Quote:
Originally posted by ausastronomer
Hi Houghy,
I assume you are talking about the 16" tubed version here ??? I know of someone currently working with Jim Sheng (from GSO) on a 16" truss scope but that is still on the drawing board and very early days.
I would be counting on the 16" scope for Xmas 2006 and not 2005. Experience tells me the likely timeframe will be more like 12 months if the release of the 16" scopes follows a similar path to the release of the 12" scopes. The 12" scopes actually appeared in the marketplace at least 12 mths after the 1st prototypes were run, and 12 mths after Lee's estimated availability schedule, may have even been longer than 12 mths actually. The early prototypes for the 12" scope were for a 2 piece tube and this caused some major design issues with the scope ultimately being released as a single tube design. I can see this again being an issue with the 16" scope and getting the 2 piece design right may take some time, unless GSO are happy to release the 16" scope as a single tube with the non existent portability of the 16" Meade Starfinder, which I doubt. The other issue that delayed the availability of the 12" scopes was sourcing the blanks for the primary mirrors. GSO had a lot of difficulty sourcing 12" mirror blanks at the time the 12" scopes were due to be released and could not source Asian made 12" blanks. I believe all of the early production scopes used American sourced Pyrex blanks as opposed to Asian sourced BK7 blanks. I am not sure what the sourcing of the 16" blanks will be and whether any issues will present.
Not trying to put a dampener on things but merely to give people some thoughts as to what may be a realistic timeframe for the release of these scopes.
CS-John Bambury
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John,
I was just reiterating what discussion took place. Ultimately it is the manufacturer that controls everything. But it is great to dream that you can get a scope that size for around that price. Whether is comes this year or early next year doesn't matter. What does matter is that it is going to happen (sooner would be great, later is ok)! But i don't think that Lee andrews would drop such a big news item like this for nothing. there must be some substance in it, after all it will mean more orders for him and more $$$. Given Celestrons "demise" and meade's market share i would say the "new kid on the block " is looking to get more of the current market. What better way than a cheap quality light bucket. Just add an argo narvis and everything is sweet! its a pushto!
