Thanks Brian, Peter, and Larry ....not the best Photos...will post better ones another time.
It's heavy....there's no Scope movement even when ' tapping ' the leg.
Rock solid it is.
The Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 GT Mount. This is a really nice mount, however, I had a problem with the hand control, when used in the Alt/Az mode, as it wrapped around the mount. So, using a spare Stellavue finder dovetail and bracket (and a few other bits and pieces), I made a control holder to fit on top of the mount, so that the hand control is always in a handy location, and doesn't wrap around the mount. The dovetail bracket itself is attached to the mount cover plate via 3M Dual-Lock (DL), which doesn't mar the surface of the cover plate, if the DL is ever removed. DL is great stuff, even though it is a tad expensive, but then, it does it's job like no other. DL is strong enough to have held my speakers on metal mounts for years without ever coming apart. Because the cover plates were fitted with soft phillips head screws, on which the head strips easily, I replaced all the screws with stainless steel hex cap head screws. Why SW didn't do this in the first place is beyond me, particularly considering the thought that went into this mount. Also, I replaced the T-Bar locking screws, which got in the way, with stainless steel grub screws.
The Astro Tech 65 ED Quad (f/6.5) astrograph, mounted on a ADM Min-Max mount, with a Televue Everbrite diagonal. This scope is primarily used as a wide field scope, but can also be piggybacked on my observatory scope and used for AP. This has to be the best priced ($579) telescope that I have ever bought. It has amazingly sharp images for such a small scope, which I also use as my grab-n-go scope. Just have to find a decent grab-n-go mount now.
The Williams Optics FLT110 (f/6) Triplet, with a Stellarvue finder, an Arctic Fox GL Laser and a Televue Everbrite diagonal. Also attached is a digital Pathfinder watch/compass.
Modified Celestron Power Tank. Replaced the battery with a deep cycle battery and modified the charging circuits (bypassed inbuilt charger) of the Power Tank so that a normal charger can be used. This is now a great portable power pack. Will be building a new, and larger, power pack in the near future.
This set up will be modified further with the inclusion of a Lunt 80mm PT Ha scope, as the FLT110 also has a Thousand Oaks glass white light filter. I will also be changing the WO Focuser, to something much better. Aluminium cases also need to be made for the WO FLT110 and the AZ-EQ6 GT mount, but that will have to wait for a while.
I am really happy with this set up.
Last edited by Stardrifter_WA; 05-04-2014 at 06:08 PM.
This is my latest addition, and I'm really stoked about it Haven't had first light yet as it only arrived yesterday and the Sydney weather doesn't look like cooperating
There will be lots more pictures of this once I can get some decent light...
This is my latest addition, and I'm really stoked about it Haven't had first light yet as it only arrived yesterday and the Sydney weather doesn't look like cooperating
There will be lots more pictures of this once I can get some decent light...
That's sure looks nice ...... what is it ..... what Brand and Diameter ... ?
Hi. I upgraded mid last year from a Skywatcher 5 inch newt (on an EQ2 mount) to a DIY truss dob with a Skywatcher 14 inch f/4.5 conical mirror. The dob was designed for a 15 inch mirror and is very well built. I've put a Telrad and Orion right-angle finder on the scope and I'll also be putting DSCs on it by years end. It also has a beaut motorised JMI focuser. I'm performing some minor upgrades on things like truss tube clamps to minimise maintenance & improve reliability. Despite its reasonable size, it can be broken down & transported quite easily.
Jumping from a 5 inch to a 14 inch telescope came with profoundly improved views ... things that required averted vision can now be seen directly. I can view detail in Jupiter's belts and Saturn's rings (and see those lovely yellow/green bands around the planet), and comfortably view Mar's major features. I haven't taken it to a dark site yet, but I'm sure it will memorable when I do. Alex