[Wavytone]

Hi Glen,

Good luck with trying to sell it. I think you face a number of issues which when combined imply the chances of selling it are not high:

- aesthetics - noobs who don’t know any better want something that resembles their impression of “great big telescope”. That means a big white metal tube, black bits at either end and an equatorial mount. A framework of black CF sticks and other bits simply doesn’t appeal.

- those who want to DIY will make their own anyway - exactly as you did - even though in the end it’s not economical.

- the price of the low-Chinese scopes is so low that there’s not much point making one unless you are after something really peculiar like Stefan’s Riccardi-Honders. This issue is highlighted by the fact that it’s cheaper to replace a standard newt mirror with a new one than have it recoated; the only reason to recoat is when you have a truly exceptional mirror that can’t be replaced with a commercial one.

- those more concerned about $$$ and/or not competent at making stuff will buy a cheap Chinese OTA new or secondhand - but they won’t buy a homemade one.

Having made several scopes decades ago...
- 4” f/4.5 ended its days in pieces, $0...
- 6” f/8 in old-school metal tube - gave the OTA away $0
- 6” f/19 folded newtonian - gave the OTA away - $0;
- 8” f/7 with astro-optics Goliath mount and home made 10” worm drive ... sold the whole shebang for nominal price ... ie not much...
- 12” f/3.7 lightweight altaz was eventually disposed of, not in saleable condition anyway and mirror needed recoating, $0.

But never again will I make one.