Kev M

I always used to coat any rubber gasket in petroleum jelly to avoid movement when tightening and its also a great moisture barrier.

Thanks Ron, I think we might have already met....did I buy an HEQ5 pier mount head from you about a year ago ? Kev

Ok I am still new to this imaging lark as last nights episode will show. Seen a quite unexpected unforecast clear skies up here last night so thought...go for it. Polar aligned HEQ5...quite accurately I thought for me. Done the usual setup with skyscan and slewed to first alignment star.... a bit out. 2nd alignment star a bit out ? Went to first target...miles out ? Thought ok..check everything....noticed I had put in date as 5/5/2019 rather than 6/5/2019...it had gone past midnight...idiot. Re-entered date tried again......1st alignment star...wildly out of position .....what.... Checked again....noticed I had put 6/5/2019 in as date rather than 5/6/2019.....bloody americans ! Redone alignment....quite reasonable for me...both stars near where they should be. Fitted camera and slewed to M51.....had I focused camera on 2nd alignment star before going to target....nope. Back to alignment star....focused camera....slewed to M51. Thought ok calm down have a coffee...nipped into house made a coffee. Came back outside and the sky had gone almost completely white .......aaaaaarrrrggghhhh !

You got clear skies ! Clouded over again here...… ? Camera looking good though, do think you have cleared the problem for good or is it temporary ?

Looking good.....? Will have to get mine back on plan after its delay....?

Another very professional job, well done.

More likely to be the sweat & tears soaked into it ? Again, a very professional job....i'm a bit jealous when I look at my effort.

Starting to take shape, I know what its like when you crack on and then have to stop for a while, very impressive cant wait to see it completed.

I think it looks quite nice....very well painted as well

I just used a door I had lying around and nailed cladding over the front of it.....must remember to updates my pics !

Wasn't going to mention it..... Looking good though Kev, professional looking job...will have to get my humble attempt updated and some more pics posted.

So I managed to source a used EQ5 goto ( at what I thought was a good price ) with an F8 150mm refractor. Going by his description it was in good condition ( no photos ), just before I popped round to inspect and collect he called back and said it was actually an HEQ5.... did I still want it. Did I ……. think he is now in hospital getting his hand stitched back on where I bit it off..... A happy bunny..... ?

I would concentrate on getting your plumbing problems sorted first. We can all see the outside bath and the bedpan ( next to the beer bottles ) that you are having to use. Sort your priorities out Kev.......?

As soon as you mount the scope it will cloud over and rain......known scientific fact !

Looking good , starting my build this weekend, will have to get some pictures taken ( it will look remarkably like your design, apologies....lol ) Kev

In the process of planning a roll off roof myself and I think this is a wonderful write up. Just thought I would say well done so far and I hope you dont mind me borrowing some of your ideas ( well most of them actually ! ) Kev