[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

Ok so here is the guff.

The Cardboard box arrived with a sizeable hole in the side, but the inside transport box was unmarked. The inside transport case is well made, although, some of the expanded foam packing took a hammering in transit. It did it's job.

The Scope. It's a big long scope, dwarfs my WO70ED! Call me naive but somehow I thought it would be shorter. It's heavy as well, that is not too heavy to handle as the long tube gives lots of purchase. The scope is well finished and looks a million dollars even when not in use. Yet to try it on the heavens.

The Dew shield is removable (I was hoping for a sliding one like the Explore Scientific scopes) and heavy, too heavy for purpose. They should have a fibreglass Dew shield.

It has an Aluminium (industrial grade) screw on lens cap and you can only really access this with the Dew Shield off. It really needs a $2.50 plastic moulded lens cap to fit the Dew shield as well. I don't fancy removing/replacing the current one repeatedly as it's too close to the lens.

The Rings are OK, better than the std cheapo types but not by much. They have moulded square lands on the top & bottom of the rings with one threaded hole on each. I removed the top/bottom vixen rails & fitted it straight on to an 11" ADM dovetail. It all fits nicely but ATM I cannot comment on rigidity, time will tell. I wish the rings had a bigger lands & more wider spacing holes to securely bolt them down. This would make the rings acceptable.

The focuser. Appears up to the task and smooth enough. It has a adjustment on the top..I for the life of me do not know what it's for. I suspect it's focuser adjustment of some type. I'll leave this alone ATM. I don't know if I got the advanced focuser. I think I did.

Apparently the scope will not reach focus with a 2" diagonal. Which is due to the new "advanced focuser". I'm not concerned with this as I want it to take pretty pics. NG are working on a new focuser but ATM it's not available. My opinion on this is that most cheap scopes come with relatively poor focuser's. If you want better then there is the after-market segment like moonlight.

The Finder appears excellent. I ordered a correct image illuminated finder. A plain polished aluminium finish, nice graticule and good adjustment on it's illumination intensity. The finder holder is less than adequate. It doesn't hold the finder securely.

Diagonal. I ordered a 2" diagonal. This was a waste with the current focuser. It appears industrial grade and it's mirror surface appears excellent, but, that's all I got. No 1.25" adaptor and no threaded thumb screws. Meh! I should have ordered an 1.25" diagonal in any case as I believe I can reach focus with a 1.25", for eyepiece drift aligning.

Well that's about all. Cannot wait for 1st light. Melbourne skies have been dreadful lately so I expect this scope will extend the curse.

edit..
typos.