Ok confession time - it’s not a Santel Just a plain Jane Intes from 1994.
Now that Tom foolery over, here it is now restored. I decided to make it in the more recent white as the original “spiky” grey wasn’t going to happen. I did however match the grey on the finder base and the rear backplate. The original grey on the tube had suffered someone leaving masking tape on it,which they then removed taking a massive piece of paint off.
I have had the Intes decals made, but may not put them on. The silver data plate I had made will be enough (not yet fitted - probably later today).
Incidentally, the Intes grey is VERY close to early Tak green. It matches Dulux “Moorlands” perfectly (Intes, not Tak). I airbrushed it on and had a hard time seeing what I had painted. Absolutely perfect match.
White is Antique White USA, made up as 2 pack and gunned on. 3 coats, semi gloss (more half way between gloss and satin )
Lewis having seen the bare metal, did you have any idea whether it was machined, rolled (and welded) or pull-truded ? Two of mine are 3mm thick aluminium and I have a feeling they’re machined out of thicker tube, not rolled sheet.
100% MACHINED from solid. This is VERY VERY military - the walls are indeed 3mm thick! No seams, no welds, and in fact, mine has a step mid-tube where it becomes even thicker for the primary.
First "light" - looking 200 metres away to the car park . Which was a challenge given the f/10 focal ratio, meaning I was running out of focus! (had to actually ALMOST remove the EP to come to focus).
Verdict: NOICE, really really really NOICE! Tak nice, no doubt about it! VERY pleasing colour rendition, VERY contrasty and exceptionally sharp. The helical focuser inbuilt into the diagonal/visual back is VERY smooth and rather easy to use.
No chance of using it on the stars for a while though. Ho hum.
Using it on a Manfrotto 3030 tripod isn't ideal, but it got the test done at least. Now I regret selling my vixen GPD - got to find another one now!
Also shown is the custom data plate I had made for it, complete with Intes logo, Russian "Made in Russia Moscow 3.94" and "RESTORED 11.18". The decal that was on the backplate (where the data plate is now) replaced the very worn, peeling one on the diagonal, so NOTHING was thrown away (even the original decals are still attached to an A4 card stock sheet in a photo album - they came off in one piece). The original finder is sitting in my spares drawers (I swear the "Tourist" branded scopes sold in Russia in the 80's and 90's are the SAME scope without the reticle!) - the Vixen 6x30 works wonderfully in this role.
Ah ok it’s an early MK65 with the cemented secondary mirror. Now I understand about the helical focuser. Later versions had a modem star diagonal and the handle on top of the OTA.
Congratulations Lewis, this is only the start. Push this to the max on the moon and planets and look carefully, very carefully. I’ll also suggest you consider making a dew shield for this that extends 150-200mm, it will enhance contrast near bright objects (Jupiter and the moon especially).
Ah ok it’s an early MK65 with the cemented secondary mirror. Now I understand about the helical focuser. Later versions had a modem star diagonal and the handle on top of the OTA.
Congratulations Lewis, this is only the start. Push this to the max on the moon and planets and look carefully, very carefully. I’ll also suggest you consider making a dew shield for this that extends 150-200mm, it will enhance contrast near bright objects (Jupiter and the moon especially).
I bet your Taks will turn a shade of pale green.
This has a handle on the OTA. The secondary is not cemented either - it is aluminised to the meniscus. The diagonal is incorporated into the visual back, with a helical focuser at the EP holder side.
Tried it today terrestrially in bright daylight (rather than dusk yesterday), trying a range of EPs.
It LOVES the Parks/Antares 25mm and 15mm "pseudo-Masuyamas" (then again, all my telescopes do), nice with the Masuyama 20, VERY nice with the Tak LE12.5 and Vixen NLV 15 (though I felt the Antares 15 was better for colour rendition, since I prefer warmer tones). The NLV needs the rubber eyecup rolled down for me too.
VERY flat field too - leaves at the edge of the field looked for all intents and purposes identical as those near the centre. Defocusing solar reflection spots on parked cars showed also very nice rings and a centred secondary, so I guess I reassembled it spot on
Have a GPD coming eventually, so the mounting issues are also sorted out.
Having used it now on the Moon (early morning), I disagree with this comment.
The image is EXCELLENT indeed, but NOT as good as a refractor, simply because of the "shadow" of the secondary. It is quite noticeable to my sensitive eyes on bright objects, and in my opinion, distracting. I find this with ALL reflecting telescopes - one of the most obvious to me is the Mewlon (REALLY distracting) and any of the Schmidt-Cassegrains. It is something my eye-brain cannot "put aside", and it doesn't matter what size secondary there is - I always see it.
As I said, the image presented is exquisitely sharp, but the differential dimming is a distraction to me.