Physopto

Yer sucking up again Mike

About time you got around to this thread Damian. We have been waiting!!! Mike even went blue at one point! Derek

I was looking about for 95mm very solid tube rings all over the place. Very difficult to source. Parallax rings have a very poor paint finish and cost $125 before VAT and import tax, never mind the postage costs. An Italian company Primaluce make some very nice well made rings but only come in a rather nasty metallic red colour and cost about £145. In the end I took a chance and bought a pair of very cheap 95mm hinged split scope rings from Opticstar yesterday. They arrived this morning, very quick service. Not like some who cannot even be bothered to let you know that they don't have items in stock! 1) These rings are quite good quality although not exactly as advertised on their website. They are slightly bigger than specified and will require a spacer insert to allow a tight grip on the Takahashi FSQ 85 tube. At present the tube can be rotated with moderate pressure exerted even when the rings are fully tightened. Not a problem but some thing to be aware of. 2) The stated fixing holes shown on their website are not correct. The picture shows that there are 5 holes, one central, two at 38mm and two at 62mm. In fact there are only three in the rings received by me. One central and two at 60mm. Again not a problem for me. They have been quite well anodised in black, not painted as I was expecting for a pair of rings probably made in China? At £59 + £6 p/p I cannot grumble at all. In all a good cheap investment, I hope. Time will tell. Regardless of minor faults very good and QUICK service! Derek

On the 11-03-2016 I ordered and paid for a Losmandy DUP dovetail plate from Orion Optics UK Ltd. The reply email stated that they had received my order and would get back in touch by email as stated below. I have waited for 11 days without any word from Orion. So today I sent them an email including the original order reply from themselves, asking what was being done. ------------------------------------------------------- Can you tell me where the order is please. I ordered on the 11/03/2016. If you do not have the product please refund me the £67.00 I have paid you. My Name. Details of order: Thank you for placing your order. Date : 11 Mar 2016 - 17:00 Order ID : 4736315 Payment by PayPal Product : Quantity : Price Losmandy DUP : 1 : 56.00 Subtotal : 56.00 Tax VAT : 11.20 TOTAL : 67.20 Purchase details: XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX South Shields Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx United Kingdom Telephone : XXXXXXX Mobile phone : E-mail : XXXXxxxx Shipping address: XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX South Shields XXXXXXXXXX United Kingdom We will contact you shortly to inform you of best shipping method and cost. Please note: 11 days later is not shortly! ------------------------------------------ The answer I got: -------------------------------------- Hello, We did not have the product in stock and are still awaiting delivery confirmation from Losmandy to enable us to give you an accurate delivery date. Please confirm if you stil wish to cancel the order. If you so wish, we can refund your payment in a few days Regards Barry ------------------------------ And my reply : ------------------------------- Thank you for the reply. Please cancel the order and refund my account. A simple email to the effect that you did not have the item in stock would have saved me considerable wasted time! My Name ------------------------------------ Refund in a few days!!! They have had my money for 11 days already! I will not be ordering any item from them again. Their customer service is very poor. A simple email in response to my original order to say that they did not have the item would have been easy to accomplish and we both would have known where we stood. Their very poor customer relations makes me think that they just do not need or want our business. So why do they bother at all? I mostly deal with Ian King and to this day have never been let down, or left in the dark, about the state of any order. He has been courteous and responsive at all times. A man of his word and to be trusted. This applies to other dealers that I have dealt with including, Telescope Service, The Widescreen Centre, FLO, Opticstar, Starlight Instruments and Optec. This list is not exhaustive. So why does a company like Orion Optics behave in such a manner? What do they hope to accomplish? Well now I can add myself to the ever growing list of ex-customers. Derek

Well I hope you wash and dry the tea cups for her.

That is a cracking job. Looks very quick to get going. Hope you get lots of pleasure out of it. Derek

Oh dear, don't let my wife here that, I may loose a shed! As long as it works great. Derek

Do you use the shed next to it as a warm room? Nice build. Derek

I'm sure he is but maybe not the Observatory

Hi ArmyAirForce Just as an idea, probably far too late. Why not fold the upper section onto the Wendy house roof instead. May be easier to fold up and down. Also if you seal the edge as a hinge it will be a bit more rain proof. Then there is only one section to run on the aluminium runners. Nice build by the way. Derek

Looking good. Where does the kettle go? Derek

Beautiful view. I suppose you will need a shovel to dig out the snow , better than a flood. But really starting to look good. I envy you the dark skies. Derek

Don't put the door on until the roof is done May get a shock on opening it after the next down pour Derek

Starting to look really good. Nice to see it when it's finished. Derek

I always try to use reclaimed timber now as it has done most of its warping. Lucky find at that price. Derek

I want to know what a "Game Ray Burst" is.

It is nice when things come together. I am sure you will feel much better when it is all done and you can easily set everything going in a few minutes. If you are going to be out in your observatory for a while I would fit an intercom system! Derek

D... and Something else. Not to worry we will just charge you the refund costs.........

Hi Damian, What is happening with your scope? Not heard a squeak out of you about it for a while. Mike is getting worried, rope lines, tickets, booths to set up, the list goes on.......... Tick tock... Derek

You might want to raise the pillar in future so I do not advise cutting the excess threads off. It would be a sod to cut out the threaded bars to replace at a later date. Denso can be got off very easily but rain cannot touch it. I have seen it on many ships in the worst weather you can imagine and it is solid. Some of the power companies use it on their bolts that hold down the wind turbines, it is also used on the bolts holding the very big road signs on motorways. Derek

Coat the studs with either Waxoyl or as I used at sea many eons ago Denso tape. Just do not get it (Denso) on your hands as it is an allergen, and a sod to remove.. Looks the job, nice! Derek