Well, the slow but steady "Nipponisation" of my kit came to a conclusion today, with my rig now 95% Nipponese.
Vixen Fl102S and VC200L main scopes. OLD Toya 50mm refractor (Meade badged) as guidescope with a custom made 0.965" to 1.25" adapter to fit the guidecam, riding in Borg 60mm rings with custom made 50mm to 60mm spacer inserts (the Borg rings are NOT guidescope rings - I wanted the guidescope centrally mounted and rigidly to avoid flexure). Takahashi 7 x 50 illuminated reticle finderscope (BETTER than most larger refractors I have looked through! A work of optical art!). All riding on a Vixen GPD2 mount.
Only Chinese departures are the EQ5 Synscan GOTO kit (coming - erroneously got an EQ3 version) and an Orion Vixen-style dovetail rail for the guidescope.
Was toying with the idea of converting the Tak 7x50 into a guidescope (the Orion mini-guider screw off rear section fits the Tak tube threads PERFECTLY) but JUST can't bring myself to do it
The little refractor is just so delightful, seems wasted not to look through it visually, even if just during alignments. Never know - still may do it if the rig turns out on the heavy side for the mount (currently around 8.2kg - the GPD2 is rated to 10kg). Have not tried it all on the VC200L, but imagine just a LITTLE heavier.
I really REALLY like the Vixen product. They may not have a lot of new ideas, but as the cliche goes, If it isn't broken, don't fix it (Or, you cannot reinvent the wheel)
