GSO f4 truss newts

[garymck]

Hi,

Andrews has just listed 10 and 12" GSO truss newts.

Apparently they hope to have them in March next year... no word on a 16" though... nor any info on prices...

Anyone heard any info about them?

cheers
Gary

[glend]

They have been discussed on Cloudy Nights forum, badged as Astrotech I think over there. I asked Luke at Andrews about them last week and he emailed Jim Sheng at GSO about availability for Aus - looks like he got a response. Luke said he intended to bring them in if he could. I think the price quoted in the US was $1700 USD. They look great but honestly you can buy a present GSO 10" f4 imaging newt for less than half that. Sure the truss looks great and look like serious units but it still has a GSO mirror, focuser, etc. Your paying for the truss and alittle weight savings - much like the situation with the RCs (truss vs tube). Jury is out on those for me.

[rustigsmed]

May be interested in the 16" also

[glend]

Here is the Cloudy Nights thread:

http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/468847-astronomics-new-truss-tube-imaging-newt/

Alistar Astro webpage link to their version:

http://www.altairastro.com/altair-truss-tube-newtonian-astrograph.html

[glend]

I noticed that Andrews is now taking orders for the GSO Truss Imaging Newts, and say the first shipment will arrive in March. Pricing will be interesting. Astronmics has the 12" f4 listed at $2195 USD on Pre-order as well; which would be about $3000 AUD equivalent. It is likely that these Truss Imaging Newts would be priced below the GSO RCs of the same aperture.

Astronomics website has some more detail on the scope here:

https://www.astronomics.com/12-f4-carbon-fiber-truss-tube-imaging-newtonian_p20370.aspx

It says the weight is 51 lbs, or 23kg, unfortunately too heavy for imaging on my NEQ6. I guess carbon fibre is not saving much weight, or its more for stiffness. The current tube model is listed as weighing ~ 18.4kg (21kg inc. tube rings and mounting plate).

The bargain in this size imaging newt might have to be the current GSO 12" f4 tube imaging newt, which at $999 at present (Andrews) gives you the same optics and equipment. I suppose GSO will 'upgrade' the focuser on the truss newt (but serious imagers will probably still replace it anyway), and you get three fans instead of one, maybe enhanced mirror coatings but standard on the current newts seems to be 96% anyway.
I'm tempted to just buy the current tube model and strip it to build my own carbon fibre strut tube; I think I could get the weight down to 15kg doing it that way.

Still the new GSO truss imaging newts will probably sell well as people seem to like the truss design, perhaps invoking serious observatory type equipment.

I will ring Luke when they reopen for 2016 and see what the price will be and the deposit terms on orders.

[rustigsmed]

hmmm, 3x the regular tube price seems a lot, but i guess you don't know the build quality till you see one in person. any word if they will sell the truss on its own for people looking to upgrade from existing steel tubes?
TS sell carbon fibre tubes for about $1000aud (for the gso 12" f4 - not including delivery).

[glend]

I am hearing it will get quartz mirrors so it probably will have enhanced reflectivity over the standard tube newt, and these things will help justify the price difference. I doubt they would sell truss upgrade packages - their profit margin would be damaged.

[glend]

I rang up Andrews today, their first day back after the holiday shutdown to check prices. They still have no price or other details on the truss newts, even though they are taking orders. No weight info either. Apparently they have been shipped but they know nothing more.

[DaveNZ]

I see Optcorp now have the 12" version listed with details. Also purchase as Special Order.

No mention about mirror substrate though.