Originally posted by gaa_ian
Starkler .. where did you get the finder scope with the Diagonal ?
That is the only thing i am missing for easy seated observing. [/B]
Here's a bunch of mods that I have done to my scope & my mount...I went and bought 4 of the 60mm magic Sliders from walmart and I put them on the bottom of the mount. The center has 1 magic slider on it & 4 milk jug washers....took it out last night and it turns purrrrrfect!!!!!!...woo-hoo...the other mods are self explanatory....
...And yet another mod...moved finderscope,flocked opposite the focuser, added small RED LED lights to read star maps, added a brass handle for slewing scope.
Yes looks very nice, pity I can't put one of them on the back of my scope. Oh well maybe Meade will come up with something better than their current knurlled screw job for holding in my EP's. Already had one drop onto my feet. Luckily.
My GSO came with the compression locking ring on the focuser. Even the GSO eyepieces that came with it have a groove for the ring in the barrel. Isn't it standard on GSO's sold under different names?
Great mods fellas! You're all quite clever and nifty aren't ya!
I haven't done any mods to my scope but I was considering flocking the inside of the tube. I've got the instructions but I'm just still a little timid about taking the scope apart to perform the delicate operation.
The only thing I have done to my scope so far was to replace the dovetail bar with a solid aluminum one that I bought from scopestuff. I feel a lot safer with my scope balanceing on that than the stock standard bar from Meade. To my horror, when I took the old bar off the mounting rings, I found the 6 metal washers that were holding the tube alignment bolt in place were all cracked! The washers were so thin I'm surprised they didn't fall out when they cracked. I've now replaced them with thicker washers, I only ended up needing 4 in total. So it was lucky I replaced the bar otherwise, I would never have known how precariously my scope was balancing on those washers and that bar. I've attached a picture of the old bar and pointed out where the washers were sitting.
Last edited by silvinator; 15-01-2005 at 06:08 PM.
omg~!!!...thats Meade for ya!!!....just take a look at their cheap focusers in the 12.5 & 16 inch reflectors....theyre all made of PLASTIC !!!!.....LMAO...anyhoo...heres a new mod ive just done today....a light blocker/ dew shield. All credit goes to DON WYMAN for the idea.
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Mark G.
12' GSO SCOPE
lol bytor i have another major piece of surgery for my scope and that is to replace the finder (and probably the focuser too now that you mention it!) as one of the screws that hold the finder in place does not stay anymore - the thread has become worn out. How? I don't know. Must have something to do with Meade craftsmenship because I certainly wasn't rough with the thing, I'm a woman after all I want to upgrade to something bigger like those raci and orion finders some of you guys have shown in the equip pics thread.
Nice looking dew shield by the way, what materials did you use?
Those trees are out the front, and because i'm on a sloping block, my back yard is much higher than my front, so in the backyard the trees across the road don't pose any problems for seeing close to the horizon.
However there are far too many gum trees scattered about my yard and the neighbours which block a lot of the south and north-west views.
ohhhh...sorry for responding so late silvinator...I forgot I even had this up...LOL...I used some pipe insulator made out of bubblewrap thats covered in silver stuff....then I flocked the inside of it.....thats all.....
Not too worry bytor, I forgot I even asked! thanks for letting me know anyway. amazing what you can do with the simplest of equipment - milk jugs, pipe insulator, cardboard, what next!?
Well, now that you've asked....I've just made a new telescope tube for my 12" scope out of .....PAPER...!!!!....I just don't understand how nothing sags !!!!! HAHAHAHAHA LOLOLOLOLOL
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MARK
12" GSO SCOPE
TELEVUE DROOLING CERTIFICATE
Hi Guys,
Mods.#1. Sold Tasco 4.5" and bought 10"DOB. (very important mod).
#2. Ebony Star formica on base plate.
#3. Moved position of teflon pads in side plates for best movement/sticktion.--is that a word?
#4. After fitting all the new bits, (8x50 finder/carry handle/switch assy. for the electrics/heater on finder, with internal led/electronic focuser,------- a final balance.
#5. Dismantled the focuser and repacked with new thinner
teflon strips, so that the electric focuser unit did not overload. (almost no image shift).
#6. A heated/2x red led illum. e/p box.
#7. A Magellan 1.(Made 3 adjustable feet for base).
#8. 12v 7a/h Gell Cell to run it all.
#9. Added a circuit to the battery charger, to enable it to be left on charge indefinitely. (It is now a float charger).
#10. Learned how to collimate the beast!!!!!!!! and
#11. How to safely clean the optics.
Finally did the milk jug thing ... I hadn't bothered till now as I thought the Az movement was OK.
I was quite surprized the difference it made, should certainly help with high powered hand tracking.
I did notice that the teflon pads had worn somewhat, but that's a good sign though
It means Ive been using my scope lots!
I only needed to fit 4 washers to get the right balance.
Hi meade expert. & thanks.
No I don't image thru the DOB. I'll leave that to the experts, Mr. Ice & co. Although I have been known to take the occassional afocal shot, when I remember to take my camera along. Not good tho!. Sometimes I just use my 'curved rod' camera tracker for wide field shots. (35mm slide film).
What gear do you have??? L.
The washers were so thin I'm surprised they didn't fall out when they cracked. I've now replaced them with thicker washers, I only ended up needing 4 in total. So it was lucky I replaced the bar otherwise, I would never have known how precariously my scope was balancing on those washers and that bar. I've attached a picture of the old bar and pointed out where the washers were sitting.
i have another major piece of surgery for my scope and that is to replace the finder (and probably the focuser too now that you mention it!) as one of the screws that hold the finder in place does not stay anymore - the thread has become worn out. How? I don't know. Must have something to do with Meade craftsmenship because I certainly wasn't rough with the thing, I'm a woman after all 
I want to upgrade to something bigger like those raci and orion finders some of you guys have shown in the equip pics thread.
& thanks. 
