Saganite

My Uni 18 required a new top plate to fit the Az100, and it was, unfortunately, on a fairly long lead time, so the magnificent team at FLO removed said item from one of their tripods and sent it to me to avoid the wait ! It arrived a short while ago and it is all assembled ready for some starlight. I don't need to repeat all the superlatives lavished it on this excellent mount, but I am very happy with this entire set up now.

I had a Meade Lightbridge 12" for about 18 months, some while back and whilst it was a very nice instrument to use, I had only to look at it with usage in my mind, for it to need collimating again. I used it from home mostly because I have Bortle 4 skies, so once I had assembled it, and tightened everything, it stayed that way for months. Lifting it from the Conservatory to the garden required re collimation, as did moving it around the garden, not by much it is true, but it still needed doing. The Skywatcher 12" Dob that I used prior to the Lightbridge was a solid tube, and rarely needed collimating. I now have owned a OOVX12 Dob for a couple of years or so, solid tube aluminium, light to carry about, but which holds its collimation really very well, and certainly no matter how many times I move it around the garden in a nights observing, it is sound. So my experience is FWIW, a solid tube dob is better. It may not be true with the much more expensive Flex Dobs, in fact for what they cost I would expect them to hold collimation. I hope that helps. The Orion 12" Dob OOVX12 is a very good scope in my opinion and is likely to stay with me for a long time.......

I have tried several zoom units, from Baader Mk III & IV, to Celestron, and Tele Vue 8-24, without really taking to them, but for some time now I have been quite content with the OVL Hyperflex 7.2-21.5mm and Baader 2.25 barlow, purely for double star observing, at which, I think, it excels and it is inexpensive.....

Welcome back indeed Shane ! I wondered where you had got to , but didn't like to ask.......

If it goes ahead Alan it would be good to see you there.

Love the new Muttley Avatar BTW Mike.

Yes, I remember looking around and thinking the same thing Mike....

This show is really worth getting to, very good, so fingers , toes, and everything else crossed..

My 4" lives on the mount and tripod in the conservatory ready for a quick lift into the garden. My wife actually enjoys having it where it is. It isn't at the moment Gary as you well know, it is mountless .....

Hi Ade, My f15 was only ever on an EQ6 and steel tripod. I did have a selection of different Alt/Az mounts on the TAL before I sold it, and I did find that the AZ4 was insufficient to steady a 4" f11 scope that I had , but I think that was not the fault of the tripod.....

Nice work Ade. I don't remember selling it to you. I do however remember meeting you and handing over a beautiful 4" Celestron ED, but then I would !!

Many thanks for the update. I sent an email of enquiry re my order just after 5pm this evening, after your hours of business.

It would appear that it is an extra. They are listed on FLO's website now, though not sure how long that has been the case. I ordered the same package as yourself a few days ago and I don't recall seeing it listed then. I have sent an email to FLO, re my order, asking for clarification.

Like wise. I will be ordering one later today/ tomorrow morning. The motors will, I presume, be an easy retro fit .

I have had all of the LVW range at different times and I agree wholeheartedly that the 22mm is the 'standout' performer. I would have chosen a pair of these over the 24mm Pans that I have but in a bino, they left no room for my snozzle.

That is the beauty of this forum isn't it .

No need to glue the strips in Paul. A bit of a faff keeping them in place as you close the rings but once done that 's it. Good luck PS the rings are inexpensive Skywatcher 's

But of course Dave. As you well know she is a bit of a handful.....

Hi Paul, Like you I baulked at the idea of spending silly money on rings for a carry handle, but on my 2 metre tube I needed one. I bought a pair of cheap rings which were about 8mm too big and cut the 4mm thick rubber of an old car mat in strips as shown. Worked a treat.

Beautiful scope Gary, and a good report.

Beautiful image...

Don't worry, I no longer trust my memory, I check everything...twice !........

Not quite so bad as you fear as Proxima Centauri is 4.2 light years distant........

It is indeed. 39,740,000,000...I think. No wonder I feel more tired these days....

Cheers . Completion of my 68th trip around the Sun is within three hours of that, so I will make the effort for sure....