Sky-watcher Skyliner 300P Flextube - first impressions.

[emadmoussa]

Sky-watcher Skyliner 300P Flextube.

General Thoughts

I finally got around opening the box that was sitting in our lounge for a couple of days. I was down with cold and flu, as soon as I started feeling like a human being first thing I did was crack down on the Box.

Anyway, putting the base together wasn't an issue. I didn't really require instructions - it was straightforward. Slightly bigger than I expected though, but you can still manoeuvre it through standard doors.

The scope is not light, but the plus point is that there are a lot of grip in there which made moving it around a bit easier than my GSO 10" solid tube. I'd say, heavy but not awkward to carry. Aesthetically the tube is a beauty. I don't think photos give it justice. Even the wife - who never believed telescopes looked particularly homey or eye catching sitting in the lounge - thought the scope looked pretty. Phew!!

I am certain a lot of flextube owners will agree that these scopes are quite solid precision engineered instruments. I have to say it felt sturdier and more solid than I thought it would be.

Having put everything together my first thought was...phew!! I'm glad I didn't go for the 14".  Having moved things around a bit I thought this is certainly the limit of what I can handle for my current set-up, Imagine this awkward mug handling a 14" scope...it's a disaster waiting to happen. The base goes through the door OK, but only just...and frankly I wouldn't describe  it as  ''light''. You can carry it and manoeuvre it a bit, but don't expect to shove it on your shoulder and run with it I think the base size and weight was my first turn-off element when I considered the 14". Until I've had an observatory or a roll in and out mechanism, I doubt I would go bigger than the 12-inch.

Skywatcher and GSO (Revelation)

Although my 10" GSO had an adjustable altitude tension knobs which was a very nice touch, I found that the Sky-watcher more naturally balanced and easier to grip and tighten up. The Sky-watcher base is more beautiful - although made of the same type of cheap wood. One thing I can't get my head around, what were the Sky-watcher people thinking when they decided not to use a plastic knob for the base declination tension screw? Really Sky-watcher - do I need to use a wrench every time I want to adjust the rotation tension..REALLY?!! Actually, you require 2 wrenches; one to spin and one to hold (both included by the way).

GSO (Revelation) always gives you better accessories with their scope. With the Sky-watcher 300P I received two ''mildly coated'' 10mm and 25mm Plossls. Would it hurt to include at least one widefield eyepiece?! Anyway, I guess it's just a standard.

The Focuser

Perhaps most of you will expect me to talk down the Sky-watcher stock focuser. Ah well...I don't think so. It's brilliant actually. Nah, just yanking ya! It's absolutely a piece of rubbish...I've had it replaced with a moonlite focuser before I even received the scope. Steve from FLO kindly fitted the focuser for me before sending everything over to my address. Call me a snob, but I honestly can't cope with a single speed focuser, let alone one that doesn't use compression rings. And you guessed it, the 300P Flextube focuser has both disadvantages.

The GSO 10" came with a really nice quality dual speed focuser. Way better than those used on Sky-watcher 350P and 400P. I just don't understand why Sky-watcher goes all the way producing fantastic optics and then when they come to the focusers they just trash them. OK, I could reluctantly live with a single speed focuser, but why do they still use thumb screws instead of compression rings?! I can see them going the other way producing anti-marring eyepieces to tackle this issue

Moonlite CR2 Focuser

Very beautiful and very solid piece of engineering indeed. However - you didn't see that coming, did you?!! - I had problems reaching focus in most of my eyepieces. Only the Explore Scientific 24mm, 20mm 100-deg and 14mm 100-deg did reach focus ...only just. I had the draw the tube all the way back. Deloi, Skywatcher and Hyperion                                          EPs failed miserably. I believe I need an extension. Will probably have a word with the guys at FLO to see what my options are.

First Light

I had two hours of testing last night. 10 to 15 minutes precision aligning the finders and 10 more minutes trying to find the finder screw that I dropped in the dark

Cool down time is noticeably longer than the 10", but shouldn't be a problem..just give it extra 10-15 minutes and you're good to go.

Objects are also noticeably brighter and slightly more defined than in the 10". I heard a lot about a 2" step up won't show much difference, but based on last night's session I beg to differ. While the difference is not mind-blowing like you would expect, it was however worth the upgrade. My first target was the Double Cluster (easy target for aligning and testing) and was blown away. I think it was probably the feeling I had when I first compared the 6" refractor with the 10" GSO Dob. You can definitely see more fainter stars. Having got things in line, I decided to go looking for the supernova in M82 using the Explore Scientific 20mm 100-deg. The supernova was immediately spotted, however what caught my attention was the unusually bright M82 and M81...I can readily see a bit more subtle details. Even in 20mm EP and without any filters M1 was nicely defined. It was very close to the views in the 10", but there was a subtle improvement. I think some objects will require only a slight increase in light collection to show their magnificence, M33 was a good example.

It was a short session, but enough to test the scope capabilities and make sure everything was working OK.

What's Next?

Apparently I need a focuser tube extension. Not being able to use all your EPs is frustrating.

I will probably invest in a light shroud - or make my own for the time being. You could immediately see how contrast deteriorated whenever there was some intrusive light source.

Any Mods?

Yep, I already replaced the secondary mirror adjustment Alan key screws with  these  . They fitted perfectly and made collimating the secondary quite a breeze. Well, you all know that fiddling with an Alan key on top of the primary is not particularly a comfortable idea.

I also installed a rubber door stop on the inside of the base to prevent the tube from banging against the wood.

It seems that there's the potential of flocking in the near future.

Conclusion

So far I'm quite happy with the scope. If you exclude the focuser and the base declination adjustment screw, then everything else is wonderful.

Also, bear in mind that the base is also a brilliant toy for kids. My little one loved riding the base. Well, no harm in that...she's still much lighter than the scope

[osbourne one-nil]

I am seriously tempted by one of these, but it's the base which has always put me off - I'm not sure how it will stand up to the damp Cumbrian climate. I used to have an Orion Optics 12" dob which was let-down by the base (although it would have lasted for years!).

Any chance of measuring the height of the whole thing when it's collapsed? That would be a useful dimension to have.

[emadmoussa]

Off my head I think the base width is about 67cm.

I'll do that when I get back today.

[emadmoussa]

I am seriously tempted by one of these, but it's the base which has always put me off - I'm not sure how it will stand up to the damp Cumbrian climate. I used to have an Orion Optics 12" dob which was let-down by the base (although it would have lasted for years!).

Any chance of measuring the height of the whole thing when it's collapsed? That would be a useful dimension to have.

Base diameter = 67cm - base height = 73cm - whole setup with scope collapsed = 104cm.

[nephilim]

Nice scope mate, I'll pop round when you finally bite the bullet on a 22"   I sold the 200p/EQ5 yesterday to a fellow member on here so a 12" is getting nearer, I'm researching the Pentax XW zoom as that with a 5mm for planetary will be all i need.....................................For now

Steve

[Amra]

A beautiful telescope, I envy you!

[scarp15]

Good account, a 1.5" extension tube, such as the Moonlite version through FLO will resolve your focusing issues. The astrozap light shroud is worth the investment to. 

I am seriously tempted by one of these, but it's the base which has always put me off - I'm not sure how it will stand up to the damp Cumbrian climate. I used to have an Orion Optics 12" dob which was let-down by the base (although it would have lasted for years!).

Any chance of measuring the height of the whole thing when it's collapsed? That would be a useful dimension to have.

The base isn't really so bad provided it is kept dry between use, stand the base on a mat to keep mud dirt and moisture at bay.  Also if you have issues with any section, they are easy to reconstruct out of birch pine.

[scarp15]

Good account, a 1.5" extension tube, such as the Moonlite version through FLO will resolve your focusing issues. The astrozap light shroud is worth the investment to. 

The base isn't really so bad provided it is kept dry between use, stand the base on a mat to keep mud dirt and moisture at bay.  Also if you have issues with any section, they are easy to reconstruct out of birch ply..

[emadmoussa]

Good account, a 1.5" extension tube, such as the Moonlite version through FLO will resolve your focusing issues. The astrozap light shroud is worth the investment to. 

The base isn't really so bad provided it is kept dry between use, stand the base on a mat to keep mud dirt and moisture at bay.  Also if you have issues with any section, they are easy to reconstruct out of birch pine.

Yep - I have these in mind. I just want to make sure I 1.5" is enough though.

[Pig]

Excellent report Imad, It looks absolutely lovely  congratulations.

[knobby]

Emad , my 250 would never focus with my Baader... I moved the primary slightly up the tube with the collimation screws, about two turns if i remember .worth a bash? Just count the turns and if it doesn't work, count them back again

[YKSE]

Nice review Emad!

Not bad at all that the family enjoy the scope. Your little one has got a new hide-and-seek place

[knobby]

Love the pic of her sneezing over your lovely new primary :-)

[emadmoussa]

Emad , my 250 would never focus with my Baader... I moved the primary slightly up the tube with the collimation screws, about two turns if i remember .worth a bash? Just count the turns and if it doesn't work, count them back again

Not sure how to do that frankly. I kinda have a mirror phobia I've got a 0.5" spacer plate that came extra with the moonlite focuser, I'm thinking adding this and an 1" or 1.5" tube extension should solve the issue?

[knobby]

Not sure how to do that frankly. I kinda have a mirror phobia I've got a 0.5" spacer plate that came extra with the moonlite focuser, I'm thinking adding this and an 1" or 1.5" tube extension should solve the issue?

The spacer should work as well, lovely scope!

[John]

Thats a great report Emad and really well illustrated too

I find a 12" is the largest scope that I can confidently handle as well but they have such a lot of performance potential that I can live with that 

[emadmoussa]

Thats a great report Emad and really well illustrated too

I find a 12" is the largest scope that I can confidently handle as well but they have such a lot of performance potential that I can live with that

Indeed.

[osbourne one-nil]

Base diameter = 67cm - base height = 73cm - whole setup with scope collapsed = 104cm.

That's a shame - would love something that would collapse down and fit in the boot of the car, but that's still too tall.  I might have the body of an 80yr old but I have the bone-idleness of a teenager, both of which are a shame when I'm actually only 42. 

The base isn't really so bad provided it is kept dry between use, stand the base on a mat to keep mud dirt and moisture at bay.  Also if you have issues with any section, they are easy to reconstruct out of birch pine.

That had never actually dawned on me - very good point!

[emadmoussa]

That's a shame - would love something that would collapse down and fit in the boot of the car, but that's still too tall.  I might have the body of an 80yr old but I have the bone-idleness of a teenager, both of which are a shame when I'm actually only 42. 

That had never actually dawned on me - very good point!

Usually you put the base and the tube separately on the back seat. I don't have a car, but I guess it should work.

[TractionMan]

Very nice report and nice pics as well. I think I'll get those thumbscrews for my dob as well.

[Beulah]

Great review. 

I love the Flextubes (Flextube owner meself) and although I am not into looks, the 'Black Diamond' finish is lovely to look at - however be warned as it scratches easily.

[rory]

Nice bit of kit. , I must agree the black diamond finish is a nice touch.