Coolhand1988

Thanks all for the alternative ways of getting the paint colours. As a last resort, this could be the only way of getting 'cheap' paint for a Takahashi scope. I have emailed another US dealer and explained that these paints are completely unavailable in the UK and Takahashi Europe. Hopefully, I may get a positive outcome this time. Thanks

It appears that Japanese Takahashi dealer only sells the green paint. I could not find the white or even the light blue paint. Thanks

Ian from FLO already replied to my query( should really re-check my emails ). The paints are only available in the US from Takahashi North America and no dealer outside the US can source them. ( that's the reason I ordered directly from the US retailer). If that's the case, why did the US retailer cancelled my order? They ship other items abroad. Still confused by all this. However, that Japanese dealer could be my last hope.......for paint? ridiculous! Thanks Edit Just incase. Does any member here know the exact colours that Takahashi use on their scopes. Dulux do a colour chart for reference.

Many thanks for that link. I see if FLO can source these items first. If not, I will try the Takahashi dealer in Japan. Thanks

Hi Oops, I already contacted FLO about these paints and on another rare item for my scope. Ian replied that these paints are manufactured by Takahashi North America and he cannot source their products. He is waiting for a response from Takahashi Europe on this matter. It's been a week, so I will ask for an update. There is a Takahashi 8x50 finder that I am currently eyeing up. That paint would of come in handle for that. Just wanted to get my scope looking like new. Frustrating to say the least🙁 Thanks

Hi Yes, that's exactly why I ordered them from the states. Green paint TA-TTP0002 White paint TA-TTP0003 Not sure if FLO or any other UK takahashi retailers can order the paint from the same retailer in the U.S? Is this a Brexit or Takahashi agreement? I mean it's only paint! Thanks

Hi I just had my U.S order for the Takahasi green and white paint bottles cancelled and refunded. Apparently, the retailer is not authorized to send Takahashi items to the UK, as there are Takahashi retailers here. Last time I checked, these paints where unavailable in the UK or Europe. Does anyone know of the white and green paint colour codes, that Takahashi use on their scopes? Thanks

Thanks, I will recheck my original information on recommended pier depths.

Thanks for that advice and yes, around 24-30 inches seems more common in the UK.

Thanks, I have read of frost line and the 48 inches figure. Also, I found that post over at CN with 29 pages, so I have a good read on that later. ATS permanent piers are and look the part. Tad expensive, but I believe unavailable for the UK. The other interesting thing about that video was the so called 'Poor Seeing' conditions having an input on these so called mounts as well. Thanks

I'm no expert but I believe that vendor was talking about the rat cage bolts on commercial piers being too far from the center. ? I read one review on a commercial pier, where the owner was not happy with his pier "singing" and filled the inside of the pier with sand, which cured the vibration sounds. Rat cages on cement filled piers have long support bolts and I don't think that applies to the above video! Thanks

Oops, that should of read 28 inches. The 48 inches is my ideal metal pier height. Thanks

Ac Actually the pier will be made of cardboard😊 As I said, I have no experience with permanent piers. I'm only going by that video. I plan for the cube of concrete to be around 48 inches in all dimensions. Thanks for the feedback on your piers.

Eventually, I'm planning to have a RoR observatory with a permanent pier. After watching numerous YT videos on DIY and commercial piers, my brother( who is DIY handy ) offered to make a DIY Pier, as it would only cost a fraction of the price. However, I'm more inclined to have a commercial pier instead and I have been looking at a few vendors. With my selection narrowed down to a few, I then watched a very interesting and slightly old YT video from a commercial company called "Astro Engineering". They explained and went into depth how many of these commercial piers are designed wrong. The main negatives were a small base, short vibration fins and the famous 'rat cage'. As I have no experience with permanent piers, can I ask members who have, comment on their experiences? The video below is 13 years old and probably been seen countless times, but I would be interested what experience members think? Thanks

Interesting. I have read that stated eye relief can vary somewhat from true eye relief. With small to medium focal length eyepieces, a Barlow can increase the eye relief as well, where a Tele-extender does not. The televue Delites and Delos EPs have the actual stated ER, according to reviews and testers. The Baader Morpheus reviews have the stated ER as well, but I believe the smaller Focal length EPs needs the rubber eye guard down for this? The above eyepiece brands and types are my preferred choices, along with a couple of long focal length plossls. Thanks

There are a few sites like FLO, which give their EP range information on eye relief. The 15mm TV plossel ER is 10mm. The 20mm ER is 14mm. It has been mentioned on this thread that the same ER will differ from person to person. If you can go down to 14mm of ER wearing glasses, then you have more EP options. I will start at 20mm ER, then buy a couple of TV plossls( 25mm and 20mn ) to test my minimum ER for wearing glasses. Thanks

Hi I did have a detailed look at the Televue Plossels. The 55mm version is already on my list. If I decided to go down the bino route at some point, the TV plossels are at a budget where I can purchase two EPs for bino viewing. Thanks

Wow, this is quite impressive. Some of their items are the same or cheaper than second hand items. Shame it all ends tonight. Thanks

Thanks for your very detailed advice. I completely agree about deciding to wear or not wear glasses when observing and first hand experience when trying out different eyepieces. If I was short sighted, i'm more in favour not to wear glasses when observing. That's just my day to day experience being long sighted. It will be interesting to see how low on eye relief I can go and still observe comfortably at the eyepiece. Thanks

Thanks, I have just looked at these. The EPs have good customer reviews and their prices are amazingly low. However the eye relief, has one of the lowest I have seen yet under 15mm FL. The 4mm only has 2.3mm ER. So far, the Baader Morpheus and the Stellalyra EPs are in the medium end range for my budget and glasses friendly. Also a quality Barlow or tele-extender, if I decide not to get the lower FL eyepieces, as the former should increase the eye relief for EPs. Thanks

Interesting review by J.Huntley on these eyepieces. Good budget as well. Thanks for that information. I was unsure what other eyepieces have the twist up eyecups.

Lol, going by your very long refractor profile pic, I thought you was. I was debating about wearing glasses or not when observing. I was quoted about wearing glasses straps/cords around my neck when observing without them. Knowing me, I would forget they were there and start looking for them 😄 As I no longer have any of my old eyepieces, I will be starting from scratch and it would make sense to use EPs with long eye reliefs. However, Im still tempted by one of the TV Ethos EPs. Thanks

These indeed look very nice and glasses friendly as welI. I like the adjustable eyecups, unsure if that is a unique design for these eyepieces? I was trying to stick to one or two brands and a higher AFOV, which is why I failed to look at any 50 FOV EPs. My very first and now old EPs had a narrow FOV between 40 and 50 and I always wanted a much higher FOV for newer EPs. I wonder if the 'old hand' observers still stick to these smaller FOV eyepieces? Thanks

Varifocals will be my next pair. I have around a 2 foot viewing distance where my bifocals are out of focus on both lens. It's good you can go lower than 20mm for your eye relief. The smaller FL of the Baader Morpheus EPs, are indeed lower than 20mm. Thanks

Thanks for that information. I plan to use a 5 to 6 inch EDT or ED F7/8 refractor and a F/10 8 inch or higher SCT. Eyepieces will be the Baader Morpheus range and looking at couple of Televue panoptics with medium to long focal lengths. However if my budget permits, the Delos EPs would be my next option instead of the baaders. My astigmatism is low at 0.25/10d in my right eye only. The TV Dioptrx corrector sounds very good if I decide not to wear glasses, but it will be a worthwhile item for my collection. Thanks