A dobbie mount for a modest 3" reflector

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

Hi all,

I found a humble 3" reflector in a council chuck-out earlier this year. I couldn't help myself and salvaged the little guy. No scope deserves to go out this way. Well, nearly no scope, .

I decided that the best thing for this OTA was a dobbie mount, and make it for the kids. They too helped in the project by adding their own special paint-job to it. The three cut-outs in the mount's front was turned into "traffic lights" by one of them, . Its a short little bugger, and can be used as a table top scope too. On the ground it is tall enough for my children to use. I may make a mini tripod for it too soon as it will be too short for them to use in a year or two as it is now. The scope can then double up as a table top scope and a stand alone instrument too.

The good thing about this little OTA is that I was able to collimate both the primary and the secondary very, very well. Its views are actually quite nice now, . Not bad for a little cheapie scope.

I hope this little DIY project inspires some of you to give new life to a little scope that hasn't seen the night sky for some time.

Cheers,

Mental.

[mozzie (Peter)]

Originally Posted by mental4astro

Hi all,

I found a humble 3" reflector in a council chuck-out earlier this year. I couldn't help myself and salvaged the little guy. No scope deserves to go out this way. Well, nearly no scope, .

I decided that the best thing for this OTA was a dobbie mount, and make it for the kids. They too helped in the project by adding their own special paint-job to it. The three cut-outs in the mount's front was turned into "traffic lights" by one of them, . Its a short little bugger, and can be used as a table top scope too. On the ground it is tall enough for my children to use. I may make a mini tripod for it too soon as it will be too short for them to use in a year or two as it is now. The scope can then double up as a table top scope and a stand alone instrument too.

The good thing about this little OTA is that I was able to collimate both the primary and the secondary very, very well. Its views are actually quite nice now, . Not bad for a little cheapie scope.

I hope this little DIY project inspires some of you to give new life to a little scope that hasn't seen the night sky for some time.

Cheers,

Mental.

well done,love the paint work,saved a scope ending up squashed at the tip...my young fella has a 3" table top dobby and there great fun found comet garrad with it a few weeks ago and he was happy as..

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

What an excellent project. Got a 76mm reflector too, waiting for me to decide how to mount it.