassed the two halves together. next we installed internal steel work to support the Sun, sealed the sphere and painted it gold. The supporting steel-work was manufactured by Minster Engineering. We prepared the foundations, poured in 10 tons of concrete and finally installed the finished model.