16" 85% Complete :P

[Darkplague]

Here are some latest pics of my progress.
Still have to attach the bearings, balance the scope and then finish it( which will take at least 2 weeks to cure fully)

I wish I had more spare time to finish the darn thing as Jupiter is at a great position near my house just teasing me to look at it.

My only issue is the truss connectors I used. I have my doubts as to whether or not they will hold the collimation as well as they should. They are the moonlite ball and socket connectors. If I had to make the scope again I would have probably gone for the more solid/rigid connectors.

[stringscope]

Looking really nice Mark.

Cheers,

[tnott]

Hi there,

Just joined the site and saw the progress on your scope. Looking good and nearly finished ! We must get together for some side by side viewing at an ASSA night (I only just finished my 16'' 'Tri-Dob' only a couple of months ago). I can help with names of local sources of Ebony Star etc. if you need help.

[Vermin]

Coming together nicely Mark!

[Orion]

That is a lovely project, coming along really well. Well done.

[Orion]

I was thinking the same thing when I saw your pics. If you have any issues with the way it is (any movement) you can always go the way of the truss blocks, the same as the Obsession style telescopes.
You will have to modify the alt bearings.

[acropolite]

Very nice job Mark:thumbsup: BTW noticed the banner on the bottom of your images; if you're using Win XP there's a very nice image resizer powertoy (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,212,0,0,1,0) available as a free download from microsoft.

[mikey7]

Nice looking scope. I'm half way thru my 18" and would be interested to know how the moonlite ball socket joints work out as I have a set of the same joints. I quizzed moonilte about the collimation and rigidity issue before I bought them and they swore black and blue that they work well. But nothing like a field test to get the real story so please post on how they work out.

Cheers
Mike

[xstream]

Nice work Mark, looking real spick.

I have been considering the Moonlight connectors for the 20". May have to re-think it after you comment. I'll be interested in your thoughts on them after first light.

[spacezebra]

Yes, watching this thread with interest.

Cheers Petra

[Astroman]

Hi Tnott (Tim),

Welcome Aboard!

Are you going to this months viewing night stockport on the 19th? I am taking my newly finished 8"scope up for a look under daker skies...(wx permitting). Would be great site seeing the two 16's together in celestial harmony....

Mark, thats looking really good I congratulate you on your patience and skill in producing something of this calibur. It will be great to see it in action one night....

[tnott]

Hi Andrew,
I usually go down to the southern viewing night at Tooperang as it's closer to me but I may make it to the Stockport star party the following weekend (the moon will go down on this night around 8pm I think) if the weather isn't good on the 19th. I also go to the Deep Sky viewing sessions as an alternatative when I can't make it to a regular viewing night.

[Hammerman]

What a great looking project! Looks like fun to me. Can't wait until you finish and give us a first light report.

[Darkplague]

Yep definitely have to meet up in the future for some viewing. Id like to compare the 2 16" side by side. BTW where did you source your 16" mirror from?

[bojan]

Impressive, indeed :-)

[Darkplague]

My XP is a "friends copy" so I doubt it will work. I cant even get Service pack 2.

:(

[Darkplague]

Thanks for all the encouragement, It gives me some added motivation to finally finish all the little bits and pieces I need to get done.

And believe me there are quite a few little things I need to touch up on.
Just when you think youre almost done you remember theres still the :

Shroud
Handles with wheels
plastic light baffle
Sanding
Staining
Lacqering
Curing

To do!!!


Looks like at least 3 weeks till first light for me :(((


Mark

[dugnsuz]

You've done an amazing job there Mark.
Well done - looks great.
Cheers
Doug:thumbsup:

[Satchmo]

Mark , I'm not sure what the issue is with the Moonlite connectors.I've seen them on a few scopes and they are rock solid. I know of them used on 20" F5 recently too and no reported problems. Remember to do them up as tightly as you can and of course you need to bolt the inserts into the tubes.

Give your scope a good workout before worrying about all the extras you've listed, as the functionality of focus , collimation and stability are a first priority.

Mark

[tnott]

Hi Mark,
I got my black, BVC mirror from ASM products in Canada, made by Andre Taillon. It is now under new ownership as AJ's Telescope Workshop (http://www.ajstelescopeworkshop.ca/). It was one of their premium mirrors with a tiny chip on the very edge of it and you really don't want to know how little I paid for it. :eyepop: The new owners still sell blanks but I don't know if they are making mirrorrs anymore or what they are like. An article detailing the scope will appear in the next week or so on this site as well as in the next ASSA Bulletin. By the way, the current weather forecast looks good for the ASSA viewing night on Saturday - I'm going to Tooperang if the weather holds.