Meade Lightbridge Deluxe 12" Dobsonian!

[Arman]

Just under twenty-four hours to I bring home my Meade Lightbridge Deluxe 12" Dobsonian home from Bintel. I'm just wondering if there is any modifications i should make to the Telescope all together?

What do you suggest? :thumbsup:

(http://www.meade.com/lightbridge/index.html#qxwideangle)

Regards..

Arman :)

[erick]

Have you bought a light shroud? Should help keep dew off the primary (and things from dropping on that mirror).

Here is a big but very beneficial modification:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=33207

[cookie8]

I have done the following mods to mine & I never looked back:
1. Bob's knobs for both primary & secondary mirrors
2. Astrozap light shroud
3. Telrad +/- a right angle finderscope( RDF that came with scope is
horrible to use)
4. Counter weight( sandbags & velcro) for low objects.
5. A laser collimater for quick collimation in the dark.

Some owners also suggest:
dew shield; dew heater for secondary and powder paint the inner rings and primary mirror holding case black

Enjoy it.Its a wonderful scope no problem since bought it in 2007. :thumbsup:

[astronut]

Arman,
There are a number of mods to make the scope perform better.
There are a few members (myself included) that would be more than happy to help.
But.........my advice is enjoy the scope for a little while before you start pulling it apart.
As Eric has said, a light shroud would be the first purchase.
These are the best.
http://www.astrozap.com/pages/shrouds.html

Cheers, John.:)

[PCH]

I'm with Vincent - I have all those accessories and mods and have found them to be pretty essential. One thing I must get asap is one of those observing chairs from Bintel - or perhaps I could make one. Hmmmm ...

Clear skies :thumbsup:

[JethroB76]

As mentioned there are many to be made; some very useful, some personal taste. Almost certainly if you use large EPs you will need some counterweights for it to be usable at anything but high alt positions - they are pretty top heavy.

[MarkN]

G'day there Arman.

You should be able to get an Astrozap shroud from Sirius Optics in Brissie. Cost was $115 for the 12". A trip to Bunnings for a large welding magnet will solve most heavy EP balance problems for a few dollars. Just tape up the edges so as not to damage the scope's paint.

Congratulations, you are well on the way to financial ruin!

Mark.

[JimmyH155]

For the light shrowd, I simply use one of those camping mats with ribbons stuck on with contact cement - just wrap it around the bars and tie it off.
Counterweight, yes magnet would be great - I use a tin of airgun pellets stuck on with sticky tape. Or use a large fishing weight.
Line the white painted bits with black felt from Spotlight, stuck on with contact cement and paint any missing white stuff with matte black paint. :D:D
Then get yourself a Hyperion ZOOM eyepiece 8 mm - 24 mm and keep that Meade 26 mm "Cluster buster" that comes with it ( Dont listen to the knockers - it is plenty good enough!!) - the only two EP's you will need:P:D

[lacad01]

Dumb question but what quantifies the "deluxe" tag for this model? :)

[JimmyH155]

Hi Adam,
you get better bearings on the azimuth (the flat ones on the bottom) and you get that Meade 26mm wide angle eyepiece. I think the 2" focusser is standard on both models. The roller bearings are majic - it just glides around. I think the cheaper one just uses teflon plate which can be a bit stickey, I think.:D

[lacad01]

Ah, got it, thanks :)

[JethroB76]

AFAIK you can only get the deluxe version now