LewisM
30-11-2012, 11:02 PM
Or for want of a better term, hatred of all-things plastic.
Personally, I LOATHE plastic in anything I use in a precise way, be it from telescopes to firearms and anything in between, and whenever and wherever possible/feasible, I replace plastic items with metal.
Vixen scopes come with plastic focus knobs on the default focuser (which I like SOOOOOOO much more than Moonlite or Feathertouch focusers - yes, I am strange, but know I am not alone). It makes a classy scope a touch tacky, and I don't think they are very resilient plastic either (the knobs on my VC200L had hairline cracks).
SO, I had a mate mill and turn up some BEAUTIFUL stainless steel copies of the knobs (the original circular knobs, not the newer conical knobs) - complete with edge knurling (not reeded like the originals). They are BEAUTIFUL, and beefy too (have to rebalance the scope one I install them! I asked him NOT to lighten the back side - I wanted them solid), Price was $60 a pair - I got 2 pair, plus an additional for a refractor mate here who I told about. Would have been cheaper/easier to go aluminium, but aluminium is not me either.
I'll post some pictures in the morning, but a DEFINITE upgrade over plastic!
Just got to decide to paint them black like the original plastic, or leave the stainless "raw" - tending to think to leave them raw "white" - adds a little more class :)
Personally, I LOATHE plastic in anything I use in a precise way, be it from telescopes to firearms and anything in between, and whenever and wherever possible/feasible, I replace plastic items with metal.
Vixen scopes come with plastic focus knobs on the default focuser (which I like SOOOOOOO much more than Moonlite or Feathertouch focusers - yes, I am strange, but know I am not alone). It makes a classy scope a touch tacky, and I don't think they are very resilient plastic either (the knobs on my VC200L had hairline cracks).
SO, I had a mate mill and turn up some BEAUTIFUL stainless steel copies of the knobs (the original circular knobs, not the newer conical knobs) - complete with edge knurling (not reeded like the originals). They are BEAUTIFUL, and beefy too (have to rebalance the scope one I install them! I asked him NOT to lighten the back side - I wanted them solid), Price was $60 a pair - I got 2 pair, plus an additional for a refractor mate here who I told about. Would have been cheaper/easier to go aluminium, but aluminium is not me either.
I'll post some pictures in the morning, but a DEFINITE upgrade over plastic!
Just got to decide to paint them black like the original plastic, or leave the stainless "raw" - tending to think to leave them raw "white" - adds a little more class :)