Meade Lightbridge Deluxe 12" Dobsonian!

[Arman]

Just under twenty-four hours to I bring home my Meade Lightbridge Deluxe 12" Dobsonian home from Bintel. I'm just wondering if there is any modifications i should make to the Telescope all together?

What do you suggest?

(http://www.meade.com/lightbridge/index.html#qxwideangle)

Regards..

Arman

[erick (Eric)]

Have you bought a light shroud? Should help keep dew off the primary (and things from dropping on that mirror).

Here is a big but very beneficial modification:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=33207

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

I have done the following mods to mine & I never looked back:
1. Bob's knobs for both primary & secondary mirrors
2. Astrozap light shroud
3. Telrad +/- a right angle finderscope( RDF that came with scope is
horrible to use)
4. Counter weight( sandbags & velcro) for low objects.
5. A laser collimater for quick collimation in the dark.

Some owners also suggest:
dew shield; dew heater for secondary and powder paint the inner rings and primary mirror holding case black

Enjoy it.Its a wonderful scope no problem since bought it in 2007.

[astronut (John)]

Arman,
There are a number of mods to make the scope perform better.
There are a few members (myself included) that would be more than happy to help.
But.........my advice is enjoy the scope for a little while before you start pulling it apart.
As Eric has said, a light shroud would be the first purchase.
These are the best.
http://www.astrozap.com/pages/shrouds.html

Cheers, John.

[PCH (Paul)]

I'm with Vincent - I have all those accessories and mods and have found them to be pretty essential. One thing I must get asap is one of those observing chairs from Bintel - or perhaps I could make one. Hmmmm ...

Clear skies

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

As mentioned there are many to be made; some very useful, some personal taste. Almost certainly if you use large EPs you will need some counterweights for it to be usable at anything but high alt positions - they are pretty top heavy.

[MarkN]

G'day there Arman.

You should be able to get an Astrozap shroud from Sirius Optics in Brissie. Cost was $115 for the 12". A trip to Bunnings for a large welding magnet will solve most heavy EP balance problems for a few dollars. Just tape up the edges so as not to damage the scope's paint.

Congratulations, you are well on the way to financial ruin!

Mark.

[JimmyH155]

For the light shrowd, I simply use one of those camping mats with ribbons stuck on with contact cement - just wrap it around the bars and tie it off.
Counterweight, yes magnet would be great - I use a tin of airgun pellets stuck on with sticky tape. Or use a large fishing weight.
Line the white painted bits with black felt from Spotlight, stuck on with contact cement and paint any missing white stuff with matte black paint.
Then get yourself a Hyperion ZOOM eyepiece 8 mm - 24 mm and keep that Meade 26 mm "Cluster buster" that comes with it ( Dont listen to the knockers - it is plenty good enough!!) - the only two EP's you will need

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Dumb question but what quantifies the "deluxe" tag for this model?

[JimmyH155]

Hi Adam,
you get better bearings on the azimuth (the flat ones on the bottom) and you get that Meade 26mm wide angle eyepiece. I think the 2" focusser is standard on both models. The roller bearings are majic - it just glides around. I think the cheaper one just uses teflon plate which can be a bit stickey, I think.

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Ah, got it, thanks

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

AFAIK you can only get the deluxe version now