[mldee (Mike)]

Hi Brian, Rainer, Dennis, Rick, Alex, Joe and Jim,

Thanks for the encouraging words, I'll do my best to keep all updated on progress. Just got back to my Downs dark site from a weekend in Brisbane, so will try tomorrow to setup the pier with mount and 10" truss Newt for a photo shoot....

Alex, I'll also take a shot of the 1.5x1.5m cement slab I am planning to put my second pier on for a C8 Hyperstar. Going to use your "Cube" concept with fibro sheet. I've had the C8/Hyperstar for about 5 years now, very happy with it.

Jim, Yes, the nice case is part of the deal, I'm quite impressed with the overall value. I'd always pictured iOptron as makers of little "exotic" mounts, but this one seems a nice fit capacity-wise, halfway between the EQ6 and the EQ8 at 27Kgs and good bang for the buck at around the $3K mark, delivered.