since a few guys mentioned the scope buggys l have had a bit of a look if they are a viable product, what l want to know is what do you think would be a price that would make them attractive, they would be a variable design meaning that they can be altered to take any size tripod even when fully extended have 3 wind down points to stabilize the scope while observing and also 3 rubber pads for those with large dobs, l was thinking of painting them white so they are easier to notice at night, any thoughts.
I guess it depends on size of mount and 'scope, but for my Vixen 4" refractor on a pedestal, I would fork out up to say, $300 for the convenience of the additional features such as wind-down stabilisers. For a more basic version, maybe $200? I guess the wheels and other fittings/fasteners would set you back about $100 so it would be a tight squeeze to keep the prices affordable yet still make a living.
I suspect that with us ageing baby boomers, you could expect a growing market for "age challenged" assist accessories?
Cheers
Dennis
Last edited by Dennis; 19-07-2005 at 07:51 PM.
Reason: removed duplicate line.
the main advantage of having it adjustable is that it will fit all the way up to the Meade giant field tripod so as your aparture fever grows you can keep the same buggy.
would it be hard to colour to order? might be nice to have the 'option' of colour.. even though i'm sure most people(myself included) would be happy with white.. but it'd be nice to have an option maybe even pink to get the bank manager on board to ok the funds
my first thought is imported chinese trolley jacks from the likes of TWM in melbourne. We have them at work for moving pallets around. Pump the handle say ten times and it lifts up to 2 tonne, click the handle and it slowly lowers the supports. If you mod one so that the base supports the tripods and then make the supports soild against the ground, then i can't see he costs being high. I will check costs tomorrow and post pics
i think what daves talking about are those hand fork lift trolley thingys.. which are good.. but not exactly portable. What you've got mick is something that i imagine is portable. Something that you could chuck in the car for the instances where the flat clear site for observing is away from the car park. Saving you doing multiple trips for the base/tripod and the ota. Might be worth thinking about pneumatic(spelling?) tires I think i have a fair idea of what the product is.. cause i was thinking about making something for myself along the same lines.. and I'm quite sure that there is nothing like it around in oz at least.
Sorry Mick, only suggesting chinese pallet lifters to keep cost down and you can then mod them from there. I was thinking of the way the system lifts a heavy load and then softly places it on the ground. TO reinvent, i thought would be expensive, but to buy cheap import, strip and use hydraulics would be the go?
have you got that name copyrighted Ken? how much for the rights? l know what you meant Dave P the problem with using anything like hydraulics is that it will break down when you least need it to, also the weight and packing up of the unit is important when guys want to take it to a remote site when room in the car is an important consideration.With a bit of luck the first prototype will be posted this weekend.
maybe even pink to get the bank manager on board to ok the funds 
I think i have a fair idea of what the product is.. cause i was thinking about making something for myself along the same lines.. and I'm quite sure that there is nothing like it around in oz at least.
