OMG, it's huge!

erick (Eric) · #1 17-01-2008, 11:22 AM

50% bigger doesn't sound much? But a 12" GSO compared with an 8" GSO is more scope than I expected - even though I had seen a few already.

Many thanks to Scott (Tannehill) for deciding not to take his Bintel 12" dob to the USA with him and selling it to me. I picked it up last night. Took the big family car - the EL Ford - to pick it up. OMG, the OTA won't fit across the back seat by a few centimetres

. Before I took off the armrests (

) , a bit of pushing, twisting, moving passenger seat forward and tipping the seat back forward, and I did get it in and the base snuggly in behind it! This is sure going to be a challenge for my little Lancer

How do I break it to my wife that a necessary accessory for the scope is a big new car/wagon??

I'm not even sure the OTA will fit in my trailer if I want to close the lid on it!!

Scott went over the scope with me - showed me the used of more sophisticated collimation tools - eg. an autocollimator. This is a beauty, a real working scope - Scott has had no hesitation to make whatever changes will improve its performance - just the way I like it. I'm looking forward to tinkering further. It's now standing beside the 8", towering over it!

Now, please reassure me that a second-hand equipment purchase is exempt from cloudy sky retribution?

I have to wait until Saturday to get the scope outside and play with it. Sunday evening before I can get some night sky. I look forward to comparing the 12" and 8", well for a while, then I'm afraid my lovely 8" will probably have to hit the IceTrade classifieds

Very happy - thanks Scott.

Eric

goober (Doug) · #2 17-01-2008, 11:31 AM

Nice upgrade, Eric. It's a lot of scope - ended up being too much for me.

DJVege · #3 17-01-2008, 11:31 AM

"That's what she said!"

Sorry, had to.

Congrats on the new purchase, mate! Sounds awesome! I'm getting my 10" this Saturday from Nightstalker (upgrading from 5"), so am keen to see the difference!

Sorry if I've ruined everybody's night sky with clouds due to this purchase, but 50% of the fault is Eric's!!

Let us know your comparison results!

acropolite (Phil) · #4 17-01-2008, 11:47 AM

Congratulations Eric, there's nothing quite like the thrill of picking up a new toy. It's been interesting watching your progression since joining the forum

erick (Eric) · #5 17-01-2008, 11:49 AM

And to think I was dreaming of one of those 16" GSO solid tubes!

That went out of my mind when I saw a 16" lightbridge up close. You'd need a van or small truck to carry the 16" solid around!

goober (Doug) · #6 17-01-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJVege

Sorry if I've ruined everybody's night sky with clouds due to this purchase, but 50% of the fault is Eric's!!

I was out with the scope last night and actually felt rain... in Melbourne! Now I know who to blame.

erick (Eric) · #7 17-01-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goober

Nice upgrade, Eric. It's a lot of scope - ended up being too much for me.

Yes, time will tell. I had this idea for a funny photo of me trying to hold the scope up by hand so I could joke about comparing it to my binoculars. After wrapping my arms around it last night and carrying it about, I don't think that photo will eventuate!

erick (Eric) · #8 17-01-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJVege

"That's what she said!"

Who's a cheeky boy then!

Thank goodness I didn't mention my unfulfilled desire for a 16" in the initial post

monoxide · #9 17-01-2008, 01:33 PM

the 12" is a great scope, you'll love it

Rob_K · #10 17-01-2008, 01:43 PM

Congrats Erick!

From bazooka to cannon, well done!

erick (Eric) · #11 17-01-2008, 01:56 PM

And it's all set up to plug in an Argo Navis! If anyone has lost interest in their Argo Navis, I guess I can be forced to consider driving over and taking it off your hands

goober (Doug) · #12 17-01-2008, 02:02 PM

Sorry, no Argo Navis for sale

Do you plan travelling with it, Eric? I imagine that will be a whole new logistical problem to solve, especially with a Lancer!

Glenhuon (Bill) · #13 17-01-2008, 02:06 PM

Good onyer Erick

. Have fun with the new toy!

erick (Eric) · #14 17-01-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goober

Do you plan travelling with it, Eric? I imagine that will be a whole new logistical problem to solve, especially with a Lancer!

Well, absolutely yes - I've been puzzling over the dilemma all day! I think a tow kit on the Lancer and a suitable trailer(*) is needed. That'll set back my Argo Navis buying for some time

edit: * - perhaps a horse float with a slide off roof?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #15 17-01-2008, 02:19 PM

Eric, Melbourne forecast for Fri, Sat & Sun:
(from BOM)

Outlooks:
Friday Fine. Cloud increasing. Mild to warm with light winds and afternoon coastal seabreezes.
Saturday Isolated showers. Warm.
Sunday Isolated showers. Mild.

§AB · #16 17-01-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Eric, Melbourne forecast for Fri, Sat & Sun:
(from BOM)

Outlooks:
Friday Fine. Cloud increasing. Mild to warm with light winds and afternoon coastal seabreezes.
Saturday Isolated showers. Warm.
Sunday Isolated showers. Mild.

gee thanks alot Erick

admittedly I had my part to play - I just picked up UHC and H-beta filters.

You'll have a blast with the big new toy

g__day (Matthew) · #17 17-01-2008, 10:19 PM

/off_topic other than about size impressions

Two weeks ago my wife bought the mid sized, springless trampoline for our kids. I am glad she didn't go for the larger size - whilst it might conceivably have fitted into our station wagon, it is definitely bigger than either our front or backyard!

When I went to collect it and saw the large unit set up I simply swore I was that shocked - it looked like Cirque Du Soleil should be bouncing on it. The salesman just said yes - many husbands simply refuse to take it home when they see what their wives have bought over the web!

Size like that impresses - so long as you can cart it around and find a place to use it!

astronut (John) · #18 18-01-2008, 07:38 AM

Congratulations on the 12" Erick,
You'll be blown away by the views this scope has to offer.
If your Lancer has drop down rear seats that allow access to the boot, this will be the best way to transport it.

Tannehill · #19 18-01-2008, 08:28 AM

And, lacking such a feature, a spiral saw in proper hands can work wonders in aforementioned vehicle!

I do say, I wish I'd taken a pic as Eric drove off, that tube back there just barely fit. One more coat of paint and it would not have...

s

Quote:

Originally Posted by astronut

Congratulations on the 12" Erick,
You'll be blown away by the views this scope has to offer.
If your Lancer has drop down rear seats that allow access to the boot, this will be the best way to transport it.

PhilW · #20 18-01-2008, 08:35 AM

Erick,
I think of 12" as the tipping point, where trusses become more practical than solid tubes. If you rebuilt it as a truss, all those transport problems would be solved. My 14" fits easily in the back seat of my wife's Honda Jazz (no room for the kids though, but that could be construed as a benefit).

Congratulations on the purchase. It's a great scope & I have really enjoyed the views through it.

Phil