faulksy

48 minutes ago, niallk said:

It looks really amazing - beautifully executed ... everywhere

Congrats - bet you just can't wait to get the optics installed and get it out under the stars!!

Enjoy & keep posting those pics

-Niall 

i will niall i will.

1 minute ago, mert said:

Pushing the power to see if you can spot the Pillars of Creation lol 

once you have seen that your done, game over

1 minute ago, mert said:

Good targets, love the Eagle Nebula also. 

and the cresent, never seen the eagle neb, should with this though. the list goes on. god i cant wait it will be like starting over again

4 minutes ago, jetstream said:

Now that is fine craftmanship! Excellent job

I love the color and finish of the wood and those proper big bearings are going to allow you great flexibility in the balance of the scope.And yes, patience is a virtue with the optician, these fast mirrors are not easy to make espc at your high spec!

thank you gerry, your a star, cant wait untill the dob mob comes to your house

27 minutes ago, mert said:

So what's you first target with the big scope? Something hard? For me it was the HH nebula in Orion, I have always been fascinated with it. A bit weird according to my girlfriend lol 

i have seen the hh with my 14 which had 1/10 mirrors so that would be a great target, mirror should be here by then

m27 should be ace as well and of course m57

12 minutes ago, mert said:

Is it on castors yet? Or are you making wheelbarrow handles perhaps? I stuck my scope on lockable castors, can push with it one hand on plywood boards. 

its going to have wheelbarrow handles, ready for dark skies

14 minutes ago, swamp thing said:

Looks beautiful mate.

Aren't you glad I wouldn't let you paint it now  

very true steve, was nearly black

20 minutes ago, Stu said:

The scope looks awesome Mike, really cracking stuff.

If it were me I would just let them get it right, the scope will be around for a long time, best have the best mirror possible!

yes your right stu,  still have things to do

8 minutes ago, DRT said:

Mike, sorry to tell you mate but I think you've messed that one up. I think you should give it to me and start again

Brilliant job - I am very impressed with your skills.

thank you so much derek.

when your at 00 tomorrow show them some of my pics and ask were my mirror is its 3 weeks over

11 minutes ago, mapstar said:

Looks a proper beast Mike and one of the nicest I've seen.

Balance sounds just about right once you start hanging big bits of glass in that finely crafted focuser 

Hats off to you fella top notch work just need Orion to get their finger out with the primary.

what a great complement, thank you damien

6 minutes ago, Pig said:

Mike, you should get the shroud screen printed to read "Hand built in Wales by the Faulks" with a nice Welsh Dragon image to compliment it

brilliant idea shaun, need to go and lie down now, so so chuffed

thanks to this man above me (danny) he has kindly offered to help out with the shroud, star man

just had a little wee whilst finishing or near to finishing, got goose bumps all over and near to hyperventilating

uta before light baffle fitted

finished before sips

uta fitted, hooorrrraaaayyyyy my heart was proper in my mouth incase my maths was out

couldn,t rest there, added 25kg to the wood disc to try the balance and motion

motion is sweet, the weights i have added are closer to the uta than the mirror would be so balance will be further foward, uta has no secondary, tubes are pretty much spot on length wise, balance point its a bit easyer to lift the front than push down suggesting its a bit heaver at the rear which is great

drop down in use, works ace

small update uta near finished, just need to bore the hole for the focuser and fit the spider

30 minutes ago, estwing said:

gotta get to elan....loosing my mojo

it will be ace

Just now, swamp thing said:

Is Cal too busy 

good idea steve, but that sort of quality comes at a cost

i have seen it before, i thought it was a uk based company. look good don't they

5 minutes ago, mert said:

Looking for a shroud ... I have decided to keep my 22" for now. I have been in contact with http://www.scopeshrouds.com 

She's going to make me a new one for Big Blue's Xmas   In black this time, so it'll be called big black n blue.

nice one mert, thank you

phoned 00 today, mirror should be done in 10 days, its in the final stages of figuring, that means i will have around 2 weeks to test before elan valley with the boys

just need to find someone to make the shroud now

Just now, estwing said:

Nearly there 

very close now cal, should be ready for elan

23 minutes ago, mapstar said:

Moving on quickly Mike and all now ready for the glass.

Hate to say but you've put the cell in the wrong way up  he he 

imagine that

uta left now, which is part done anyway, just need to fit the spider and find someone to make a shroud

mirror cell is fitted . all bolts/screws are thread locked, mirror support pads have been flattened to allow equal support on the mirror

13 hours ago, niallk said:

Great stuff!

Just wondering - when installing/removing the mirror, do you have a means to 'lock' the mirror box in the rocker (in a tipped over position)?

The mirror in my Obsession stays in its sling, but being able to lock the box in a tipped position would be also handy I've been thinking for when I do care about cool down, andoon it would save having to add the trusses + UTA for balance while I leave it out for a couple of hours with fans on.  The main advantages for me would be avoiding secondary dew issues over that time, and also speeds up getting things back inside if the weather turns! ?

you will see soon

• small update, drop down tail gate fitted and works a treat
• 

6 minutes ago, mert said:

There's a few places up for rent next to my dad, in fact, one cottage is rent free if you do 2 days work a week on the estate 

when can me and the dob mob come up

2 minutes ago, swamp thing said:

It all looks very sexy mate  

I love home builds who on earth wants to just open a box eh

as you said last night on the phone im going to miss this, but cant wait to look through it, and its getting darker now