Dave, this is what I have always said too whenever anyone would comment on me lugging 'that monster' around. Gimme 12" apeture views and a bit of weight lifting exercise over an easier to handle 8 SCT or something that costs double what my scope did. I'm not a big fella, only 5'7" and not muscular either but I manage OK.
I've posted a few pics of the scope packed in a 3 door hatchback, (My old Audi A3 (ie Vw Golf size class). A few carefully chosen purchases to make handling it easier and a few carefully designed though appalingly built DIY accessories and I was able to easily transport and quickly setup without having to leave behind any equipment when heading up the mountains. ie I was able to transport my full home observing kit
I'm actually just about to put the scope up for sale as 'The fever' and new transport issues arose. I still went ahead and completed the last few mods on the 12" despite selling it as it should help resale and I just didn't feel it was right to sell 'My unfinished scope. Its funny, after putting so much work into her I'll be sad to see her go but I just can't store 2 large dobs and it would be a shame to see her gather dust because I would invaiable pull out the larger scope every time.
I've posted a few pics of the finished 12"
Back on topic, I got the same type of comments when I told everyone I was purchasing a 16" Lightbridge after Meade discounts in the UK and euro/sterling parity made for the deal of the century, LB16 for the equivelent of AUD1900!! I even had an owner of the same scope tell me it was too big. I just couldn't get him to understand that our experiences were relative. I had no problem handling my 12in solid tube and the truss was going to make things so much easier despite being a 16". He on the other hand went from a 12in truss to the 16 so things were 'relatively' harder for him. Then there was the other fact that so many people seem to judge an scopes suitability/transportabilty/liftability on its 'straight from the factory state' and rule it in or out based on that. Me, I look at a scope and try and postulate if or what I could do to make it easier on myself. ie, even if its not very user friendly from the factory, what can I do to make it more user friendly. If I can think of ways to do this then I'll buy.
This is what happened with the LB16. The extra transport constraints were imposed by the purchase of a new car. An Audi TT. You can image how small they are. Well with a few mods and some accessories rethink I will soon be able to transport a 16in scope and all my gear in the back of a tiny sports coupe!
Mods like making some new feet that can be screwed on and off the groundboard with threaded inserts. This gave me the extra 1inch I needed for the 22in tall base to clear my low roofline. Scope Trolley will be replaced with a wheel chuck and wheelbarrow handles. EP table is done away with by doing away with the EP case. ie EP's transported in case in car but transferred into scope mounted heated EP box on top of scope mounted laptop pole. EQ platform I used for tracking on old scope which would fit in new car replaced with a simple JMI TNT ALT AZ scope mounted drives. Cant wait to get all these mods done and take some pics of the whole lot in the back of the TT. Should be a sight to behold
...I figure I can keep lifting it in and out well into my late 60s. I'd jam a 16" if I had the chance
) and sorry for going a little off topic.
