ICEINSPACE
|
Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Crescent 15%
|
|
10-06-2005, 04:45 PM
|
 |
Obsessed
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Swansea N.S.W.
Posts: 1,107
|
|
You must be a very happy man Mike! 
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by ausastronomer
if anyone else on the Coast or in Sydney is interested let me know as we could all order togther and significantly defray the shipping costs.
CS-John B
|
I would think about it if they made one for the 18"
|
10-06-2005, 07:33 PM
|
 |
Sir Post a Lot!
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
|
|
|
You've got servocat though Ed, why would you want a platform?
Had a small first light tonight, works well.. just gotta tweak the adjustments to get it level, point it south and adjust the speed to get objects staying in the FOV.
Only used it for 20 minutes, clouds coming and going and my wife was lonely. Hooked the laptop up but seeing was shocking so no images yet.
|
11-06-2005, 09:14 AM
|
|
Obsessed
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Swansea N.S.W.
Posts: 1,107
|
|
[QUOTE=iceman]You've got servocat though Ed, why would you want a platform?
I don't think the servocat is any good for exposures longer than 15sec because of field rotation. I know that there are derotators out there but putting the telescope on a platform I would think is easier I am not sure about the $$ though. Enjoy your platform Mike and I can't wait for those photos! 
|
11-06-2005, 01:22 PM
|
 |
The 'DRAGON MAN'
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
|
|
|
Brian,
Is there a lighter material to use instead of wood. If the weight could be reduced you might sell more in Oz with less shipping costs. Aluminum sheet perhaps unless it is not cost effective in production.
Nice looking unit though.
|
11-06-2005, 03:52 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicago, USA
Posts: 13
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by ballaratdragons
Is there a lighter material to use instead of wood. If the weight could be reduced you might sell more in Oz with less shipping costs. Aluminum sheet perhaps unless it is not cost effective in production.
|
I suppose aluminum would save weight but I don't have the skills to build something out of aluminum worth selling.
I do use 5/8th instead of 3/4-inch plywood to save weight and at 17lb it really isn't that heavy.
When sending this, the weight isn't what made it so expensive. It's the size of the box. The USPS charges by the circumference of the package. They then turn the box over their contractor, Fed EX for the actual shipping. This is what messes up customs for you guys.
Brian
|
11-06-2005, 04:00 PM
|
|
The 'DRAGON MAN'
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
|
|
|
Thanks Brian.
Sometimes, as some have discovered, the shipping costs are more than the price of the item!
I forget who it was in here, but they ordered a $70 item and the shipping charges were over $100.
Makes it tough to get overseas items. Oh well, if someone wants something bad enough, they are usually prepared to pay the extra.
Costs are usually forgotten when the package is opened and the party begins.
|
11-06-2005, 04:23 PM
|
|
Sir Post a Lot!
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
|
|
|
It's really not that heavy.. I can lift the whole thing and move it around with the top plate still on, without any trouble at all.
It does add some vibration to the dob when you bump the eyepiece, simply because it's up higher and the added instability of the platform rather than the dob base simply being on the ground.. but that's expected from something that size. It dampens down quick enough.
|
11-06-2005, 04:30 PM
|
|
The 'DRAGON MAN'
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
|
|
|
You sound very happy with it so far Mike.
Any chance of pics tonight?
Even a pic of it all assembled with the scope on top would be good so newbies can see what it is for.
|
11-06-2005, 05:00 PM
|
|
Sir Post a Lot!
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
|
|
|
Tonight it's cloudy, no chance of using it unfortunately. Will definitely take some more pics with the scope on top in the next couple of days.
|
22-08-2005, 09:52 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: S.A.
Posts: 1,079
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by [1ponders]
I'm sure we can rely on Mike to do a FULL review  |
|
22-08-2005, 09:57 AM
|
 |
~Dust bunny breeder~
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The town of campbells
Posts: 12,359
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by [1ponders]
I'm sure we can rely on Mike to do a FULL review |
*cough*
|
22-08-2005, 10:07 AM
|
|
Sir Post a Lot!
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
|
|
Whoops 
Will try and get one done ASAP.. just needed time to "use" it, you know?!
|
22-08-2005, 10:29 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: S.A.
Posts: 1,079
|
|
Thanks Mike
|
22-08-2005, 10:31 AM
|
 |
i like lookin at stuff.
|
|
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Ferntree Gully
Posts: 433
|
|
|
|
22-08-2005, 01:44 PM
|
 |
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,949
|
|
|
thinking of geting one built localy, but your review could change my mind about that.
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Rate This Thread |
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT +10. The time is now 06:39 PM.
|
|
