Hi All,
Have been looking for a new Alt/Az Mount for some time and have not been really happy with the choices on the market.
I essentially wanted something that could handle a Takahashi TOA150 for Solar & Lunar observation as well as some general purpose observation leaving the bulk of deep-space and planetary to the Mewlon 300 on the EM400 EQ mount.
The overall concept was to have a mount that provided the following:
- Manufactured in Japan with high quality Japanese construction and materials
- Utilised components from other Tier 1 Japanese and European Manufacturers where possible
- Matched colour and texture of finish to Takahashi Standards
- Fitted primarily to Takahashi Tripods but also other Tier 1 Japanese and European Tripods
- Could handle payload up to TOA150
- Easy setup and transport
Nothing seemed to fit the bill until I got in touch directly with the manufacturer of the TREX to discuss what I wanted. After several weeks of discussion and design ideas going back and forth we determined that a solution was possible with once off customised TREX to test if the idea worked.
After the modification plans were finalised and pricing negotiated I accepted a pro-forma invoice in order to commit the factory to the production of the customised unit.
All dealings with the Manufacturer was very pleasant and professional, with everything taken into account from the material, sizings through to final transport/delivery logistics.
The great thing was the positive attitude from the outset about the customisation to solve a problem. Most manufacturers just say this is the product range and will not entertain modifications outside of their own production plans.
Once all the Items were complete and pre-tested in the factory they were packed and shipped via Airfreight with full tracking and insurance.
As you can see from the attached pictures everything was packed professionally in one box. Using foam balls. Each piece was further wrapped in bubble wrap and major components were additionally wrapped in soft tissue paper to avoid any markings or scratches to the surfaces. Some components were also packed in another internal box and foam for additional protection.
Suffice it to say with all this packing everything arrived in perfect shiny and glossy condition :-)
You can see all of the components laid out in the final photo.
I will stop here and continue on over the next couple of days with additional photos and explanations of each Item and the Modifications and why each was done.
Cheers