Oh Matt, what a beautiful TEC Mak. A friend, who has now moved back to the US, has the same scope. I really enjoyed the observing sessions with it. I was certainly lusting after one for a while, and Mark's ad didn't go un-noticed.
Bought them earlier this afternoon, they're bases for small terracotta pots
Do they work? I'd love to hear about your experience with them. Is there no wobble? I bet they keep the tripod feet clean. I usually push the spikes into the ground, which can get messy if the ground is wet and soggy.
I keep reaching for the like button, and it's not there.
It is a pretty little Takker, that's for sure
Here it is on its mount, the Tak SkyPatrol III with Skywatcher StarAdventurer wedge and Manfrotto MT055CXPro3 tripod, a true Grab with one hand and Go
that will be by the backdoor for those quick looks....
Kinda funky looking setup but as you say, truly Grab and Go!
The RA motor acts as a counterweight, the mount tracks well and silently using just 4 AA batteries. Coarse adjustments are by the clutches, then both axes have slow motions to home in on the target before switching on tracking in right ascension.
The polar scope is surprisingly good as is the operation of the wedge.
Made a few scope handles in the last week, here is one for Lewis for the old AP:
19.05 mm aluminium solid bar cut to 144mm then machined to 143mm & drilled and treaded for M8.
Glue grooves cut every 8mm,
Carbon fibre 20mm/22mm gloss tube epoxy glued over the aluminium,
M8x35mm S/S Button head socket screws
