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Murph.
good project.
I do have reservations though. I too need to have you establish what you are trying to achieve. If it's a project, then why not simply produce a tube for the current 8" f5?
If that doesn't appeal, then I'd say get the 10" f4 mirror set and C/F a tube around that. I have a 10" f5, in a home-brew C/F tube, and it rides on an NEQ6, it is as big as I think I'd want to go. I know Robin has gone to the 12", and being F4 makes it the same length or so as mine, but I'm happy with mine.
Bigger mirror will simply give a longer focal length, all other things being the same. If you need more focal length for galaxies etc, then great, but sometimes a wider field can be handy, so a focal length of about 800mm is good. This is the reason a 10" F4 is so good as an all rounder. And getting a corrector/reducer like Robin has gives a very versatile rig.
If costs are something you need to consider, then go smaller than larger, say a 10" F4, and spend on a better focuser, plus corrector or corrector/reducer. Definitely build the C/F tube though.
Just some thoughts to ponder.
Gary
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