About 3 months ago, I posted a story about how my new beaut LB 12” deluxe arrived with the dust cover flopping about and a few scratches to be seen on the mirror and especially inside the can. You guys advised me to get in touch with Star Optics in Mermaid Beach and see if there was anything to be done?????
WELL Star Optics and Meade – without even seeing the damage I might add – said OK, we’ll give you a replacement bottom half.
The big day arrived last Saturday and Chris at Star Optics cheerfully gave me the exchange one – beaut condition and dust cover velcro’ed on this time.
Rush back home, assemble it, collimate it and 6:30pm out we go. What to look for??
Gotta be Joop, there it was looking bright and yellow. Only one snag – the bushfire season has started and guess what was in the atmosphere? It was so bad I couldn’t focus on Joop at all. Thought it was something wrong with mirror. After half an hour, gave up and swung towards M7 to see if it was the same. I put on the Meade wide angle eyepiece 26mm QX which is supplied with the Deluxe, and WOW. What a view. I call it my “Cluster Buster” now – it’s great!!. Next it was Jewell Box and by now the atmosphere must have cleared a bit . Another WOW. Did anybody else have dreadful viewing on Saturday night??
One thing of interest – with the new bottom can and mirror, the red dot finder was quite a long way out – I guess this has to do with tolerances in the factory – so all our scopes are unique.
Anyway, a big THANK YOU to MEADE and Star Optics – you’re my heroes – will recommend you to anyone!!!
Glad that you're up n running again, Jimmy. Always nice to have a damaged item replaced with no fuss. I just hope that you get some clearer skies so you may take advantage of the 12". Good luck... L.
You guys advised me to get in touch with Star Optics in Mermaid Beach and see if there was anything to be done?????
and Star Optics 
