Source for OTA tube

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

I'm very pleased with it too Chris, and yes, I seem to use it more than the 150 newt.
Should finish the dovetail bracket for the red dot finder today and if the clouds will just go away for a while I can give it a spin in the dark.
I've put the 102 on my wish list and SurplusShed will drop me an email when they come in.
Been too cloudy here for about a week to do any observing and my drive hand controller went weird on me. Just got the replacement from Andrews this morning and theres a bit of blue sky showing. Keeping the fingers crossed for the weekend.
Clear skies for the Magellan session, post us some piccy's

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Finally got a session with clear skies to continue the testing of the Mk2. Tube is still a bit too long and I can't quite get focus with a couple of my longer bodied eyepieces when using the 90 deg diagonal or barlow. Looks like final tube length will be 145 - 150mm, but reached the limit of trimming with the existing mounting ring arrangement. DSI and Agent webcam focus with about 25mm of inward adjustment left.
Bracket for the red dot finder has been made and fitted, works a treat


How did yours go at Magellan Chris ?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

How did yours go at Magellan Chris ?

Grrrr.... clouds, Bill

Got another session booked for mid-week. I'll probably head down Wednesday arvo for the night. I'll post results!

Cheers
Chris

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Looking much better here, hope it was the same for you at Magellan.

The Rainmaker Mk2 is finished at last. New rings fitted and tube cut to final length. Everything focuses with the star diagonal and the barlow or straight through. The finder bracket is a home made job. Base is a short lenth of 25mm square tube cut in half along its length and squeezed in the vise with a piece of 12mm round bar till it spead out to the correct angle. The angled upright is 1.5 mm steel plate silver soldered into the groove made by the bar.
Top is a flat steel plate with a shaped piece of aluminium screwed on top to suit the finders clamp. Little bit of flex in the upright but its fairly springy and doesn't bend permanently. Very happy with the 80mm. When the 102mm objectives come available again I'll start on its bigger brother

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Excellent Bill - that's really looking like a great scope!!

Here's one from the night before last through mine - not brilliant, but not bad either!

Cheers
Chris

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Looks pretty good to me and Kym was most impressed

Cheers
Bill

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Going fishing Tuesday/Wednesday to Lake Tantagara, decided to give Blowering (AKA "Lake Disappointment" ) a miss this time. Going to take the 20 x 80 Binos and the 80mm refractor for at night as the rods will be set off the bank and I can observe and listen for the bell tinkling. If the Force is with us , we'll have a feed of Trout to bring home and some dark sky sights to remember.

Cheers
Bill

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

Going fishing Tuesday/Wednesday to Lake Tantagara, decided to give Blowering (AKA "Lake Disappointment" ) a miss this time. Going to take the 20 x 80 Binos and the 80mm refractor for at night as the rods will be set off the bank and I can observe and listen for the bell tinkling. If the Force is with us , we'll have a feed of Trout to bring home and some dark sky sights to remember.

Cheers
Bill

Tantangara? You'll be just up the road from Omaroo! If you want a few hundred metres of Murrumbidgee (which, at our point, is fed from Tantangara), some good dark sky and nothing to disturb you.....

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

Oops! I missed this one Chris.
Had to cancel at the last minute on the fishing trip. It clashed with a trip to Sydney that the Mrs had arranged earlier. We had a good time, had afternoon tea with the governor (lovely lady) and a look around the residence, took a trot around Paddy's Market and a long look at the contents of the Powerhouse museum. I had to endure 2 x 5hr trips on a train (not my favourite mode of transport) but a fun time non the less.
I'll take you up on the invitation one day, thanks for the offer

Cheers
Bill