Hello all.
Eventually when I build up the skill set and patience, I shall launch myself into some home-brew optics manufacture and all the associated fun and excitement that goes with that.
Until that day, I tend to to restrict myself with inanimate bits of timber and metal that are a little less expensive to replace, should I become over excited with power tools in my hand as most man-folk tend to be (insert cries of "more power" and grunting "Tim the Toolman" style here).
As such, a recent project involved getting around the usual problem of transporting the 12" Newt/Dob around the country to places far less light polluted than suburban Melbourne, whilst trying to reduce the amount of adjustment time at the other end after travelling over some of Victoria's finest road infrastructure.
The project started off as "The Coffin" as fittingly enough, I could comfortably (?) lie within it. but in a fit of inspiration the Dearly Beloved (DB and owner of the aforementioned scope) decreed that it looked like "The Tardis".
Hence after an absurd amount of time routing grooves into the lid to give it that 'authentic' look, a couple of coats of paint and an accessory or two, the "Tardis" was completed. Thoughts were also given for a blue light on the top, but this would suffer quite badly in the trailer
First shot is the box upright with the scope beside it complete with cloth dustcover cover created by DB, mounted on small wheel trolley we use to easily move the scope and mount around when observing at home.
Next few shots show the inside with the padding, document tray and end section housing the eyepiece case. The section with the eyepiece case is reinforced and is at the primary end of the scope to allow the whole assembly to be stood upright when not in use. The ends and inside of the lid has 50mm high density foam, and there are four curved sections of HD foam supporting the weight during travel.
The lid is attached with four clips, and removes with four recessed loop handles. There are two carry handles at each end to allow the whole lot to be lifted on and off the trailer (way to big to fit in anything but a trailer or station wagon. The bottom has four roller bearing wheels to allow it to be moved easily at home or on the trailer, and the Dob trolley goes underneath to move it at the destination over rougher ground. The ball bearing wheels on the bottom also drop into locating holes on the trailer bed to stop a lot of the movement on the road.
The box itself was relatively cheap as it's only MDF with glue, screws and 70x35mm pine reinforcing. However the foam can be on the tad expensive side, and the 'speaker' handles on the end were $17 each.
All up including all wood, screws, glue, paint, handles, wheels, foam etc it came in at just under $320 (and about 5 weekends).
To all the true Who enthusiasts out there, yes I know the detail isn't exactly correct but sometimes you just get that
Next stop, same deal for the HEQ5-Pro tripod, head and accessories, plus a portable battery/power unit to run all the bits for that.
Open to suggestions for those (a K9 perhaps for the power unit )
