DRT

Yip - the seat and footrest both move up and down and grip onto the back of the front legs of the frame. A very neat design

Sure is, Steve - only available from Feather Light Optics

I’ll remember that comment when I’m sitting on it in the middle of winter cloaked in various layers of miscellaneous clothing and a balaclava, Chris ??

A new Berlebach chair from FLO/DHL plus a Tele-Optic Ercole collected from @MrsGnomus today to go with my not yet photographed Berlebach UNI 24C Tripod from @Paul73...

Tradition says you must now post a family photograph now that baby has arrived safely ?

It’s now cloudy ?

It's like a wobbly orange from here, John I had a look at the Ring Nebula, which looked very similar in both scopes but was only a faint round smudge. I would probably be better setting an alarm and having a look at the early morning Moon.

Thanks, Mark - that looks pretty easy to find so I will have a go this evening and report back.

Unfortunately Saturn currently tracks just below my neighbour's roof line ? I'll try some straight up stuff - M13 perhaps?

?

“three”? i might have one or two more than that but whose counting ?

While I don’t want her to become complacent, I’ve decided to keep her for now as I’ve almost hit my target in clawing back the cost of the Tak and the APM 150. That said, if she doesn’t behave I’ll be real-fitting the SW rings and focuser and sending her down to ABS UK ? ...and don’t you think they look good together? ?

I’m really limited for targets at this time of year Chris. Deep sky just doesn’t work as it is never dark enough here in the summer. Jupiter will be my test object, but it is very low so I need good seeing to take much from any comparison.

I’ve just realised that I already own one more small addition to complete this back-end upgrade... ?

Ok, but we’re not going to talk about focusers in case you two get a bit rowdy ?

The one that will win will be the one that gives me the best view of the sky ? ill then keep the Tak because I want a Tak ? Isn’t the DL F9, John? I’m comparing F7.5 to F7.4 so not much between them.

This should be interesting ? I hope the seeing is better than last night. It was like observing from a steam room!

That looks a bit chunky for the back of an FC100. I considered swapping the stock focuser for a MoonLite and decided the weight would be too back-ended so went for the upgrade shown above, partly to try to stick within the normal design balance of the OTA. In the short time I have had it I have found that the FC100 is quite back heavy when loaded with a 2" diagonal and EP. I think putting a heavy focuser on the back might be a mistake.

I don't think we should be straying into the territory of only buying what we "need", John. Others might be watching and begin asking awkward questions when the postman arrives

The FQR-1 arrived from Ian King this morning and is now installed on the FC-100... A high quality item that finishes off the job nicely, but I struggle to understand why they need to charge £98 for it ?

My Takahashi FQR-1 finder bracket arrived this morning...

I found APM to be fantastic to deal with. Give them time, I’m sure they will sort it for you ?

Fair play - she didn't spill a drop of her Pina Colada!

Thanks, Jeremy. I have also ordered an FQR-1 finder bracket to complete the upgrades. I have been indecisively hovering over the buy button for a few days given the eye-watering cost but confidently hit "Buy" on Ian King's website after reading your recent review

I have just used these upgrades for the first time and I am delighted with the result. The FeatherTouch Micro-Pinion has a very smooth and positive action and the dual-speed gives excellent fine control. As always, the ClickLock has a grip like gorilla and adds a comforting sense of security to the expensive things hanging off it