moriniboy

Love my Skylight 80mm

Thanks for the info, will see how I get on.

Afternoon,

Our astronomy club has just been gifted this  and I'm looking for some advice about using it.

Looks like its for visual use only in a 2" drawtube, is it as simple as that?

Thanks Nigel

No, should be fine, just increase the friction knob to a suitable level or use a counterbalance weight.

Yes took the original rdf shoe off and replaced with a conventional one, this way I can use a rdf or my 9 x 50 finder. The Altair rdf is stored on another shoe fastened to the base.

This was my solution on my Heritage 150, works really well.

Hi,

The shroud is permanently fixed to the secondary support so it slides within the tube for storage.

Card is about 0.5mm thick, just enough so it is self supporting.

Adhesives wise I think you are asking about the vinyl wrap I used on top and inside the tube.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1117256674

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/16013626755

Saw one the other day, considerably faster than the usual satellites. In fact I would say it was faster than a meteor.

Hi,

This question has just been asked in our local astronomy group - how can you guarantee that a solar scope will not damage the public's eyesight and if damage occurs how is this dealt with public liability insurance wise?

Its not like you can just pop round to Asda and get a certificate of conformity for your erf?

Any comments on this?

Thanks Nigel

Just finished three scope boxes for my newest scopes.
1. Skywatcher 150 Heritage
2. Skywatcher 180 Mak
3. Zeiss Telementor (mark 1)

The 150 Heritage box also doubles up as a riser for the scope in case there are no other options available (i.e. picnic table etc.)

21 hours ago, CraigT82 said:

That shroud looks the business! What material did you use?  And great idea with the flocking in the focuser, might try that with my H130.

Just standard card from Hobbycraft (not too thick) DC-Fix gloss self adhesive wrap to the outside and DC-Fix black velour as the flocking internally.

This mod also works with the H130, here's one I did previously.

Final mod, a rubber buffer for the scope to rest on whilst its being transported.

The buffer is high enough to ensure the collimation screws do not foul the MDF base.

Also modded the original loose focuser with some spare flocking in the un-threaded areas either side

Initially did it full length but found out that it fouled so I cut it down to approx half the original.

No more PTFE tape on the threads for me as it works perfectly.

Finished another couple of mods today, the first being the addition of a finder shoe on the base so the red dot finder is carefully secured whilst being transported.

Now fitted a conventional finder shoe so I have the option to use an optical finder or RDF

Ages ago I fitted a shroud to my long gone Heritage 130 and it made the scope a lot more useable by reducing stray light from street lights in my semi suburban location.

With my recent purchase of a Heritage 150 I thought I would re-create the shroud on a larger scale and followed the same thinking as before.

I also took the opportunity to flock the lower half of the OTA as well as blacking out the edges of the secondary mirror.

Just noticed that the inside of the 0.965" ep barrel has not been painted black, is this common for this ep?

Will do when it stops raining 🤣

Bought this a while ago and have just finished renovating it.

Went against the grain colour wise as I already have a Telementor 2 in the original colour.

Converted the turret to house a standard diagonal prism rather than the original flawed Amici type.

Original photos show its condition after DHL battered it in transit (compensated)

Added a finder release bracket so I have the option of a TAL finder or a RDF

My TAL 100R has beautiful purple coatings, now used as a TAL/PST Ha modded scope.

PADAS

On 22/01/2017 at 20:38, Floater said:

And there it is: the evidence that 'to fiddle' is a prerequisite ... ???

Hmm......... when I fiddle with something it usually ends up like this.

Bit of dust on the inside and a tendency towards OCD lol.

Finally finished these Terrascan (Peter Drew) binoculars.

2 x 150mm primaries @ f6 with curved spider vanes and fully flocked.

Primaries and secondaries re-set on silicone as original method used a piece of felt and Evo Stick.

No more refractor neck ache when viewing the zenith!