Welcome to IIS DGM
I have Mike's "old" platform and its brilliant. If you want tracking for less than an hour on an object then a platform is the way to go and worth every cent spent. A platform has several plusses over the GEM for a dob owner:
- The scope is simply put on top of the platform when used, no mods necessary.
- The eyepiece is in a convenient position at all times.
- The scope can be simply used as a dob at a moments notice.
- Objects stay in the FOV for hands off observing and really does add an extra 2" of aperture. Last week I had a 5.5mm eyepiece in the scope and went inside for something. When I came out again Saturn was still right in the middle of the FOV. With that accuracy you can really study an object at leisure.
I know it seems expensive to import one of these platforms BUT if you compare the overall cost to a GEM with drives for your scope it will probably be cheaper and MUCH EASIER to use.
You may gather I like this one and coming from someone who made one before, which worked well, this one is brilliant and worth the cost.
Cheers
Rob.