Right, quick note here - I said I was "doing away" with the SN-6 so today I've taken it off the mount. Not too sure when the SN-8 will get here so I dug out an old friend
It is an Orion (UK) prototype f/5.6 158mm doublet refractor and I really do love it! Last year it was set up next to a 6" Starfire and stood up pretty well - losing out in contrast and also a bit of colour at higher mags but hey, you don't get an f/5.6 refractor to look at planets
It really excels at DSO's and that's why I bought it.
Sadly, the prototype never made it to production (costs I suspect - although the doublet is Chinese it is not Synta and the focus assembly is cast in aluminium) so this is the only one around. It was purchased from a workshop sale at Orion a couple of years ago and I got it early last year. Even then I was a WO "disciple" so stripped it and repainted to match. Mesed up the gold though
Arthur