[Vermin (Tom)]

I realise that most projects have setbacks but this is getting beyond
a joke. My Astrosystems Telekit experience so far:

(There are photos of these on the Astrosystems Telekit Yahoo group)

1) Quite a bit of shipping damage:

a) The spider was packed directly on top of the mirror back without
padding causing the thin section between the fan cut out and
electronics cut out to be broken.

b) Three trusss poles crushed - one almost flat, the thin over packed
cardboard box was no protection at all.

c) A finger joint broken from two of the mirror box sides due to inadequate
packing. Double boxing is a standard shipping practice that could fix
this.

2) Piss poor quality control:

a) One old style ground board foot and three new ones supplied - dowel
holes do not line up.

b) One old style and three new (different) truss clamp blocks
supplied. Yet to hear back about this as I only emailed tonight.

c) One truss clamp block split clean through where the T nut spike has
parted the laminations. Yet to hear back about this.

d) Altitude bearing extension inner radius wrong diameter. Yet to hear back about this.

I have sent Astrosystems a few emails as I have discovered these
problems, most of which it will be easier and quicker for me to fix
rather than having to wait for more parts to be sent out. i.e. The
cost of a $30.00 length of aluminium tubing and drilling new holes...
compared to more ******about with customs (but that's another story).

There seems to be little or no quality control at Astrosystems as most
of these problems could have easily been picked up before packing.

I was considering writing an article for Sky and Space on the construction of this kit. Not any more, I just can not recommend this product. Sure the support is great but the QC is abominable.

[there is not an angry enough emoticon for this]