Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > Equipment Discussions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 06-02-2018, 11:05 AM
LewisM's Avatar
LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
Takahashi clamshell accessory plate

I find it amusing when I see so many people ditching the Tak clamshell in favour of hinging rings, and since Tak uses some odd OTA sizes, this can be difficult, with many reverting to Parallax, K-Astec (myself included), Prima Luce or the old SoCal if you can find them.

I have added accessory plates to clamshells before, but there is always the issue of orthogonality, unless you drill an additional inline with the long axis hole in the clamshell. Most Tak owners don't like modifying anything OEM

So, finding the price of rings ridiculous ($200 UP), even the lower end Parallax ones, I drew up some specs for an accessory plate system to use the original clamshell without any modification whatsoever. Below is what I ended up creating.

The "cradle" end plates make sure the plate won't rotate on the clamshell "nub" - I will add Tak green felt to the radii of these after finishing the painting. I drilled the plate itself to accept 3 x 1/4 UNC's (the middle one secures the plate to the clamshell via the original hole), and 3 rows of M5 screws so I can fit Baader Vixen-style finder bases (I currently use 2 securing my guidescope, which has a Vixen-style finder-dovetail rail with small rings on top).

Of course, this idea is up-scale-able to other clamshell sizes - this one fits the Baby Q/Sky 90 clamshell (outer diameter of the clamshell being 111mm). Easy to do it for the 114mm OTA's and 125mm OTA's too, or down if you really wanted to.

Total cost of materials and labour for my mate to mill the aluminium was $100, which is quite a lot cheaper than ANY rings available for the Tak sizes (to which you then need to add another accessory plate anyway). I am sure if you have the machinery and materials it'd be essentially free.

I have since made a flush cap bolt for the securing screw rather than the exposed phillips head 1/4 UNC, and polished the stainless end plate securing cap bolts
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (cradle 1.jpg)
117.1 KB69 views
Click for full-size image (cradle 2.jpg)
92.9 KB65 views
Click for full-size image (cradle 3.jpg)
94.0 KB60 views

Last edited by LewisM; 06-02-2018 at 11:26 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-02-2018, 02:43 PM
Atmos's Avatar
Atmos (Colin)
Ultimate Noob

Atmos is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,980
But Lewis... it isn’t original or authentic!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-02-2018, 02:51 PM
LewisM's Avatar
LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
It is now it's Tak green
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-02-2018, 03:13 PM
LewisM's Avatar
LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
See doubting Thomas...Tak green textured now...
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (greened.jpg)
185.7 KB49 views
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-02-2018, 08:52 PM
LewisM's Avatar
LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
Finished and installed...
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (bottom.jpg)
101.7 KB33 views
Click for full-size image (top.jpg)
123.7 KB48 views
Click for full-size image (oblique.jpg)
94.3 KB52 views
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-02-2018, 08:57 PM
Wilso
Registered User

Wilso is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 414
Pretty good colour match!

What paint did you use?
(And details please)

You might have to cancel those K-Astec rings now...
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-02-2018, 12:58 PM
LewisM's Avatar
LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
Paint was made up at Bunnings using the chroma-camera and a flat surface sample (inside a dewshield cap). I had them make it in enamel, not acrylic.

I airbrush it myself, over a texture undercoat of lightly dusted hammertone grey.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-02-2018, 12:58 PM
LewisM's Avatar
LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
End result, with my guidescope stuff attached
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (gs.jpg)
183.9 KB58 views
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-02-2018, 01:27 PM
Octane's Avatar
Octane (Humayun)
IIS Member #671

Octane is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
No dimples.

Great work.

H
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-02-2018, 05:50 PM
Mamba (David)
Registered User

Mamba is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Langwarrin Melbourne
Posts: 99
Paintwork

Lewis
About a year ago you descibed repainting a Tak scope (at least I think you did) but I have been unable to retrace the advice.
I have just taken ownership of an FS78 and as is normal with an 18 year old there are some acne scars, do you have any advice on alieviating this condition.
Any advice would allow my little Tak to go out chasing other Taks with increased confidence.
Regards
Dave Cooke
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (A34E2CD8-B106-4634-BFF9-B9061C85C4CE.jpg)
192.3 KB44 views
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-02-2018, 06:20 PM
brian nordstrom (As avatar)
Registered User

brian nordstrom is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 4,374
Very well done Lewis , I am impressed and for the total cost it looks very professional .

Brian.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-02-2018, 06:45 PM
LewisM's Avatar
LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,388
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mamba View Post
Lewis
About a year ago you descibed repainting a Tak scope (at least I think you did) but I have been unable to retrace the advice.
I have just taken ownership of an FS78 and as is normal with an 18 year old there are some acne scars, do you have any advice on alieviating this condition.
Any advice would allow my little Tak to go out chasing other Taks with increased confidence.
Regards
Dave Cooke
Dave,

That's fairly severe acne.

To be honest, that would need the flakes peeled off and then a very thin layer of spot putty, rubbed back then resprayed in total. You couldn't match that precisely. Of course, this would mean removing the dewshield decal too, and potentially making a new one (I MAY have a spare still).. And then, if you are fastidious (read: anal) about it, you'd respray the main tube too to match.

I can do it for you, but my minimum cost on a full tube is around $150 (the proper automotive epoxy paint costs around $65 a can, and the clear another $35). You COULD do it with Bunnings sourced refrigerator epoxy paint for less, but I have never found the result as durable as the automotive stuff.

Or sell me the Tak (been looking for a visual scope...hmmmm)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-02-2018, 07:11 PM
Mamba (David)
Registered User

Mamba is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Langwarrin Melbourne
Posts: 99
Respray

Lewis,
I do not want to highjack this thread so will PM you when England have won tonight’s cricket.
Dave Cooke
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 06:27 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement