Are you sitting down.new 16"GSO truss dob

Starcrazzy · #1 19-01-2006, 07:43 PM

Hi,
I was just speaking with Lee Andrews from Andrews comms in sydney..He recently returned from a trip to china where he met with Gueang sheng bigwigs..They have given him exclusive rights to stock there brand new GSO 16" truss dobbs..The unit will be fully transportable as it comes apart and has sturdy connectiing mechanism..The Mirror's are 1 12th wave which is awesome..So anyone thinking about buying a new scope in the next few months put a hold on it cause theses scopes are going to go out the door ar $2400 each...Yep...$2400...I feel a new era in backyaed astronomy in this country is about toi arrive...I am saving already...Finally the average keen amatuer can afford a SERIOUS instrument..

I am counting the days...
Clear skies( not lately)

Striker (Tony) · #2 19-01-2006, 07:45 PM

wow....what a bargain.

Even I could see myself with one of these...

Darkplague · #3 19-01-2006, 07:55 PM

Lets hope they dont use particle board for the mirror and rocker boxes!

danielsun · #4 19-01-2006, 07:59 PM

That sounds fantastic i'll be definately be keeping check on that!!!!

ving (David) · #5 19-01-2006, 08:01 PM

buy one for me too tony!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 19-01-2006, 08:05 PM

LOL! Check the date on this link with the exact same story!

Sorry Starcrazy, but we have known for a looong time. But thanks for remimding us

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ght=inch+truss

Starcrazzy · #7 19-01-2006, 08:10 PM

Apparently, they are aluminium bottom section with the primary, if you ring or email him he can give you a full rundown on the design..he is raving about the connection mechanism and the top section with the secondry, he says its a real innovation..I havn't had much to do with truss dobs so i wouldn't know the differance...all i know is that the meade 10 and 12 " trusses are ****** expensive when ya can get 16" of light gathering, galaxy detailing, nebula rectifying, comet hunting power baby for under 2 and a half big bickies..I may attach my meade etx125 as a finder...hehe...about all its good for

janoskiss (Steve H) · #8 19-01-2006, 08:13 PM

Yes, but where are the PICS from Lee's trip to China?? I want to see what the base is like before I consider buying this scope. If it's just an oversized Lightbridge than that's no good, because the mount won't be transportable enough.

Starcrazzy · #9 19-01-2006, 08:15 PM

Yea well not evryone knew about it hey..

...

Starcrazzy · #10 19-01-2006, 08:20 PM

Lee only looked at the design on the computer, they hadn't actually constructed any at that stage so he couldnt take any pics..

Starkler (Geoff) · #11 19-01-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Yes, but where are the PICS from Lee's trip to China?? I want to see what the base is like before I consider buying this scope. If it's just an oversized Lightbridge than that's no good, because the mount won't be transportable enough.

Yep thats the important parameter, just how high is that base

I reckon its a fair bet that the base is melomine coated chipboard as per the lightbridge. Hopefully its a thicker gauge of wood otherwise there might be flexure issues in the base.

Also with all the bad experiences with poor packing of the lightbridges and resulting mirror damage, I want to be reassured that this model is better packed and also to know Andrews return policy should it arrive not up to scratch.

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #12 19-01-2006, 08:53 PM

When I emailed lee not long ago, all he could tell me was it was 16" and F4.8, he had no other details.

h0ughy (David) · #13 19-01-2006, 08:59 PM

lets walk first guys. it has to hit the shores first, then have a reaaly good look at it

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #14 19-01-2006, 09:01 PM

Stuff that Houghy. We volunteer you to fly to Taiwan now and check it out first hand LOL!

h0ughy (David) · #15 19-01-2006, 09:10 PM

lest see ken, I would rather spend the money getting the scope than buying a plane ticket. can you get the AN for me so i can fit it to the scope

iceman (Mike) · #16 19-01-2006, 09:16 PM

It's certainly got the possibility to shake things up, along with the lightbridge (up to 12").

It could be my next scope upgrade..? (ssh don't tell the wife!) but not for a while yet. Still, pretty cheap for 16 inches of mirror.

If it's portable enough, stands up to the QA inspections of fault-finding amateurs, it could be very good especially with AN on it.. but what to drive it with? Servocat? EQ platform? Dob driver? I'd need a bigger EQ platform for that!

Robert_T · #17 19-01-2006, 09:24 PM

if it lives up to expecations then I think even I'll be joining the Dobber ranks (at least part time). I'd a little dubious about claims of 1/12th wave optics though if that's what is being claimed - what do the existing GSO mirrors run at?

cheers,

janoskiss (Steve H) · #18 19-01-2006, 09:28 PM

Well, Andrews' website lists them all as 1/12, but you don't really know till you check for yourself. Sorry, I don't have an interferometer handy atm.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 19-01-2006, 09:28 PM

The googled report I read was that my GS12" is supposed to be 1/12th wave.

Rodstar (Rod) · #20 19-01-2006, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert_T

if it lives up to expecations then I think even I'll be joining the Dobber ranks

Wash your mouth out, Robert.......and I will try to think positive SCT thoughts.....(lest I consider defecting too).....