Have you considered any other truss design other than the orthodox "Obsession" one?
While the Obsession design is well tried and tested, there are other designs that have the same length of pedigree.
I too read the Kreige book from cover to cover, but the design I chose suited my requirements, tools and abilties.
All the dobsonian principles espoused in the "Good Book" are fulfilled in mine: rigidity, bearing sizes, tube selection, ease of movement, material considerations, etc.
What I then did different was come up with a design that suited ME. I made the design fit my car, my storeage facilities, and my understanding of the mechanical principles of other designs.
I was never going to make an Obsession style scope just because everyone has one. I could see certain design elements that could be improved upon, and was willing to put faith in my understanding.
In the end, the design stage took about one year, with the final design having nothing in common with my original one. The construction took four months over weekends, and with one month where nothing was done.
The
whole thing weighs about the same as the mirror box of a similar sized Obsession. And it fits in
one side of the rear compartment of my Mazda Tribute (other than the poles).
To have someone comment that my "SDM" is brilliant was a fabulous case of mistaken identity,
.
Just consider the alternative designs that exist. They are just as good, and can be made to better suit YOUR requirements.
Cheers,
Mental