I have had an Esprit 80ED for a good while now, and like it very much, but the mundane aesthetic appearance of it was always making me think. That honking big dewshield devoid of any decal or colour just stood out to me like a glaring omission (the original Esprit's had the decal on the dewshield, not the tube).
I decided it needed the Southern Cross, so I had one custom made (both sides) in silver vinyl decals, as this would NOT stand out garishly and compliment the silver anodised trim. I applied that, then thought it needed a LITTLE more, kind of like the old Tak FC blue stripe, so I cut some auto-trim striping in deep blue (I may make a new one, rounding the ends instead of joining up), which matches the blue anodising on my flattener adaptor too.
It adds a personal touch to me to an otherwise mass produced, visually unappealing OTA. I am usually not a huge fan of dewshield decals, but I feel this is minimal, unobtrusive and complimentary (the Crux is DELIBERATELY not centred on the dewshield so as to respect the Rule of Thirds).
From what I've seen of these Espirits in the field, they produce B nice images actually. Definitely gives a Tak a run for its money in the right hands.
Within Auto circles there is a type of enthusiast called a "Ricer", the term Ricer is a term of derision. Ricer's add supercilious bits of nasty plastic to the exteriors of their cars, a favourite, rear spoilers on front wheel drive vehicles!
To my enduring shame, I am an Astro Ricer! Just as this scope has a Tac "speed stripe" fitted I have been known to modify scopes so that screws match. I spend hours planning ridiculous and unnecessary alterations to perfectly serviceable OTA's.
In truth, I don't think I am alone in being an Astro Ricer.
Seen at a popular observing site that should remain anonymous... "riced up" bog standard 8" SCT, with "Bobs Knobs", motorised focusser, heated dewcap, heaters to stop the corrector fogging, eyepieces with eyepiece heaters, heated eyepiece box, cooling fans, a 2" back on a scope that only has a 30mm rear port, deforked it (tossed a perfectly good fork) and instead plonked on an EQ5, added a Telrad, auto guider, camera, filter wheel, laptop, no less than five handsets to operate that lot and a gazillion cables to trip over... about the only thing missing is a Byers Drive but you can't put one of those on an EQ5 - at least I don't think it has been done.
And a switchboard to supply the juice and surrounded with enough red LED lights to bring a few UFOs in to land.
Needs those cooling fans alright as with all the heat being dissipated that lot creates its own thermals. And the user wonders why the seeing is bad
Looks good Lewis .
Are you sure, party pooper?
