Thanks Mirko.
I read through the thread and checked - I have the 1793+ model
No spring loaded finder and thick spider veins. So I think its a dud. The mounts sold with this model also sound like they're pretty crapola, so I really hit the jackpot all round!
I feel like I'm better off cutting my losses and starting from scratch instead of trying to retrofit this tube with new bits. I don't have the experience to do that anyway.
For a complete newbie who just wants to look at larger things like planets, would you go with a refractor? They seem to have a lot less complexity, but then that could be my inexperience showing
