Thanks for helping with the info Bert. Even I didn't know the worm holder is Stainless Steel! The gears have bedded in nicely already!!
Here is a size comparison shot taken today. Steve is right though, it doesn't look heavy, but you try and lift it.
The pic is with the boys 8" in it. The Focuser is well out of reach and it will be even higher when I mount the 12" in it!! Thank God for step-ladders.
The pic is taken on a weird angle, coz the cradle that the scope sits in is level with the top of my head!!!! and the Dec setting Circle is level with my shoulder.
The angle of the scope is at the SCP so imagine how high the Focuser is when I look at anything above the polar alignment.
I just looked at the monitor on the skateboard picture.....thats GOLD Ken.
Brilliant.
Like I said Tony, "use what ya got".
Quote:
Originally Posted by davopreconoscope
just jump mate, and grab a view as your eyeball passes the eyepiece.
make sure you lift your head, otherwise you may leave youe eyeball behind!!!
I might have to get the trampoline back into action
Most of what I will be doing will be TouCammed anyway. For eyeing the sky I can just plonk it into the Dob mount. Only take about 1 minute to change mounts. Or mount a guidescope down near the bottom of the scope and leave it in the EQ!!!
Brilliant BD!
What's the boys new scope like? Does it have a mount anymore?
Jake and Harrys scope is very good. I gave the mirrors a good wash, the scope a bit of re-adjusting, collimated it and it gives lovely views. They are rapt!
I am going to make them a Dob mount and also leave the EQ cradle unaltered. That way they can use the EQ mount and a Dob mount. It's no drama to change the cradles over (when I make the 12" one). They will get to EQ until about 10pm (Friday & Sat nights) and then I will pop in the 12" cradle and go all night!
The 8" scope mirror was optically checked by Ken Beard (ASV )many years ago (25+)and he reckoned at the time its better than 1/10 wave when equilibrated.The flat is almost 1/20 wave.It is still a very useful scope.I built all the hardware myself.The tube is a piece of downpipe I obtained from ?.
I now have a TAL200K for visual so this very nice old scope was going to waste.
I think I told Ken all this but there was so much to explain.
Hi Ken. Well done. Just luv the cubby..... L.
ps. Perhaps 'lift cubby, place on large lazy susan, slide off roof & view'?
Yep, thought of that Laurie. It's too small though, it's only 4' x 4'. I had 2 cubbies left over when I stopped making them and a local bought the larger one of me. This is the only one I had left. When I make my dome I will probably use this 'cubby' method for the control room only a lot larger. It is made of MDF sheets with lots of coats of paint to keep the water out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vingo
you gave him the scope to go with the mount bert!!!
so generous!
Yes he is David, that's my boys 8". Bert gave it to them and I got the mount. Christmas came early in this household!!
I went into Ballarat today to buy the 2 bearings to finish off the main work on the mount but while i was there I bit the bullet and bought all new bearings for the whole lot. If I can going to do this properly I might as well replace them all!
Off to a good start. Dismantled the Mount again and OOPS! Whilst removing the section I wanted some of my flashy new paint started peeling off!!! NOT GOOD!!!
Took the section I needed inside to pull out the old bearings and the paint was peeling off it too!!!
I went back out to the mount and found that my new paint is starting to peel off in lots of places.
Bearings have been put to the side and the strip down of paint has begun AGAIN!!!!
Well done. Just luv the cubby..... 
L.
NOT GOOD!!!
