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I'm pleased that most people like the results.
I admit there is some 'why would you bother' element to this.
Not sure about the sow's ear comment. I left both the rear end primary casting assembly and the front secondary cage intact, apart from a few carefully placed holes.
I had the tools and access to materials to do the conversion pretty easily, provided I didn't get bogged down in making mirror cells, lens mounts, baffle tubes etc - this stuff is difficult and would make the conversion tedious and possibly pointless.
Although I like the idea of having something bigger than a 12.5" RC, I doubt that I have the seeing locally to justify a conventional 16" or 20" RC, CDK et al on most nights.
This reinvented VC OTA is quite a bit heavier than the original steel tubed one. Weight was not a significant consideration in this case for my needs.
If you outsource the milling & drilling of plate for parts here I'd guess you would be looking at $800 to 1000, maybe more (for small quantities). Other parts such as the truss connectors and CF tube add another $200 -300. Plus the Losmandy SCT dovetail and radius blocks. If you but the VC OTA cheaply as a used item, then the expense is not so huge.
cheers
guy
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