12 inch LX200ACF OTA - 2 days away!!!!

[robz (Robert)]

...............after a looooooong wait, TNT transport will be delivering the OTA to my work address on Wednesday morning as they missed me
''at home'' last friday at 11.00 am (of course! ).

This is a very exciting moment for me as I have lusted for such a scope after drooling all the way through my teens at two things : girls, and those pictures from the Celestron catalogues showing their orange tubed SCT's.

I tried many times to purchase a used one from the classified's here, but hit a brick wall each time due to high freight costs or disinterested companies that would not insure or go off the beaten track to pick up on the other side of Australia.
In the end ,my wife couldn't stand the sad face and feeling sorry for myself moods and said ''just buy it new!''..............''you only live once!''


The NEQ6 PRO will be it's mount with the appropriate wide and long, cradle ended Losmandy mounting plate(for 12 inch Meade SCT) purchased from Bintel.
Joining it will be a Telrad and a good quality quartz dielectric diagonal.

As it will be mainly used for visual work and maybe some video astronomy later on, the mount should be fine providing I don't mount a 10 inch guidescope on top of it.

40 years is a long time to wait for your dream scope (that I could just, and only just afford) and I hope it will give me some great views of the heavens for many years

[renormalised (Carl)]

You will be well pleased with this fella!!!. I have the LX90 version in an 8" and the ACF optics are very good.

Unfortunately, my dream scope is just a wee bit out of my league at present....CDK700. Maybe one day.

[Shano592 (Shane)]

Robert, you will have a blast with the 12.

I have the 10, and I am so glad I bought it. The optics are excellent, right to the edge.

It was actually a toss-up between the 10 and the 12, but I felt that in 10 or 15 years' time, the 12-inch may be a little heavy for me to transport around.

[mozzie (Peter)]

well done robert !!!!! 12 ota acf absolutely beautiful optics your going to be stocked chrisp image to the edge,easy to lift onto the mount....

[telecasterguru (Frank)]

Rob,

Congrats on the imminent arrival. Now all you have to do is come up with a name.

Frank

[robz (Robert)]

Cheers guys!......................I probably won't get much sleep after all the positive comments .............but it'll be worth it!

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... ................no.............that 's not the name yet

[toc (Tim)]

Originally Posted by robz

Cheers guys!......................I probably won't get much sleep after all the positive comments .............but it'll be worth it!

WOOOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.... ................no.............that 's not the name yet

Looks like we will get ours at about the same time - Mine is on the road from Sydney as we speak. Alas I dont have a mount to put it on yet - Dont want to risk it on the HEQ5

[robz (Robert)]

Hi Tim.
No, the NEQ6 with the large dovetail head is about the limit here even though some companies selling astro gear rate it as being able to take a 25kg load capacity - doubt it very much.

Looks like Christmas has come early for both of us eh?

[robz (Robert)]

IT HAS ARRIVED !!!!!......................one day early !!!!!!!!!!!

[toc (Tim)]

Originally Posted by robz

IT HAS ARRIVED !!!!!......................one day early !!!!!!!!!!!

Cool : First light report is required

[robz (Robert)]

First light report will be coming soon!

[Ric]

Congrats Robert, they are a fantastic scope.

Looking forward to your first light report.

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Great Rob
but shouldn't it be early Easter

[robz (Robert)]

Originally Posted by GrampianStars

Great Rob
but shouldn't it be early Easter

............yes............... maybe you're right Gramp.!

Anyhow, I have a good gift for pushing the pen and will submit a thorough and hopefully entertaining and informative review of this Meade beast for all to enjoy!

The week is busy for me, but by this weekend first light will be had and the posting will commence!

My pleasure indeed!

[toc (Tim)]

Got my Meade 12" today - its huge!

[cohiba (Robert)]

Hi Robert
You will have a ball with this scope, Ive had one for a couple of years, all you will need now is a back brace or a dome, I bet it's bigger than you imagined, anyway enjoy

Bob
The Vines
Perth

[toc (Tim)]

Originally Posted by cohiba

Hi Robert
You will have a ball with this scope, Ive had one for a couple of years, all you will need now is a back brace or a dome, I bet it's bigger than you imagined, anyway enjoy

Bob
The Vines
Perth

It is - it dwarfs the C8 Im thankful for the carry handle

[robz (Robert)]

You're right........................this thing is BIG!!
I was surprised to see that the outside paint work is the new series, lighter blue with a slightly rough texture as per the LS LIGHT SWITCH series.

I'm very pleased with this as I prefer that to the glossy navy blue from the past. Love the carry handle also Tim!!!!

We may have some clouds roll in today or tonight................that'll be right!!!!

[toc (Tim)]

Originally Posted by robz

You're right........................this thing is BIG!!
I was surprised to see that the outside paint work is the new series, lighter blue with a slightly rough texture as per the LS LIGHT SWITCH series.

I'm very pleased with this as I prefer that to the glossy navy blue from the past. Love the carry handle also Tim!!!!

We may have some clouds roll in today or tonight................that'll be right!!!!

Mine has the darker glossy blue - I dont mind it. The focus is rather stiff compared to the C8. I might just be because it hasnt been used for a while.

[robz (Robert)]

Have just come home from being out all day and just finished the Losmandy dovetail assembly by bolting on the the two cradles at each end.

Tomorrow morning, the dovetail will be bolted to the OTA and the diagonal and Telrad will join in.

Hopefully, if there won't be so many interruptions and commitments (),................first light!