[Soldant]

Thanks for the responses guys

3. and my personal favourite, bring it along to a local Star Party and burn it as a sacrifice to the Gods for clear skys.

Hey, I like fire. If I could share the magic with others, why not? Suggestion noted

If I really did push him for an exchange, there's probably not a lot of stuff in that store that I really want. Actually a lot of the stuff in there I haven't heard of (brand name wise), and I doubt he'd give me an overpriced digital camera for this piece of junk. This is of course asuming that I can even find him in the first place, he's rarely in his store (usually only there briefly about once a week or something). I'd sell it on eBay but I'd feel bad about it, what if some kid got it who was just getting into astronomy, but then got totally turned off because the scope is utter rubbish? I'd be a murderer! Or something similiar, whatever kills dreams.

Alternatively if you decide not to go down the path of returning it, is it possible to savage the tripod and turn it into a bino tripod ?

I considered this, and still am, though I think that the mount is probably not going to be that good for binoculars either. The fact that it's so poorly constructed would probably make life just as difficult, even though the field of view would be far wider. The controls have so much slack in them that it could almost pass for a speedy goto scope slewing across the sky... until you look at it and realse it's just beause I turned a knob which has nothing to do with the control at all, but for some reason allows the scope to slip.

- Take out the barlow and chuck it in the bin.
- Collimate the scope as best you can.
- Stick a long focal length eyepiece in it.
- Buy a 16'' Dob.
- Mount the 6'' short OTA on the back of the Dob and use it as a close-up finder.

Might be an idea actually. In any case it'd get rid of the bulky mount which I'm tripping over since I have nowhere to put it.

your biggest problem may be leaving it this long before acting.

This is what's keeping me from doing it actually. Though part of this has been due to the fact that the guy took so damn long to actually do anything about "fixing" the telescope in the first place. "Fixing" I'm pretty sure involved a call to Optisan on his lunch break, it doesn't look like the telescope was even touched at all. If I could prove this then perhaps I'd be able to strengthen a case against him, but I don't know how I'd do this.

Soldant, have you ever considered being a writer! Seriously.

Hehe, thanks! Seems like I was entertaining for at least one person

In any event I'm pretty sure I'll toss the mount, since it's easily the most infuriating part of the entire setup (now it trips me, and it's ALWAYS in my way... there's a conspiracy here) and I can throw the tube somewhere "secure" and it won't hurt me as much if it falls down and hits me (the mount meanwhile probably would). Just wondered if there was anything useful I could use the mirror for, but considering it's got a lovely copper tinge and quite a few scratches and things now (still shows my reflection in unflattering detail though) it's probably going to be more useful for knocking the salesman unconscious than anything else.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll play with the mount and see if I can either break it or turn it into a bino mount. As for the scope-I'd turn it into a fish tank but unfortunately I realised it'd probably be difficult to feed them through the focuser... and I'd probably forget to feed them in the first place. But it would be cool.

And don't be a lurker!

I'll try not to . I've been busy with another forum at the moment which is threatening to die, which has occupied a lot of time. Though I've followed Iceman's posts on GA of all his pretty pictures and drop by here to see what's happening. I'll be posting again though for advice on a new telescope.