Vixen tripod tray

[The Mekon]

Wanted a metal vixen tripod tray. Supplied with most of the vixen mounts from 1980's through to 2000.

[Dennis]

Not sure if you are looking for new or 2nd hand, but if new, Steve Massey at My Astro Shop has one on their website:

http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-096H2

Code: 5460. Metal accessory tray for Vixen SX tripods and Porta II mounts

Listed at $45.

Cheers

Dennis

[LewisM]

I got a used one needing a repaint (though not too bad as is). $25 post extra

[The Mekon]

Thanks Dennis, Lewis,
I am a bit tight on this one. Have just bought a used Custom 60L for $120 and thought that the tripod could do with a bit of stiffening up. Hoping to get a very cheap one otherwise the scope will end up costing too much! Might make a wood one to do the job.

[Dennis]

I have made a couple of trays for my Vixen tripod.

The Mk I is a simple wooden disc with a single centre thumbscrew. The disc has a foam mat glued on top and it just sits on the struts and does not engage them.

The Mk II offers a couple of slight improvements; it has x 3 studs to locate in the slots on the tripod struts and an aluminium edging strip to minimise the risk of stuff rolling off. This has the single central ¼” thumbscrew and so does not really lock the tripod struts.

I suspect the Vixen product should come with x1 central locking bolt plus x3 strut locking bolts so the tripod is more rigid? Just an assumption as I don’t have an OEM Vixen tray.

I had all the parts lying around my workshop and the time to fiddle around so these trays were cheap to make.

If you had to go out and purchase the various parts, I suspect it would begin to get close to the My Astro Shop price?:shrug:

If you do make one, I would be interested to see your interpretation.:)

Cheers

Dennis