Hi DJDD,
The mount really looks like the older Celestron NexStar GT series.
If this is true than the mount is NOT PLASTIC, it is rather is all metal with a plastic cover. Just the tube ring is plastic but you could replace it with a dove tail holder.
http://www.alpineastro.com/mounting_...ar_bracket.htm
The only big problem of this mount is the tripod. If you can make some sort of an adapter to fit it to another tripod than it is not a problem. If the Celestron goto hand-controller would fit you would have a nice little goto mount.... not too bad but not really cheap either.
Clear Skies
Stephan