Facelift

[LewisM]

I recently was GIVEN an old Vixen Sphinx mount that was rather sad - blue plastic covers cracked, insects inside the motor housing, paint chips and scratches etc. Nothing to lose, I gave it a much needed facelift.

Resprayed the entire mount head with Hammerite White hammertone paint. Matched the Vixen original PERFECTLY. I reglued the cracked blue covers, and also bought replacements through Steve Massey, but decided to have a crack at repairing them - so I did. Epoxy and superglue, sanded, light sandblast, then hammertone painted them too - I think it makes it look like the new SXP now! MUCH cleaner, not Gameboy look now.

Enjoyed it immensely. Runs flawlessly now (regreased, polished etc), and upgraded the firmware for the Starbook (considering to respray the translucent blue of that too :)) - plus, the new Vixen firmware released earlier this year eliminates the Declination axis jumps endemic with the SPhinx - WIN WIN.

[lazjen]

So when are you selling it? j/k. :)

Looks like a good job. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

You do love yr scopes Huh? ;)

Mike

[LewisM]

Being an old restorer of military items, I enjoy the classics. Perhaps I DO love them. The FC-100 on the Sphinx was so utterly dejectedly sad when I got it (at a bargain price), and I restored that - sympathetically. I was considering respraying it, but I just loved it with the tube scratches etc. So, I just hand polished the tube and dewshield, straightened the VERY bent focuser pinion, reworked the focuser, installed an MEF3 micro-focuser on it, and cleaned the grotty objective (still needs another go - awaiting my collodion polymer cleaner still). I also just finished hand repairing the hole a prior owner drilled THROUGH the dewshield cap screw out aperture mask - back filled with epoxy putty, and recut the Tak intertwined TS logo under a loupe, then repaited it in the Tak green I had my local paint shop match.

Yes, I love restorations, and especially when it pays off looking through them as well (the views through this 100 are so incredibly contrasty and SHARP). Looking AT a classic is half the enjoyment to me too.

[strongmanmike]

Great stuff, must be lots of fun :)

Mike

[Regulus]

Nice job Lewis, it looks great.
Q. When u say u polish a telescope tube, what does that involve?
Trev

[LewisM]

Fine automotive rubbing compound and a LOT of elbow grease.

[Regulus]

Thx. Is it worth 'sealing' the finish afterwards?

[LewisM]

Trevor, I always hard wax my OTA's, so not sure if NECESSARY, but I do.

[MattT]

Wax….:question:
Is this the same as doing it to a car? Like I used to when I washed my car…an all to rare event, with Domestos and wondered why the paint went all powdery!!!! Wax was the solution. Maybe I should wash my scope :lol:
Have to ask…when are you selling this mount?
Matt

[LewisM]

Yes, after polishing with fine polishing compound, I use a hard microcrystalline wax (doesn't yellow)



Hmmmm :whistle::innocent:

(keeping this one - it works too well!)