Here at last

chunkylad (David) · #1 13-08-2005, 01:43 PM

IT'S FINALLY HERE I ordered my new gear from Andrews on Monday, and 10 minutes before I went to work yesterday afternoon, two very large packages arrived at my door!

I only had time to undress her (my new 12" GS Dob, that is) before I went, so I had to wait until late last night to get stuck into the fun.

First off, I recieved a right-angled 8x50 finder scope

instead of the straight-through one I ws expecting, and there were no colour filters included, as there should have been four of these. I'll give Lee a call on Monday. Before I had a chance to do anything else, one of the mirror cell clamps came rattling down the OTA, so I had to remove it (the mirror) and check the tension on all three clamps first. These I just 'nipped-up' snugly, not tight. Is this correct?

Next came the base assemly. There was no 'bearing assembly' as such, as shown in the scanty instructions, instead were three small, hard, white plastic strips strategically placed around the base to provide a bearing surface(???!) Is this also the norm?

After collimating with the Cheshire, it was outside.
WOW a dozen times over.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love it. After a star test, there appeared to no abnormalities, no seagulls or other wierd shapes to contend with, just concentric rings. This is using the supplied GSO Eps BTW.

I hope to have more time after work tonight to go DSO hunting. I can't wait.

Cheers

PS: Thanks to you guys/gals for steering me to my Dob

Starkler (Geoff) · #2 13-08-2005, 01:59 PM

Great stuff Dave

Keep quiet about the right angle finder. You got a free upgrade. You normally have to pay extra for this and it will save your neck

I would keep the upgrade and forgo the filters if it came down to a choice.

Im a bit concerned about the mirror clamp falling out. It may have been rattling around inside the tube and scratched your mirror. Did you check for this ?
As for re-fitting the clamps, you dont want any tension whatsoever on those. They are there purely to stop the mirror from falling out. The rubber blocks are quite squishy so I would suggest doing up the screws to the point where the heads just sit on the aluminium plate and exert no clamping force with the blocks barely touching the mirror.

As for the missing bearings. Again you won ! The lazy susan bearing idea is really crappy and replacing that would normally be on top of the mods list.

Enjoy your new scope

ving (David) · #3 13-08-2005, 02:19 PM

sweet dave! sweet!

chunkylad (David) · #4 13-08-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

Great stuff Dave

Keep quiet about the right angle finder. You got a free upgrade. You normally have to pay extra for this and it will save your neck

I would keep the upgrade and forgo the filters if it came down to a choice.

Im a bit concerned about the mirror clamp falling out. It may have been rattling around inside the tube and scratched your mirror. Did you check for this ?
Enjoy your new scope

Thanx Geoff

I did check the mirror for damage, but fortunately I found none. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the right angled fiderscope! What a bargain! You're right, I think I'll forget about that phone call, and let sleeping dogs...........sleep

.

Cheers

ving (David) · #5 13-08-2005, 05:11 PM

right angle finder!!! I want it!!!

I have a wrong angle one

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 13-08-2005, 05:25 PM

Dave,

If the crummy roller bearing had come with your base we would've told you to throw it out anyway and put those little plastic things on. They are actually Teflon Sliders and work heaps better on dobs, especially the heavier 12". That's one mod done for you. Apparently the factory is listening to the buyers and leaving the roller bearing out!!!

That clamp rolling around loose is a scary thought.

Did you get the Deluxe with the Crayford focuser, fan, etc or the standard model?

Happy hunting, fellow 12"er.

slice of heaven · #7 13-08-2005, 05:38 PM

elusiver · #8 13-08-2005, 09:07 PM

i think you'll get every dob owner here saying "i want a right angled finder!"... and the ones that don't already have one.

i want a right angled finder!

congrats on the scope though! it'll serve u well.

el

asimov (John) · #9 13-08-2005, 09:22 PM

Good one chunks! Shame to hear bout the mirror clip in the OTA. Good score on the right angle finder. I want one of those for my neck-breaking refractor!

chunkylad (David) · #10 13-08-2005, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Dave,

Did you get the Deluxe with the Crayford focuser, fan, etc or the standard model?

Happy hunting, fellow 12"er.

BD
I got the Deluxe model: Crayford focusser, fan, 4x1.25"+ 1x 2" GS EPs. Plus that beautiful finder gratis

, and a nice little pair of binos 7x25 I think.

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #11 13-08-2005, 11:24 PM

Onya Dave, same as mine. Are they still pre-painting the inside of the OTA with Matt Black paint?

Don't bother trying to view with the small cap off (the one in the dust cap). It turns it into about an f32

chunkylad (David) · #12 14-08-2005, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Onya Dave, same as mine. Are they still pre-painting the inside of the OTA with Matt Black paint?

Don't bother trying to view with the small cap off (the one in the dust cap). It turns it into about an f32

Cheers Ken

Yep, she's white outside and matt black inside. I'm hoping for a steady, long-term relationship. I think I'm ready to commit..............

Dave W

gaa_ian (Ian) · #13 14-08-2005, 09:15 AM

Dave
I think you are in for a long and passionate relationship

I would get a 12" too .... but Im waiting for the 16 "

netwolf · #14 14-08-2005, 10:17 AM

When i went o buy my 10" dob, Lee mentioned a new batch of 10" and 12" coming that had the Craford focuser and Right Angle Finderscope. He indicated that he wanted eventually to only sell this model. I think your lucky and got one from the new batch hence the right angle finder.

Good hunting. and Clear skies.
Regards
Netwolf

Starkler (Geoff) · #15 14-08-2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netwolf

When i went o buy my 10" dob, Lee mentioned a new batch of 10" and 12" coming that had the Craford focuser and Right Angle Finderscope. He indicated that he wanted eventually to only sell this model.

Like any good business man he wouldnt want to be stuck with bits that he cant move . I suspect recent Iceinspacers may have something to do with this.... at least about the focusers

Now we need to convince him to drop those series 500 eyepieces as well (which is the topic of an existing thread).

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #16 14-08-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

Now we need to convince him to drop those series 500 eyepieces as well (which is the topic of an existing thread).

A couple of years ago he used to supply the GS Plossls as the standard eyepiece supplied with these scopes. They were reasonable, not great but a lot better than what comes supplied with the scopes now I believe. Prior to Synta import going through an Australian Distributor (Tasco and Splendour Trading) Lee was able to offer a cheap upgrade (about $15 per eyepiece) to the Synta Super Plossls. These are sold in the USA as Orion Sirius Plossls and are an exceptionally good eyepiece considering they are a budget line eyepiece, their performance is only marginally below that of the top grade plossls and orthoscopics. The Synta Super Plossls are far superior to the GS Plossls and the Andrews 500 Plossls. If the option is still available to upgrade the standard supplied eyepieces to Synta Super Plossls I would suggest it worth considering.

CS-John B

asimov (John) · #17 14-08-2005, 11:46 PM

Do you have first hand knowledge on the Synta super plossls John B? Your making me wonder why I ordered a TV plossl if their that good.

asimov (John) · #18 15-08-2005, 12:18 AM

Yep. Just read numerous reviews on the Orion Sirius Plossls...They sound pretty good!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 15-08-2005, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunkylad

Yep, she's white outside and matt black inside. Dave W

Well, that's another new change. They have all been Silver-Grey on the outside till yours.

It must be a totally new model you got!

chunkylad (David) · #20 15-08-2005, 10:32 AM

I just bought some castors for my hand trolley, to transport my OTA in my van, and there were some interesting looking devices sitting on the counter. They were aluminium table swivels (lazy susan bearings). They look and feel very precise, with no detctable backlash.
Made of cast(?) aluminium, and set with roller bearings, there were 3 sizes: 230mm Diam, 325 & 442mm. They are rated to carry: 30-60kg, 50-80kg & 100-125kg respectively. prices ranged from $34-$80 +GST.

I thought the largest unit would suit my 12 incher like a glove, and make a wonderfully smooth azimuth bearing.

I know I haven't described them very well. I went to the car to get my digi camera, and I'd left it at home. Doh!!! They kind of look like slimline doughnuts. They are only around 10-15mm high. If there is any interest, I'll go back to the store and snap some piccies.

Any thoughts? Have these type of things been used before?