johninderby

Not perfect but still a good watch. 🙂 More inteligent audience than your normal Question Time asking the questions.. 👍🏻

Very, very nice little scope. 👍🏻

The Bresser 127 mak is a bit more but you do get a full 127mm aoerture unlike the Skymax 127s aprox 118mm actual aperture. A bit better performer than the Skymax as well. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-mc-127-1900-maksutov-cassegrain-ota.html

Or a lathe can be really usefull. Clamp the laser in the chuck and shine the laser through the headstock.

I’d just fit a twin finder bracket. Also available from UK but will,cost more. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-Slot-Finder-Scope-Bracket-for-Astronomical-Telescope-3D-printed/254387885925?hash=item3b3ab31765:g:K9YAAOSwFFVcTeCW

I recently bought a 203mm scope. 😁

I use 3M blue masking tape on the bed. That way the tape can come off with the raft when I slide a palate knife under the raft and it pops off.

Yes printing really thin parts can be frustrating. Recently had to print a snap in cover plate for a bit of equipment about 150mm x 100mm and 1.5mm thick. Even with a substantial raft took three prints to get a good one. I knew it would be a PITA but couldn’t make it any thicker or add ribbing. 🤬

But will the Cats Eyes help with the collimation? 😁😁😁 Sorry couldn’t resist.

It all depends of if you are charging up a battery from flat or maintaining the battery. Can be a complicated business. If a deep cycle is completely flat 10 to 15A is recommended.

Deep cycle betteries take a charge better if charged slowly over a longer period.

Check the specs of the one I linked to. Fully automatic with 7 stage charging and auto shutdown if voltage drops too low.

With a mak the image is the right way up but reversed left to right using a diagonal. Without a diagonal the image is inverted but Maks are nornaly used with a diagonal, https://www.telescope.com/Image-Orientation/p/99816.uts

I have seen this stuff for coating 3D prints but not tried it myself. https://www.amazon.co.uk/XTC-3D-High-Performance-Print-Coating/dp/B00PFXK4JY/ref=asc_df_B00PFXK4JY/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=344406929468&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16626825339239771609&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-307514694446&psc=1

They do make 12v to 12v dc chargers.A bit of searching should turn up something cheaper than this one. https://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/optimate-dc-to-dc-battery-charger.html8

Have you read this guide? http://www.astro-baby.com/astrobaby/help/collimation-guide-newtonian-reflector/

Free postage from their eBay shop. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Opticstar-1-25-Deluxe-Diagonal-UK/322821924245?hash=item4b29afa595:g:5usAAOSw9XhZ3zMZ

One note re: the T2 Zeiss. It is out of stock until the end of January.

On a low cost scope few would bother upgrading to a dielectric diagonal. Most dielectric diagonals also have better build quality. And compression rings. The cheap diagonals that come with low cost scopes are plastic bodies. However it is possible to get a low cost diagonal with good build quality. I have tested this one and it was actually quite good with a metal body. One I’d recommend as an upgrade for your scope. http://www.opticstar.com/Run/Astronomy/Astro-Accessories-Telescopes-Opticstar.asp?p=0_10_5_1_8_201

Tracer do both Lithium Polymer (LiPo) and LiFeP04.

Just a thought. What power cable are you using? If the cable or one of the connectors you are using is damaged this can cause low voltage. Also too light a gauge wire can drop voltage.

Minor job #2 Decided to replace the brass thumbscrews with some black stainless steel ones. Partly because I thought they would look better with this scope but also the larger heads are easier to grip.

Minor jobs. 🙂 Got the finder aligned and found I needed the two inch spacer added to focus on something a mile away. Found the front cover was a bit awkward to remove as there was nothing to grab and it is a snug fit. So off to the spare parts box for a black stainless steel knob to attach to the cover. Much better. 👍🏻

Now some pics of the complete scope outside in the daylight. .

Finder bracket arrived this aft. Now just need the clouds to give me a break. 😁