Well after what seems like the wait for a new baby, me new Tak FSQ106ED has finally arrived. The arrival was somewhat of an exercise on it's own but now all I need is some clear skies to try it out.
The saga began with the scope being picked up from AEC by Startrack express and obviously sitting in a warehouse in Adelaide for a week before finally hitting the road towards Melbourne. 7 days to the day the tracking system tells me the scope is in Melbourne, 2 days to wait at best, 3 at worst. My thoughts at least. 4 days later a courier van arrived and with excitement I went out to greet him. To my surprise I was presented with a small box only. My initial thought was "The scope is a lot smaller than I had thought.
This was only the clamshell and the FR and extender I had also ordered.
A phone call to the courier company made me feel sick, apparently the scope had gone on a road trip back to Adelaide. Home sick I guess.
I contacted AEC and Claude contacted Startrack Express and fired a rocket up them. It must have worked because the return from Adelaide and delivery to the door took 2 days. Just shows what should be able to happen with courier delivery.
The scope itself came well packed in triple layer cardboard boxes spaced with polystyrene foam then filled up with foam packing. See attached photos.
Now for my request. Please all pray for clear skies.
I doubt I'll have mine before BSG, but will have my new MT-160 to use there, so that's my consolation prize. I'll be very keen to see your machine at BSG.
Thanks everyone, Managed to sneak in 4 X 2 min exposures of eta carina between clouds in some pretty bad seeing and I do mean bad.
The scope seem to capture very well. Star test at least a very quick one was spectacular. and the image came up OK considering.
