TRANSPORTING 16" GSO & Lightbridge Dob

[Davekyn]

I've pretty much read all there is on these two scopes. What I am not sure about is the comparison on portability with regards to those whom claim they can fit a 16” Lightbridge into a sporty coupe and no comments on the portability of the GSO except better mechanics.

Most people seem to indicate that they never move their 16” GSO and those that do, never seem to indicate how and what transport thier using.

If I ever made the move to a 16” scope I would rather choose portability over mechanics and address the latter afterwards. Would it be easier to adapt the rocker box of the GSO. Does the GSO dismantle completely and as easily as the Lightbridge or is it meant to simply slide like the skywatchers seem to imply?

I think I saw someone post a mod on the rocker box where they somehow made it foldable to get it in their boot.

Any thoughts as to which one of these scopes rates better for portability regardless of mechanics?
Thanks.

[Davekyn]

Forgive my persistance:
Can any 16" GSO owners give some measurments? Comment on transporting the scope to dark skies or anything?

Any Lightbridge owners overcome the problem of ballance, braking & all the other negatives when compared to the better design of the GSO.

Would the mirror be ok transporting the GSO UTA inside a padded contatiner amoung the rest of the grear in a trailer. When transporting the mirror in its UTA on the back of a trailer, should it only be down in the horrizontal position? Does the GSO Truss only slide up & down, making this method of transport top-heavy?

Any Owners out there actually transporting these scopes to other sites, other than thier back yards. Comments greatly appreciated as there is really no information specific to this topic on the net.

Thankyou
Dave

[Kevnool]

Hi dave the dimensions of both scopes have to be basically the same.

My GSO 16" has to be totally disassembled to be transported , The Rocker Box, Upper and Lower OTA fit nicely into my 4x4 wagon the struts take up no room.

Anyone who shifts these around as a complete unit must be a cousin to the hulk.

Well now also i own the lightbridge 10" and i can tell you they disassemble in the same amount of time , there are no hidden tricks to it.

The rocker box is a large item and could not want the thing to collapse to save space it needs to be rigid for me to keep the argo navis precise.

I always transport mine around the place from A to B sure the collimation is always out when i reassemble but thats not an issue as i always collimate the scope before i use it.

As portability they are on par with each other.

Cheers Kev.

[Kevnool]

Dave the dimensions of the GSO 16" are:

The Rocker Box 700 mm high / 850mm wide.

The Upper OTA 290 mm high / 490 mm wide.

The Lower OTA 600 mm high / 490 mm wide.

The struts are 870 mm long.

The overall height from ground to top whem assembled is 1.890 mtr.

Cheers Kev.

[Davekyn]

Thanks Kev,
Looks as if the Rocker Box is the thing to hold me back. I will concentrate on setting up a trailer for transport. I'll consider ways to minimise vibration and the like. I also agree that collimation is not that a bigger deal as can be delt with on setup.

A trailer will be an improvement on my current method of shoving in my 12" dob into a small sedan. Just a little more cost involved but somthing I can use for dump runs ect... Just have to learn to Back the damn thing up :) Will be good to have space for passengers in my car when I go out too. No probs lifting heavy weights...story of my life :(

What do you use for a shroud? Any probs with obstruction?

[Kevnool]

Hi Dave travel slowly with that trailer you dont want it bouncing over potholes or coragations.

As for the shroud last time i was in Parramatta i was walking down church st and saw a little material shop and 20 bucks later i had 2 mtrs of stretch super thin lycra then 5 button clips riveted to one of my struts then strecth it around the struts and it just dont sag and taa daa there it is.
By the way its riveted to one of my modification struts.

In the pic i unbuttoned a couple of them so you could see.

Also thats the size difference between a 16" and a 10".
Cheers Kev.

[tnott]

Both scopes seem similar monsters to move from what I have seen.

BTW - Kev I like your ply rocker box. Is it lighter and stiffer than the particle board one it came with?

[Kevnool]

Yes It is lighter and stronger than the original chipboard rocker.
3/4 Ply was used.

[Screwdriverone]

Hmmmmmm, GREAT idea for the shroud Kev,

May have to wander down to the local Spotlight for some body hugging lycra ( sounds a bit suss!) and make up a shroud for my SW Flex dob.

I'm sure I "dont" know where the Spotlight is....may have to look it up on the net! :lol: ;)

Nice job, thanks for posting, inspiring!

Cheers

Chris

[Glenn Dawes]

[QUOTE=Davekyn;417079]I've pretty much read all there is on these two scopes. What I am not sure about is the comparison on portability with regards to those whom claim they can fit a 16” Lightbridge into a sporty coupe and no comments on the portability of the GSO except better mechanics.

Hi Dave,

I can't comment on the GSO 16", but I recently modified my Lightbridge 16. See the following thread:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=39667

It is functional and quick to assemble and disassemble. The main issue I had with my Ford sedan was the combined bulk of the rocker box attached to the base. It just wouldn't fit through the doors. Now that I have it off the base the entire 16 LB fits in the back seat. Without having this I think you need at least a hatch back to get it in (no problem with my wife's 4x4)

Regards

Glenn

[Kevnool]

Make sure a woman asks you for help and dont tell her its for a telescope or she,ll think your a liar.... :rofl: .....Cheers Kev.

[Kevnool]

[quote=Glenn Dawes;417398]

Thx Glenn its great to go back to see what weve missed.
Guess whos now going to have a decent secondary mirror cover.
Cheers Kev.

[GrahamL]

The bases on all these scopes are crazy big !!.. even my 10" was an ask
in a sizey sedan just because of that big arsed ground board come rocker assembly.. sure you can take apart and reasemble .. but the particle board
form ..imo ..isn't going to go with this forever and you will have to do what kev has done there sooner or later:)

[Glenn Dawes]

[QUOTE=Kevnool;417407]

Hi Kev,

I'm glad you like the secondary cover. In the past I've seen lots of discussions on covers for primary mirrors, but per square inch the secondary is the most important mirror (I think) and since there has been this trend to open truss scopes it leaves them very exposed.

Although I got mine from work I recently saw a plastic container identical to it in a Woolworths for $4.

Regards

Glenn

[circumpolar]

[quote=Kevnool;417407]

Great idea!

[Davekyn]

Kev’s innovation with the shroud looks very impressive. I like! When you say thin lycra I guess it doubles as a light shield as well as allow quick cool down? It certainly looks quick and easy enough with no obstruction.

I myself Love what you have done with the rocker Glen...I acknowledge the comment with respect to the particle board and it’s life span, but think for the time it will last that Glen’s idea is also very practical. (If it makes the difference to fit it in your vehicle)The secondary mirror container also seems to benefit the scope during transport...(is the bottom of the plastic jar cut open to allow use whilst viewing acting as a dew shield as well or would its use be to obstructive?

If I do use a Trailer Kev...I’ll line it with foam & or create containers specifically for the optical assemblies, being sure that those don’t make contact with any other gear as the padding absorbs most of the impact and the assembly bounces about with the cushioned blows. Could possibly put padding between the containers as well as under. I also think when transporting in this manner, it would be better to keep the assembly with the Primary mirror, horizontal with the mirror flat to the deck (on the padding of course)...I know I can transport the thing 10 times better than TNT...Grrrrrrrrrrr. I think “if done the right way”, it will mostly come down to checking the nuts & bolts with collimation no big deal at all. I think this will be my plan or at least give it a go.

Thanks for the input everyone!
Oh yea..Kev...did you paint your scope like that?

[Kevnool]

No i didnt Dave it came straight out of the box all black.



To Glenn i,ll snap the container up.


Cheers all Kev.

[Glenn Dawes]

Dave,

The only modification to the container was the slits cut to let the spider veins through. It is taken off before observing. Although one time I forgot. The image I had of Sirius through the plastic was so distorted it had me scratching my head for a while!
Personally, I wouldn't like the added obstruction.

Regards

Glenn

[Calibos]

One can use the plastic cases from Spindles of CD's/Dvd's

[Glenn Dawes]

Hi Calibos,

Good idea, but maybe not for a 16. I don't think I've seen one tall enough.

Glenn

[Calibos]

You obviously don't buy blank Cd's/Dvd's by the 100 then :D

[Kevnool]

The Jar looks like the go for me........cheers Kev.