Mark Hodson.. where is he?

[iceman (Mike)]

Haven't seen Mark around for a while.. anyone been in touch with him?

[Orion]

Don't know where he is he might be busy with that telescope that he is building.

[mch62 (Mark)]

Thanks for thinking of me there guys.
I have been away on a short break and also in hospital for a few days, so have not had much time to post but have had a little looky from time to time.
Yes I am busy getting my mount finished but my machinist has been sick as well and have had numerous delays but can't complain as he is doing it on the cheap for me.
Hope to have it up and running soon for Mars.
If not it will be temporarily back on the EQ6 for the event.

Just putting together a CPU to run the servo controller from "The Sky6 " and bit the bullet and got a new focuser for the OTA.
The low profile freebie that I had been using on the OTA didn't have the focus travel required for all my eyepieces and cameras so I went and got me an unusual focuser that solves all problems and is still low profile with out any incursion into the OTA by the draw tube.
Wonderfully contraption even at the OZ price----don't ask .
http://www.clementfocuser.com/pages/1/index.htm

My scope is designed from ground up to give absolute max illumination with minimal obstruction possible and requires a low profile focuser.

The only down side beside the price , would be weight of the focuser and foot print plus it isn't the prettiest of things .but works a treat

I also have modified my focuser cage and made it rotating.
I was always concerned with doing this mod with collimation but have not had any problems at f6 anyway.shorter focal ratios I would be concerned about accuracy.

Any way hope to be a little more active again in the ATM and DIY section but have got a priority and dead line to meet first.

And happy birthday ICE n Space from one of the first members.

have included a pic of the modified OTA and hamertone paint finish and focuser.

Mark

[Striker (Tony)]

OMG it's Mark.

About time we heard from you.

When's the next star party at your place....lets get a heaps of us together and make a big 6 monthly star party.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Mark,

Glad to hear your back on deck and everything is going well with the scope.

CS-John B

[astro_south (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Striker

When's the next star party at your place....lets get a heaps of us together and make a big 6 monthly star party.

Good call Tony . There have been quite a few new IIS'ers join from Brisvegas in recent weeks, perhaps it is about time for a session at "The Grove" . What do you reckon Mark? How about last quarter moon in a few weeks?

[Striker (Tony)]

I'm in but I'm only bringing my camera...hopefully someone will let me take a few pics through their scope.

Count me in....

Maybe we should invite Mark considering where having it at his house....lol

Lets try to get a few to this one if we can.

Mark let us know if your intersted and we will start a new thread.

We can call it the "GroveFest"

[Iddon]

party at Marks place! (I need to drop his laser back anyway!)

[mch62 (Mark)]

Sounds good , I might even come along

You guys organise it and let me know when , i am trying my hardest to get that scope up and running for the night .

I have a little more room now for extra scopes in the olive grove--- did a little , lets say pruning of the trees >>> more like a chain saw massacre.

Mark

p.s. Tony do you want to drop that illuminated cross hair eyepiece back when you come , so I can sell it.

[mch62 (Mark)]

Tony you keep the eyepiece and just leave the camera behind will do

[Striker (Tony)]

Yeah definetly Mark....I might even be doing a Toowoomba, Dalby, Chinchilla trip in the next 2 weeks and can drop it off then...otherwise our next meet will do...thats the eyepiece not the camera.

I nominate Andrew (astro_south) to start an invite thread for the night.

Congrats Andrew you win...well done...make a date and start a thread......hehehe

[astro_south (Andrew)]

Will get onto it tonight - will e-mail you Mark in the meantime