Offer accepted 17 Dec. Thanks, Scott
12” (302 mm) Bintel Dobsonian For Sale
My year in Australia is nearly up and I have the bittersweet task of selling the 12” GSO Dobsonian I purchased from Bintel last March. I’ve tinkered and upgraded it quite a bit (see the articles on IIS and the list below) and greatly enjoyed its use over the past year.
This scope has buttery smooth motion, excellent cooling features, and is flocked and baffled to optimize image quality. It has encoders and an ergonomic DSC unit stalk mounted focuser-side but not in a position to be in the way. This scope is a winner and will give you years of great views.
I almost decided to ship this home, but it’s a fair chunk of money to ship it to Wisconsin and I have several scopes there already; much as I’d like to collect more scopes, my better half put her beautiful foot firmly down upon that idea. So, it goes!
The scope will be available anytime after January 30, 2008. I currently live in Sandringham, just south of Melbourne. If you live nearby I can deliver the scope to you. If I’m out with it observing you are welcome to “test drive” it wherever I am that night (Snake Valley or MPAS); PM me with questions or to set up a test drive experience!
Specifications:- Bintel BT-302 mm Dobsonian with all original components. This includes the altitude compression springs (even though I don’t use them), tools for assembly, original box for OTA with Styrofoam pads, etc. I kept even those components I replaced, so you’ll have everything that came with the scope. I didn’t keep the box in which the mounting boards were shipped, though.
- 10:1 (dual-speed) Crayford 2” focuser with 1.25” adapter.
- 8x50 straight-through finder
- Mounting base for Rigel Quick-Finder between focuser and finder (Rigel Finder not included; the base peels off without problem if you don’t want it there).
- Rocker base upgraded to Ebony Star and premium counter-sunk mounted Teflon pads on ground board. Azimuth and Altitude motion are premium quality.
- Bob’s Knobs upgrades: Primary mirror springs, primary mirror collimation and locking bolts, and secondary mirror collimation bolts. All collimation can be done without tools!
- White reflective triangular center-spot on primary mirror (for using autocollimator during collimation).
- Custom fan mounted on rear of tube with battery pack. This fan runs continuously without causing vibration, reduces cool-down time and scrubs mirror boundary layer. Also included is a custom ring-baffle mounted just above the mirror to reduce stray light and optimize air flow from fan across the mirror face. This REALLY helps improve your images, especially early on in the evening when the mirror is substantially warmer than ambient. See my GSO Dob Fan Project article in IIS for its specifications.
- Support stalk for mounting DSC control unit for easy and non-tangling access scope-side. See Argo Stalk article on IIS. The stalk will accommodate any DSC control unit but currently has the cabling and cradle fit for the Argo. Argo is not included but is made and sold by Wildcard Innovations in NSW and is a great accessory, for sure.
- Optical encoders (10,000 count) on altitude and azimuth axes and cabling run to support stalk. This is a kit from Wildcard Innovations dedicated to the GSO Dobsonian consisting of encoder-mounting bolts for the Az and Alt axis and cabling which runs to the stalk.
- Flocking paper applied to inside tube across from focuser to reduce scattered light; a front tube-extending baffle (Velcro applied) also provided to block off-axis external light.
- I’ll throw into the deal my 2x4’ collapsing plastic table and matching chair which I use scope-side, and the Corflute dew hutch that fits onto this table.
The value of all the components and upgrades exceeds $1450, and everything is less than a year old.
I’m asking $900 for the scope and all of the accessories listed above.
I've many photos of this scope so if you want to see some component not shown on the various articles, PM me and I'll send you what I have.
Regards,
Scott
