TFOD - Telescope Fanatical Obsessiveness Disorder

[LewisM]

I declare I have TFOD. I am not sure if it is pure-BS astrological karma of being a Virgo (anal-retentive fastidiousness and attention to minutiae) or just Obsessive-Compulsive disorder... with maybe a twinge of Aspergers

ANYWAY, i cannot help myself. I NEED to always make telescopes (or most other things around me for that matter) aesthetically correct. It can be as small as painting the Vixen rings on my Tak FC-100 the exact same matching blue as the Takahashi fluorite titling blue (Blue Blaze, BTW), or it can be as obsessive as having a custom pearl paint mixed up to match a bog-standard Skywatcher finder scope to the Pentax SDUF II I recently acquired (that's Subaru Arctic White pearl by the way ), to include gold-leafing the lens locking ring to match the gold ring on the Pentax dewshield AND ordering a custom helical focuser to fit the finder converted to guidescope ($80 only, which seems a good price). Now to pearlesce the Vixen short finder bracket too (tomorrow...)

I find it hard not only looking at, but USING UGLY equipment, especially stuff not looked after. Yes, I know function is as function does, but there is something about function AND aesthetics to me. I have bought some HORRID scopes before that had simply been hacked at, velcroed, abused and neglected, and taken the time to bring them back (good example was an R200SS that had a tube shortened VERY roughly and non-squarely with a hack-saw - to include jagged sharp edges - but a superb mirror set. I went about having a custom CF tube made for it in Germany, and also repainting the parts in O.S red to make it look "RIGHT").

I have for example only recently started leaving one mount set up outside (3 tarpaulines, 2 waterproof sleeping bags and a plastic rubbish bin over the top, all bungied together and tent staked, as well as copious lithium grease around the tripod feet, insecticide soaked into the soil at those points and a spray every 3 days with WD-40 on all ferrous and aluminium parts All electronics that are not removeable get individual cling wrap film to stop any potential moisture ingress)

I am not knocking those who look at a telescope or mount as merely a tool and looks DON'T mean anything to them, but to ME, yes it does.

Now you KNOW one of the loonier sides of me that maybe wasn't as apparent as the other lunatic antics

[blink138 (Pat)]

................ no lewis, you have TFPD!
telescope fanatical purchase disorder ha ha!
pat

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Originally Posted by blink138

................ no lewis, you have TFPD!
telescope fanatical purchase disorder ha ha!
pat

Closely followed by TSD - Telescope Selling Disorder.

But back to the paint jobs, maybe you could make a business of this Lewis. My blue SW 120 and blue ED80 really need a make over.

[LewisM]

I actually sent certain site owners here a message to buy advertising space, never heard back...

[ZeroID (Brent)]

In that case I have DIYTBOD, Do It Yourself Telescope Build Obsessive Disorder with a touch of Equipment and System re-Arrangement Complex.

My set up seems to be always in a constant flux as I modify, rebuild, convert looking to get that perfect system without breaking the piggy bank. ( Must be part of my Scottish Short Arm, Deep Pocket Disease ).

I manage to curtail (or my wife does ) most of the expensive urges but I have to confess that Bunnings is my favourite ToyShop and I have more tools in my garage than is deemed decent. And my collection of 'Things and Bits that might One Day be Useful' is larger than most.

I think it's a result of gazing into the sky at night and wishing to know and understand more.

So rest assured LewisM, you are not alone in your compulsion. This obsessive hobby of ours manifests itself in many ways and as my lovely wife says, " as long as it doesn't break the bank or you then just get on with it "

[Octane (Humayun)]

Hey Lewis,

How much to clean the optics on my FSQ-106N? After having imaged most nights the last few months, they're starting to look a little iffy.

H

[LewisM]

For you H, I'd do it for the pleasure of handling an N

Let me know when you want me to pick it up. Might take me a few years...oops, I mean weeks...erm, maybe days to get it back to you.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Haha!

Well, now would be a good time as the CCD is going to be sent to SBIG tomorrow.

Happy to pay!

H

[el_draco (Rom)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

I declare I have TFOD. I am not sure if it is pure-BS astrological karma of being a Virgo (anal-retentive fastidiousness and attention to minutiae) or just Obsessive-Compulsive disorder... with maybe a twinge of Aspergers

Oh Lewis, I am likewise afflicted with the "Virgo syndrome", (perfectionist, precisionist, know everything about everingist) and I can tell you this is both a good thing AND a bad thing.

The key is to get the balance right in what you do... and reconcile yourself to the fact that 0.000001% is an acceptable margin of error.

The alternative is to doubt ones sanity to the point where you may begin to relate to the other 11 official Zodiac signs, including the ******* runt, Libra! You may also cease to wonder why Ophiuchus is not recognised in astrological charts!

Repent son, repent....

[N1 (Mirko)]

You fellows clearly have too much cloud about. If not , go get some time at the eyepiece.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

I see you had another bout of the disorder today Lewis.

[LewisM]

Yup... but for good reason

[blink138 (Pat)]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

I see you had another bout of the disorder today Lewis.

ha ha yes it is activated by a few select "trigger" words that are easily guessed!
pat

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

When I was younger, I owned an E Type Jaguar. I was in the Jaguar club, and with other members used to actually drive the car like it should be driven both on road and track. When I sold it, it was to a "polisher" - as they all were after about that time. Subsequently I like to say that I was the last of the E type drivers, all who came after were polishers.

The moral is keep observing, or you will become polishers, and not enjoy the telescope for what it can do.

Now with that said, it is getting dark outside and I'm off to look THROUGH my telescope.

[Willow127mm (Brad)]

Easier said than done over here in Perth just can't get a break Cmon
bought a nice EP a week ago still hasn't seen the sky.
Clear all ready.