OK what would need to be done to fix up a 16" lightbridge?

h0ughy (David) · #1 30-12-2006, 06:04 PM

Righto then, I am going to end up getting one of these lightbuckets? Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you, what will be needed to fix up one of these units, I know that certain members have doctored their 12-8 versions, would the same be needed for this one?

h0ughy (David) · #2 30-12-2006, 06:06 PM

addendum - also considering Andrews GS version too

astronut (John) · #3 30-12-2006, 06:50 PM

Hi David,
I'm glad that you have been seduced by the Lightbridge side of the force

From what I've seen of the 16" you will have to carry out all the mods made to the smaller brothers.
New collimation knobs for the secondary & primary are vital changes.
Stiffer springs, and because of these you can discard the locking pins.
These mods will turn a time wasting chore into a 1 minute wonder.
I had the end rings powder coated black, as all LB's have white painted areas in the light path.
The above changes are essential.
Essential accessories are a Light Shroud, Dew/Light shield.
I have added a optical finder instead of the red dot one that came with the scope (this is a personal preference)
The other accessories I've added are a dew heater for the finder (both ends) and for the main e/p.
The scope works a lot better than the factory delievered unit. All of the above EXTRAS cost about $200.
Cheers John.

h0ughy (David) · #4 30-12-2006, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astronut

Hi David,
I'm glad that you have been seduced by the Lightbridge side of the force

From what I've seen of the 16" you will have to carry out all the mods made to the smaller brothers.
New collimation knobs for the secondary & primary are vital changes.
Stiffer springs, and because of these you can discard the locking pins.
These mods will turn a time wasting chore into a 1 minute wonder.
I had the end rings powder coated black, as all LB's have white painted areas in the light path.
The above changes are essential.
Essential accessories are a Light Shroud, Dew/Light shield.
I have added a optical finder instead of the red dot one that came with the scope (this is a personal preference)
The other accessories I've added are a dew heater for the finder (both ends) and for the main e/p.
The scope works a lot better than the factory delievered unit. All of the above EXTRAS cost about $200.
Cheers John.

I will need a written list of the things to perform, and where to get the parts, what they are and how to weave the magic, please John lead me to the promised land

Striker (Tony) · #5 30-12-2006, 06:59 PM

Whats going on Houghy,

Just the otherday the washing machine blow up and you were forced to sell the kids and now the 16" is on the list of purchases.

You have been reading my book havn't you...well done mate.

h0ughy (David) · #6 30-12-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Striker

Whats going on Houghy,

Just the otherday the washing machine blow up and you were forced to sell the kids and now the 16" is on the list of purchases.

You have been reading my book havn't you...well done mate.

Chapter 2 - Life is too Short, so get a ladder!

and the entry aperture is everything - I have dogeared the page too many times. The 16 will be a nice portable scope for SPSP and Lostock (oct 07) - no power really required, duckadang will be the domain of the eq6.

Must get me one of those Gary pointit thingos too - Hey Gary, you have to make a kit for the lightbridge 16 now

Harb · #7 30-12-2006, 07:11 PM

Having seen pix of the GS 16".......I would stick to the meade....much nicer I recon.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #8 30-12-2006, 07:17 PM

Harb, where have you seen pics of the GS 16"?

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #9 30-12-2006, 07:20 PM

Steve look at the GS website it is on there.

You might want to add some sort of motorised GOTO unit to it

anthony2302749 · #10 30-12-2006, 07:25 PM

Hi hOughy

Me, personally I would go with what astronut suggested. The collimating knobs that he is suggesting would be the Bob's Knobs variaty http://www.bobsknobs.com/Meade/Dob/MLB12.htm. Petra has them fitted to her scope and they make collimation so much easier.

Anyway changing the topic if I got my hands onto a 16"LB or the GSO 16" Tube design I would hit both design hard with the "The Dobsonian Telescope: A Practical Manual for Building Large Aperture Telescopes" book and rebuild it into an Obsession type scope. It make for a great ATM project and you can get a much better scope without all that chip board and metal tube.

Anthony

janoskiss (Steve H) · #11 30-12-2006, 07:35 PM

That's a picture of a 12" Dob on the GSO website. If the 16" is going to be the exact same solid tube + rocker box design, it's going to be a real mongrel of a thing to move even just a couple of feet let alone transporting to a different location.

Harb · #12 30-12-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janoskiss

Harb, where have you seen pics of the GS 16"?

Lee Andrews Showed them to me......after his last trip Oversea's.
It is probly a nice scope , but I just hate the straight truss design.....I hope they do a last minute redesign and use the same style as meade.....they just don't look right straight and are no where near as strong and rigid as well.

Cheers

janoskiss (Steve H) · #13 30-12-2006, 09:10 PM

So it is a truss. That's good to know. It's sort of coming back to me now. Straight truss. Hey if it works, why not?

sejanus (Gavin) · #14 31-12-2006, 01:22 AM

I must admit to being tempted by these babies as a big light bucket visual scope, whilst the EQ6 combo is busy taking photos

h0ughy (David) · #15 31-12-2006, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sejanus

I must admit to being tempted by these babies as a big light bucket visual scope, whilst the EQ6 combo is busy taking photos

You know thats really sad

, because they are my thoughts exactly

Also when the power runs out I still can use a push too (astro south showed me the dark side)

ving (David) · #16 31-12-2006, 12:05 PM

yup the gso is a straight truss... the pic shown onthe website is the 12".

Starkler (Geoff) · #17 31-12-2006, 03:24 PM

I suggest that the rocker box is going to be way too flimsy, requiring bracing or stiffening ribs to be fitted. Also from the picture the spider appears to be too skinny, which will cause the secondary to move with changes in altitude.

I hope thats not the case, or you would be forever chasing your tail to keep it collimated.

astronut (John) · #18 31-12-2006, 07:39 PM

Where are the photo's

h0ughy (David) · #19 31-12-2006, 08:41 PM

I dont have anything yet, let alone images of it. maybe someone else may know?

Starkler (Geoff) · #20 02-01-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

I dont have anything yet, let alone images of it. maybe someone else may know?

Houghy, you even posted in this thread containing the pictures