Takahashi TSA meets T-Rex V 1.01

[Kunama]

After lots of buying and selling over the last 6 months I have finally come up with a "Grab and Go" travel kit I am totally thrilled with:

Whilst no lightweight overall, I can still pick the assembled kit up with ease and carry it outside quite comfortably.

The components are:

Tak TSA120 F7.5 OTA and finder bracket @ 6.4Kg
T-Rex Alt Az mount assembled @ 7.9Kg
Synta GMT128 tripod @ 8.6Kg
TSA120 Clamshell @ 1.3Kg
WO 2" Diagonal @ 0.5Kg
Stellarvue F50W2 9x50 RACI Finder @ 0.6Kg
Vixen LVW 3.5, 5, 8, 13, 17, 22 approx @ 0.5Kg each

Total weight with 1 eyepiece Approx. 25.6Kg

Still to be installed are Argo Navis DTC and JMI Train&Track motors.

[Kunama]

First impressions of the T-Rex:

A beautifully crafted mount that is as smooth as silk on both Azimuth and Altitude axis movements.
All components are very well finished, fit together perfectly and seem to have been adjusted well at the factory for movement with no backlash detectable.

Really looking forward to getting this kit under a clear sky!

Many thanks to Graeme (Rigel003) for the Takahashi and accessories, Claude at AEC for the T-Rex at a great price,
Mike (okiscopey) for the tripod (at that price I owe you another bottle of wine), Steve (myastroshop) for the eyepieces at bargain prices,
and Peter (Wax.Gibbous), Tony (casstony) and Steve (Unipol) for their reviews of the T-Rex.

[FlashDrive]

WOW.........:eyepop:.....Now that's just beautiful....lovely setup ....I'd be proud of that :thumbsup:

Flash.....:D

[UniPol]

Good on you Matt, I thought it was only a matter of time when you decided to buy the Rex. I have fitted every manner of scope on my Rex and it will comfortably carry Celestron C11's & Meade 10" SCT OTA's. William Optics and Losmandy (35mm hole spacing model) saddle plates are easily fitted if you have "D" type dovetails which save you opening and closing the Tak tube ring.

You are going to love the Argo Navis, the cables just plug in and away you go (got to set up the mount parameters first of course). I have attached some pics of the Argo Navis fitted to the Rex. I machined up a small removable arm to hold the control box and is much more convenient than using Velcro.

Cheers, Steve

[Kunama]

Thanks Col, it worked out better than expected.

That is a nice custom Argo mount Steve, now you just need to make another one and tell me how much you want for it ! :):)

I do have the dovetail and saddle but thought I would try a direct fit first. I will be using the dovetail in due course. Cheers, Matt

[Rigel003]

Elegant setup, Matt. I like the view from the balcony too.

[Kunama]

Thanks Graeme, I realised I really like the 'hands-on' of visual astronomy without GoTo (although will be utilising ArgoNavis) and yeah we are very lucky with the view, never get sick of it, everchanging and we can see the ski resort slopes from home so know what the day will be like.

[FlashDrive]

That country side looks familiar to me.....so I went hunting through my ' holiday snaps ' ....about 18 months ago ....
Compare your Panorama ..to my Photos.... some similarities I reckon.

Yes....you do have great views there at your place.

Flash....:thumbsup:

[Kunama]

I know those areas well Col, been coming up here every year since 1975, finally moved here 3 years ago.

Tried out the T-Rex for the past 2 hours, is it wrong to love a telescope mount?
So very smooooooooooooooth ! Ran it through its paces with an 8mm LVW, the clutches set almost to free, I had the balance near perfect so was able to slew with only the slightest push on the diagonal and then track with the slow-mo handles.

[FlashDrive]

:lol: ...not at all mate ...a real love affair go'in on here....that's a really nice mount ....very good gear indeed :thumbsup:
I better start saving ....:rolleyes:

Flash....

[Waxing_Gibbous]

I had exactly the same set-up for a while and found it perfect for "grunt & go".
The T-Rex is a great mount and I understand they've made one or two upgrades since the original model.
You'll have years of fun with your set-up.

[g__day]

Looks really great!

[Kunama]

Thanks Peter, it was your review that got me interested in the Rex in the first place.



Thanks Matthew, I will be adding the Argo Navis and am also considering the JMI motors with Train&Track Controller. (Basically a pair of motors controlled to be able to match the drift rate, so you watch the target image through an illuminated reticle ep and adjust the motor speeds in forward or reverse until the image stays centred. Takes about 30 seconds to do and keeps the target in view for at least 10 minutes. The image will of course rotate but should stay centred.)

[Kunama]

Trying to ride a Tyrannosaurus Rex without a good saddle is fraught with danger, so with thanks to Glenn (glnn_23) a suitable saddle was found:

This beautifully crafted saddle by Robin Casady would make the Tenterfield Saddler proud to call it his own:

[issdaol]

Nice :-) I use the Cassady Saddle and Dovetail on my Mewlon 300. They are very well made and finished. They also supply with the proper Takahashi Bolts

[Kunama]

They certainly are, I just today received another saddle and a 14" matching dovetail bar, courtesy of Lorenz, which will go onto a future EQ mount should I ever catch the imaging bug. Pity I did not have the spare $$$ for Lorenz's EM200, I would love to have stashed that away for the future.