Despite Melb weather - the clouds cleared to a cold but beautiful and stable night - tommorow will be very different ball game. Set up the mount and scope. Very rough polar align, 2 star align and bingo it worked - I am amazed and I am very impressed.
Took me some time to do the 2 star align, as I can't fit the finder scope till I get another set of screws (PS: North Group have already confimed new screws on the way - again really good service from them), so used a 24mm Baader eyepiece, but finally got there. Then started slewing all over the place. Saturn, Jewel Box, Omega Cen, M41, Tarantula neb, M4, M7, several clusters in Carina. Tried out several eyepieces, all great - the scope was fabulous with the 10 mm Ethos.
I quickly realised why everyone upgrades the focuser - single speed and slips quite easily - will have to work out how to tighen it up - especially with heavy eyepieces. Not a major probelm for visual, just inconvenient to adjust quite often.
This is one fine scope and mount - many hours of enjoyment coming up. Not quite the light bucket as my 12" Dob, but clear, precise and breathtaking views nonetheless.
If anyone is looking at a refractor with tracking mount - for the price this pair is great value.
Will post pics when daytime weather clears
Clear skies
Rod
