I received an email from the other side of the world this morning. Someone had downloaded the equatorial sundial kit and found that it didn't work in the southern hemisphere!

I should have thought of that when I was making the model, the model is effectively flipped over relative to the sun once it crosses the equator. This means that the shadow will track across the dial from right to left rather than left to right.

Luckily it was a straight forward job to add a second dial for use in southern regions. Same as a before but with the number order reversed. The update model with updated instructions is available to download on the sundial page. If you are a member/subscriber or have purchased the model before it'll be available for free.

Useful Links:
Equatorial Sundial
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Download, print out and make this elegant equatorial sundial, line it up with the North/South line and, once the sun comes out, you can read the time from the shadow on the dial. This fascinating model is ready for download now. As a subscriber you'll be able to download the model from the link. Non subscribers can download for a small fee.

If you haven't subscribed yet, now is the time!

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I've nearly completed the the page layouts for the sundial model. Should be up and ready tomorrow. I've also been working on a way for subscribers to access the full back catalogue of models for a special price! And finally, I completed a successful test of the new newsletter system! Another busy day!

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I've been setting up a new newletter system, the current newsletter is still based at the Flying Pig website and I really need it to be native on this website. There's a sign up box top left of the website. The system is based on the Google FeedBurner system, you can sign up or unsubscribe easily and there is easy access to an archive of old newsletter.

Sign up to keep up to date!

Meanwhile. I've done the layout for the sundial model. It should be ready early next week.

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The equatorial sundial is one of the tradition sundial designs. The gnomon, the piece that casts a shadow is lined up with the axis of spin of the earth. To do this the whole assembly needs to be able to tilt back and forth depending on where on earth the sundial is used.

In the picture on the right you may be able to make out the angle is set to just over 50 degrees, this is the latitute where we are.

Once the angle is set up right it is simply a matter of lining up the sundial on the North/South line and waiting for the sun to come out. Works a treat! This prototype had the time spot on when the sun peeped through the clouds this afternoon.

Layout and colour next. A subscriber exclusive I think.

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