Floater

Oh. Mrs Floater will be pleased. ? Will have a look. Thanks for the info ... I think!

Neat and tidy job, Kevin. ?? There's no doubt in my mind that 'solid' foam, rather than pick n' pluck, delivers a 'tighter' looking job. But haven't bothered to start all over again ... yet. ?

Yes, Ade, the blurb said they had 'a small number' of these so I knew Mark would get one if he wished even if I ordered. A lot of the kit on Astroboot is 'one-of' and it would have felt like stealing if I had taken the only one. ??

Same here: thanks, Ade. ?

It may be 'low tech' - but, wow, it's in high quality surroundings! Lovely to see. ?

I have to refine my initial statement, Mark - and this may open a can of worms ... The '2x Barlow' with which I can reach focus is actually the lens element unscrewed from an inexpensive (cheap) Barlow and screwed onto the BV nosepiece. Now I know all the stuff about this meaning it's only about 1.5x, instead of 2x, and how that doesn't chime with the supplied 1.6x unit not allowing focus. I'm just telling it like it is: no focus with the 1.6x (as you have found) but focus with the lens element from a 2x Barlow and with the 2.5x PowerMate. I will be happy - no, delighted - if someone can explain that. ???

I can reach focus with the WO 20mm using 2x Barlow or 2.5x PM but not with the 1.6x Barlow provided with the BV. But still enjoying the hunt with the Lunt ... ?? Sorry! Couldn't resist.

Looking good, Mark. I'd be very interested to hear about your binoviewing experience with the new set-up. I'm currently battling with my Lunt 60 and WO Optics BVs. I'm strongly attracted to the idea of binoviewing and spurred on by those who rave about it. But focus is an issue (2x Barlow or PowerMate only), balance can be challenging and trying to find EPs which don't produce unmanageable magnifications is ongoing. ? (Bought a couple of cheap 30mm Plossls but a complete waste of time!) I'm also aware that some folks say they just don't get on with binoviewers. I'm trying to stay out of that group ... ??

Elegant and practical. Good job, Tim.

Achieving focus with binoviewers is hard enough for me. Without a Barlow or PowerMate is the stuff of dreams! But I'm attracted to the idea of binoviewing and will keep on experimenting for now. Part of the fun, innit? ???

Or there's always Bob's Knobs. One of the most satisfying mods available ... (Not the cheapest, I'll admit. But as a Scotsman I know that money's not everything ...??)

Phew, indeed. Great news. ??

As a solar observer, I feel your pain, DIGITALid. However, two things I would highlight: 1) The Sun is very quiet just now - and, unfortunately, unlikely to 'pep up' for some time as we are heading into Solar Minimum. When I first started 'on the bright side' the Sun was very busy, with lots of spots, filaments and breath-taking proms. That is not the case these days. ?? However, Ha always has something to offer and we have just witnessed a very large sunspot cross the surface - which may re-appear if it hasn't decayed too much going round the far side. 2) Don't worry too much about different EPs - concentrate your efforts more on tuning and focusing - the latter is critical and it can be very, very tricky to hit exactly the right spot (no pun). I had a lot of soul searching when I acquired my Lunt, which didn't seem to be performing as well as my SM40. But I got an unusually long session last week and after a lot of faffing around it finally sang to me! ??? Dont despair, you'll get there, too. Just be aware that the Big Fella's having a wee snooze at present. ??

Looks great, Tyson.

Oh yes. That looks good. Enjoy. ?

Just had a look at mine, Derek, and see nothing like your pic. I have had bad units(!) but I didn't take a look at the filter in those; just knew the view wasn't matching my SolarMax. ? Simon at Widescreen was extremely helpful and I'm sure he'll have the answer. Hope all goes well. ?

No doubt at all that you can make one yourself - if you're half handy. I'm not so, as I wrote above, I bought mine. Many Loungers have fashioned their own sol finders; many eschew them as unnecessary. But the simple concept of the helio-pod is just so attractive. Go for it, JOC. ??

Neat set and set neatly.

Nice, Paul. I have a matching eyepatch ... ??

Yes he is. I spoke with him, too, before buying three of these (to mitigate postage costs). He's a keen astronomer himself and enthused about a star party he had just attended. I kept one of the helio-pods and gave away the other two. Simple, effective, economical and, as you point out, easy to unmount. Something equally simple and economical made by Astro Engineering comes up occasionally on Astroboot but they are not so easy to remove.

Slàinte mhòr, to you all. ?

Now, now, gents. Stay on topic, please? This is not about whisky cases, hip flasks or bees, you rascals. Those aforementioned requirements are in the DNA ... ??

Now the above posts made me think (an achievement in itself). And since eyepiece 'case' is obviously/apparently flexible, I give you this. I have now found a good use for a snazzy little padded bag Mrs Floater fashioned for me when another bee was in my bonnet. That bee flew away and the wee bag has not been used. But it's perfectly proportioned for these three 'essentials' on a minimalist outing. And the two not in use will be kept nice 'n cosy (I'm also pleased this pic is of a slightly better quality than those in my last post. Every day is a classroom ...)

And your journey continues, Mike. We each have our own; this is yours. Enjoy the trip. There's something commendable about aiming to be a right-way-up kinda guy ... ?

Old it is, I'm sure. And rarely used, I'm afraid. ?