Glenn Dawes
07-01-2009, 12:53 PM
Hello all,
I recently mentioned on my thread on observing the LMC, I modified my LB 16" and could now fit it on the back seat of my Car.
Unfortunately there is a big difference between a telescope being portable vs. being transportable. The 16 LB, as it comes, definitely fits in the later category and that's only if you have a station wagon or 4WD. The problem is the altaz mount (its height and width). My modification was to take the rocker box off the base. Once this was achieved transporting was relatively easy. The rocker then fitted on one side of the back seat (with the top of the OTA sitting inside) and the bottom of the OTA sits on the other back seat (you can secure both with the seat belts). The base can then slide in, standing on its edge behind the front seats.
This work and relatively simple concept was done by Peter Northfield (so I'm not taking credit). Once I get to my observing site it can also be assembled in seconds! I would say, if you or a friend are clever enough to do the labor, the cost for raw materials would be about $50.
The rocker was taken off the base and squared up and made more rigid by placing a timber bar across the open end, sitting flush with the base (part of this can be seen in the 'LB rear' image below. It is held in place by recycling the screws that originally held the rocker to the base.
The rocker is secured to the base by 4 catches (2 on each side). The type used is easily adjustable and available from hardware stores (you will see a lot of these on the back of utes). The L shaped hooks (secured to the base) weren't easy to find and Peter ended up creating them by bending metal bar in a vice. 2 timber blocks were also secured to the base to ensure the rocker goes back to the same position each time. The blocks look quite professional because Peter has recently been involved in building kitchens.
The 3rd photo was an idea I came up with to protect the secondary mirror (something I think is not given enough attention by ATMs IMO). The polyprop container had slits cut into it to allow the spider vanes to pass through and then the cover is locked in place by its screw lid. This particular container I don't think is commercially available, but the idea works. Perhaps someone on the forum can suggest something suitable from K Mart, Target or where ever?
Regards
Glenn
I recently mentioned on my thread on observing the LMC, I modified my LB 16" and could now fit it on the back seat of my Car.
Unfortunately there is a big difference between a telescope being portable vs. being transportable. The 16 LB, as it comes, definitely fits in the later category and that's only if you have a station wagon or 4WD. The problem is the altaz mount (its height and width). My modification was to take the rocker box off the base. Once this was achieved transporting was relatively easy. The rocker then fitted on one side of the back seat (with the top of the OTA sitting inside) and the bottom of the OTA sits on the other back seat (you can secure both with the seat belts). The base can then slide in, standing on its edge behind the front seats.
This work and relatively simple concept was done by Peter Northfield (so I'm not taking credit). Once I get to my observing site it can also be assembled in seconds! I would say, if you or a friend are clever enough to do the labor, the cost for raw materials would be about $50.
The rocker was taken off the base and squared up and made more rigid by placing a timber bar across the open end, sitting flush with the base (part of this can be seen in the 'LB rear' image below. It is held in place by recycling the screws that originally held the rocker to the base.
The rocker is secured to the base by 4 catches (2 on each side). The type used is easily adjustable and available from hardware stores (you will see a lot of these on the back of utes). The L shaped hooks (secured to the base) weren't easy to find and Peter ended up creating them by bending metal bar in a vice. 2 timber blocks were also secured to the base to ensure the rocker goes back to the same position each time. The blocks look quite professional because Peter has recently been involved in building kitchens.
The 3rd photo was an idea I came up with to protect the secondary mirror (something I think is not given enough attention by ATMs IMO). The polyprop container had slits cut into it to allow the spider vanes to pass through and then the cover is locked in place by its screw lid. This particular container I don't think is commercially available, but the idea works. Perhaps someone on the forum can suggest something suitable from K Mart, Target or where ever?
Regards
Glenn