After some considerable time I have finally gotten to the stage where this project is becoming useable. I ordered the Sutchting mirror some years ago, and it was finally delivered the day the packers loaded up my household contents for relocation to Laos.
I had bought what I hoped was all the required bits and pieces to take with me. An Antares 4" secondary mirror and Moonlite focused with filter slide, piles aluminium, bearings Teflon and bolts.
Then I had to wait in Laos until my workspace became useable. Finally got an argon gas bottle for the TIG welder and viola.
Mirror glued to 27 point support at rear. Two bearings at 90 degrees for edge support.
This is the third(and probably last) one I have made based on this principle, copied from Peter Bobroff's earlier scopes.
Tonight for the first time I got to see the grains of sand stars across the entire field. But, with an almost full moon and high thin cloud I didn't see much more.
Now that it seems to be the right dimensions and approximate balance, I can proceed with finishing everything off.
Brian
