Did my time star-hopping. Worthwhile for everyone cutting their teeth on that, I think. I find it sad when someone just wants an NGC number to punch into a Go-to, and has no idea of where in the sky the object is - and what is in its vicinity. But after long searches to find the Blue Planetary (should have been easy
)and Hind's Crimson Star, I thought - if there is a tool to maximise viewing and minimise searching, why not employ it?
With regard to the GSO base, I effectively did two things:-
1) I tied the two vertical supports rigidly together closer to the open end (rather complicated given the OTA has to go in and out of this gap)
2) I added two metal plates that kept the trunions from riding back and forwards across the teflon pads. (pretty easy)