[Rob Babcock]

Just sent a PP for the Barco 701 today. aa  Assuming it arrives in working condition and not a crate full of parts ( ) I will begin work on my basement shortly.  There's definately a lot of work to do, as anyone who saw the pictures I posted can attest.  In addition to ording the PJ I ordered some fabric swatches to determine what to use for drapery, and I plan to "upholster" the front half of the ceiling (I rent and am not allowed to repaint- but I've got a few ideas...).  I sold off a lot of my gear when I moved to Watertown since I didn't have room for it all, so some of my gear will tend towards the low end, just what I can scrounge from storage.

I'm toying with the idea of posting the build process, taking pictures as I go...

[Woodsea]

Sounds like fun.  I will be building my new HT soon.  I will be in my new home at the end of June.  Please post pics, should be alot of fun!

[Rob Babcock]

Oooh!  Got a message from the seller- he has some Stewart Ultramatte screen material he'll throw in with the PJ.   I mentioned I use an 84" screen, and since his Stewart material is "only" 7 feet he doesn't know anyone "going that small" so has no use for it.   I'll have to build a frame, but I was planning that anyway.  Yes, I will eventually buy a Carada I think, but since I have so much gear to replace, and since I need furniture & room treatment too, any way I can save a buck will help me get up and running faster.

One challenge is that I all but refuse to use credit cards for my toys.   I will buy them with a CC, but only if I have the cash to pay it off right away.  It's not a wise policy to use credit lightly...but it's so tempting to just get everything I want right now!

If Bubba977 doesn't object, once I begin building I'll take a bunch of pictures, then either make a sticky and post as I go or post a pictorial article at the end.

[Woodsea]

I am gonna do screen goo. (How cheap am I)  Thanks for reminding me, I gotta buy this stuff before the ship all my sh!t outta the country.

[Rob Babcock]

From what I've read Screen Goo is a very good product, on par with any entry level budget-type screen.  But you have to apply it carefully.  I was planning on buying a 106" Da-Lite but, cutting it out & building a frame.  Again, I do want to buy a Carada but I may have to get by for a few more months.  AVS has some good info on DIY screens, Goo, Blackout Cloth & frame building.  My notion is to use plywood or masonite as a backing board, build a frame on the back for support and one on the front to wrap w/velvet as a border.  I'll stretch the material over the front, staple over the back, then affix the mask, screwed on from the back.  I'll maybe take pics of the process just in case it works.

Most of my other HTs just sorta evolved over time.  This will be the first time I will actually build one on purpose!