NSW Northern Rivers 2008

[CoombellKid]

I prefer wide FOV ep's in the longer FL's 20mm and longer as well as in
the 2" format, I usually find wider FOV more useful at lower powers. My
higher power eps are XW's @ 70 AFOv and U/O HD's @ 45 AFOV.

Did a bit more on the scope today, I'm pretty much just waiting on the
new Alt bearings to get here, they're being shipped monday. Anways
wired up the ground board, and drilled the pivot hole in the rocker box
floor. Here's a couple of pix... The difficult thing about the center pivot
hole in the rocker box floor was getting it plumb, so I came up with this
simple jig, which worked a treat.

Btw, wasn't the opening to the Olympics fantastic

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

ye old x-u1 quality i see rob ..my drill cost $13 and my drop saw $39
but hey they still work.

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by nightstalker

ye old x-u1 quality i see rob ..my drill cost $13 and my drop saw $39
but hey they still work.

the drill cost me $15.99 from memory, one of those Bunnings fathers day
specials from a few years ago. I think the Irwin 1 1/4" spade bit thats in it
wasn't much cheaper

Yup! good old Bunnings quality. I brought one of those Ryobi 150mm band
saws a couple of weeks ago, only to find my split blocks are about 1-2mm
too thick to use it

regards,CS

[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

You've done a great job on the 16 Rob if the progress pics are anything to go by. I have done some woodwork but not to that standard. The high gloss finish you have achieved is something that even professional painters usually won't touch. Hard to avoid runs. I would not like to lift that sucker too much when it is finally assembled.

Haven't done much observing last few days. Moon interfering. Downloaded Cartes du Ciel. Pretty impressive package for a freebie. I've already printed off a couple of maps that should be useful for finder charts although obviously there are better packages around (The Sky etc).

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by Lismore Bloke

You've done a great job on the 16 Rob if the progress pics are anything to go by. I have done some woodwork but not to that standard. The high gloss finish you have achieved is something that even professional painters usually won't touch. Hard to avoid runs. I would not like to lift that sucker too much when it is finally assembled.

Thank you for your kind words, although I'm still a little un-impressed with
the results. The Sec' cage came out well, the base board had a few drama's
but I think I know what I did wrong. As for wood work I haven't really
ever done any except for the lil 8" truss dob I made for my sons over
last Xmas. I sure do get a kick out of making them. The high gloss
finnish is also a first attempt, boy it is something I think you really
have to know what your doing, but I have learnt a couple of things
that seem to help. Firstly let the poly, job and day heat up. I stick
the tin of poly in the sun for an hour. And secondly I've used a brush
and a spounge and fibre roller. The brush although more difficult will
give you a better finish, but dribbles are uncontrollable. When I build
the next one I'm going to invest in a spray pack. As for carting it
about the place once it's complete, I'm installing removable wheel
burrow handles on it and I'll have to build a ramp to get it inside.

The Alt bearing aren't being shipped until later this week now. So I've
started on the split blocks and truss poles.

Originally Posted by Lismore Bloke

Haven't done much observing last few days. Moon interfering. Downloaded Cartes du Ciel. Pretty impressive package for a freebie. I've already printed off a couple of maps that should be useful for finder charts although obviously there are better packages around (The Sky etc).

Well.... ummmm errr I have two new filters and I've tried the 2-3am rise
but it's a lil too frosty... even just getting out of bed must be
getting old or something but it's just killing me this year. Besides I think
if I left the lil 8" sitting out there all night, it'll be covered in ice by the
time I got out there... given there is first half of the night moonage
happening at present. I'm pretty sure the 16" will be ready for this
coming new moon

regards,CS

[CoombellKid]

Paul,

Sorry I should rephrase that, I was un-impressed with my attempts at poly
coating, it is a difficult thing to do properly. It appeared to me that I wasn't
being to greatful about your comments when it wasn't what I was trying
to relay.

regards,CS

[CoombellKid]

Quick update on the 16"

The Alt bearings arrive today Waaaaahooooo!!! so I starting cutting
the rocker box sides, over the next few night hopefully by the weekend
I'll have the rocker box done. Maybe even able to start star testing on
the weekend, but I think I'm dreaming there is still a way to go yet. Also
stained and polyed the upper connectors, I'm going to start putting the A
frames together tonight. Here's a couple more pics, the Alt bearing are
made from solid 40mm x 25mm Ali.

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

thats looking great ... no preasure mate ..but were good to go on the new moon..yeah ?....

[CoombellKid]

I've been thinking it couldn't be more perfect timing, weather permitting.
But as you know the o'l girls are usually a work in progress during the initial
weeks of life. May not have the Argo Navis hooked up and bug tested by
then, but I'm hoping : ). I'm kidless again this weekend so I'll have time
to focus on it. Btw, the two holes you see in the rocker sides are where
the threaded inserts for the wheel burrow handles will go.

Unfortunately (astro-wise) I'll have my youngest with me on new moon
weekend, and I mean that only because the youngest just going on two
is a bit hands on, where as Jake has been going to star parties with me
since he was about 3, he's cool he just tags along, Hayden is more like
a ricocheting bullet. But your more than welcome as always to come out.
I just wont be able to join you fulltime until the young one crashes.

Personally I'm getting a little excited, I'm looking forward to my first view
of the Veil & Carina nebs in the 20mm t5 + OIII.... but then again there
is a whole list of things.

regards,CS

[CoombellKid]

I haven't been observing much at all lately... prolly 3-4 months. Only
because my neck is so bad I cant get down low enough with the 8"
to look through the finder without screwing up my neck. I get a few
hours observing to several days of agony : ( plus the 8" is setup in the
direction which upsets my neck the worst, on the 16" I'll be looking
the other way and wont have to get down near as low : ) plus adding
an AN I wont have to star hop as much, if at all. I'll be able to load
my lists into it and go for it.

regards,CS

[astro_south (Andrew)]

She is looking great Rob

Let me know when you get her finished - worth the trip down from Brisvegas to take a gander I reckon - especially if it is first light

[CoombellKid]

Hey Andrew,

Thanks man... long time no see, how ya been?

No prob's, should been finished by the end of the month hopefully.
Hoping to aleast start star testing around the end of this weekend.

In anycase it would be great to catch up for a session.

Cheers

Rob

Originally Posted by astro_south

She is looking great Rob

Let me know when you get her finished - worth the trip down from Brisvegas to take a gander I reckon - especially if it is first light

[CoombellKid]

btw, Andrew,

Not sure if you know, entry is the supply of one handgrenade but I can
get you in anyways

regards,CS

[astro_south (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by CoombellKid

btw, Andrew,

Not sure if you know, entry is the supply of one handgrenade but I can
get you in anyways

regards,CS

That's all I need to bring ... isn't it?

[CoombellKid]

Originally Posted by astro_south

That's all I need to bring ... isn't it?

Well you could post it... nah just kidding....

along with you and if you want to bring your young bloke, np's I have beds
available for both of you. And that lovely 12.5" we have nice dark skies.

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

yeah come on down sometime andrew it would be good to catch up again...all those roadworks around brunswick and tugan are done now so its a fairly quick drive these days .

[CoombellKid]

Plodding along....

Almost have the rocker box to staining stage. The sides are attached but
the end boards at present are being held in with dels 6 for each. The side
boards are attached to the rocker floor with three dels. So the whole
box is held together with weldbond and 18 dels, even with the ends
attached but not glued I think the scope could easily ride on it, it's pretty
solid. I'm going to wait now until I have the Alt bearings attached to
the mirror box, along with the split blocks and such so I can set it up with
the poles and SC in place and check that the front end board on the rocker
box is the right size to stop the scope traveling past horizontal or worst
the front teflon pads.

Anways here a couple of pix... I've start to installed to rocker box section
or the powered ground board. Just got to route a channel to attach the
positive leg. Also cut the slits in the version2 split blocks. tonight I'll be
in front of the TV cleaning them up with a bit of sandpaper watching
the olympics lol. I'll drillthe mounting holes and give them a stain tomorrow.

regards,CS

[CoombellKid]

Here's pic with the poles in place and the SC on top and with me and Jake
standing beside. I just want to check I've got the front end board of the
rocker box at the right height, and took a quick pic to post.

I can go ahead and finish the rocker box now, which will take a few days
mostly in poly glossing. There a bit of shimming/sanding and whatever else
to get the truss poles nicely aligned so I can just plop the SC on top. But
they dont appear to be too far out. Still it's going to take a bit of time to
get right I think. Still looking to star test this weekend and probably have
the electronics side of thing complete next weekend... well thats the plan.

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

Its big alright mate ..nearly two jakes tall

hey I'm a pentaxite now my 8.5 xf arrived yesterday..along with another nagler so my other one won't feel to jaded..going to give them a whirl shortly

[CoombellKid]

Yeah lol, I'm going to have to make a step stool with an extra step for you
and Glen

Good to see you coming over to Pentaxville, she's a great town. And to
boot I've heard a lot about the XF's I eagerly look forward to trying yours.
What nagler did you get?

regards,CS