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Old 16-09-2008, 09:43 PM
Wavytone
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Wavytone is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Killara, Sydney
Posts: 4,147
Hmm in the last few days I've been pondering same, as my Mak likewise is in a cardboard box and a 102ED refractor (on its way) is probably also packed in cardboard. However... I have had a nice solid wooden refractor box before, it was bloody heavy. And MDF is not my choice - the result will be very heavy, it's not much more than compressed cardboard, it won't take much for any screws/hinges to pull out, and once moisture (dew) gets in, its doomed. You could make something lighter using a frame and plywood sides, but its going to be fiddly to make, through it would look fantastic - until it scratched.

I found a few sites selling more rugged cases for various smallish refractors including yours but they range from 125 euros to $US500 or so, hence making one is probably advisable. There are long pelican gun cases (they look like they were designed for an AK47 or an M-16) but they'd hold a scope just as well, although it might be a bit of a nuisance if that went through airline baggage handling.

I'm thinking of something more like a lightweight travel bag made from a breathable but tough fabric such as canvas or similar in two layers, quilted inside with a layer of dense foam stitched in between to protect the scope, with a pair of shoulder straps made from webbing sewn round the outside. Materials should be cheap enough, probably a weekend of sewing. Could even resemble a padded backpack. I had a bag like this for a Celestron tripod once and it worked a treat. The other idea comes from my sailing days - the centreboard and rudder blades for high-performance dinghies were often packed in a sheath made from carpet, turned inside out and the same should work fine for a scope.
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