Alan White

Nice one JOC. I looked out last night as the cloud partly cleared and considered asking for help with setting up. Didn't as unsure how long the gaps would last. At present I am not very mobile as have joint issues after a serious bout of food poisoning, hence need the help. Just hope the needing help passes and I get back to how I was before this.

M57 is one of my favourite objects, took me a long time to find it for some reason. It always makes me grin like a 5 year old in wonder each time I observe it.

Looks amazing John. As others have said, you always make things look so easy and well presented.

Wow, what great sketching. I wish I had the eye for a decent sketch, I try but it all goes out of scale quickly and looks like it is drawn by a six year old. You got some clear as well, lucky you.

Glad to see the build plan has moved along Ian, Hope the ED80 gets to be part of it.

Why put it back in the box? I would have it out proudly on display.

I have the 10x50 and recommend them strongly, I did try the 8x40 but thought them less well made. Use the 10x50 every time I want to take a look.

Good job James, is this all for scoping up the observatory? Not been fully engaged of lately as have been and still am a tad unwell.

Latest update. I observed at a darker site with a fellow SGL member NGC1502, Ed on Saturday. The scope was taken from house, to car to observing location, no pre-cool. It cooled well and very usable in less than 30 minutes from the car, very happy with that as before it needed a good hour to settle.

@Bigwings so come on how did the power pack work then, it's a long time since 2017!

Thanks for sharing John, that was an interesting watch. Rather a big impact.

My employer got so fed up with this option they now send all couriers away, even including work deliveries!!

Christmas before last the Amazon delivery team, lobbed all our items over next doors 6ft wall. They were ruined when we got them mid January of course! It amazes me how these odd delivery folks remain in a job to be honest.

I have to report back after one session since adding vents, Scope cooled faster vented and was much more enjoyable than pre-vent vesrsion. The cooldown was faster and deliberately had no precool before use, straight from house to car to observing and it cooled faster by a lot, just having an open airflow has made a significant change. The best bit was I and astro club CPAC viewed Pallas with it last night, so doubly pleased.

I will talk with you about these options tonight at the club Ed if I may.

Please refer and input to my other thread on this Tubby Bear

As soon as I make any adjustment the whole secondary moves in a turning motion. I will make have a go at countersinking a washer or the milk carton fix. The SW ones just seem far simpler, yet more robust somehow.

Thanks for the input Andy. The OOUK already has a stainless washer fitted by the previous owner/s but it still turns sadly.

I decided to vent my OOUK 10" Dob, others have done it on here before me in varying ways. Having not stripped the scope before, I was quite frankly terrified to start. Anyways, the before rear end image: Clearly the 10mm single hole is not for ventilation and plays a part in factory assembly. After many options on what hole size and where to go for it I was left with two options: 1. Copy someone else and have about 18 cm2 hole area. 2. Strike out with my own thoughts, played with a sketch in paint and and have about 61 cm2 hole area. After a few days of erring and uhhming I stripped the scope base and hit my first surprise, inside it had a second alloy disc hidden within, it looks to act as a large washer for the primary cell adjustment springs and slightly spreads the load. So after much calculation and thought, well, two cups of Tea and a chat with an Astro buddy, thanks Ed. I said stuff it, dump the disc, let's mark out some holes and get the Starret set out! So here we have it with three 51mm dia holes and the feet now bolted on not with sticky tape as was, the inner disc function I hope is replicated by 3 stainless penny washers fitted under the spring against the outer alloy base of the scope. My mirror now has some ventilation, something I was stunned to realise older OOUK scopes did not have at 10" or under. I also cleaned the primary, probably for the first time ever by the dust and crudd on it. Rather nice and clean now. The pencil marks are my thoughts for additional holes for a vent and a fourth hole in place of the 10mm one, perhaps with a fan. Or do I go mad a fit three small fans for mirror cooling? In another thread I ask about the secondary and how to improve it, as it really is rubbish. Stripping the scope made me realise how less than premium the build quality is on this olde OOUK scope, however the mirrors at 1/6 wave always make me happy. I now have the fettle bug for my dob, watch for more in the coming months. Your thoughts, encouragement and any, oh my, why did you do that fool type comments are all equally welcome. This was a perfect light project for me to undertake, I am recovering I think, from Heart problems at Christmas and it has proven quite therapeutic for me. Something to concentrate on rather than feeling rough. So a win/win for me all round.

I am fed up with the rubbish secondary holder on my OOUK 10" dob. The damned thing does my head in when ever I adjust it, which at the minute is a number of times as I am playing with the scope! As soon as you make any minor adjustment the darned thing turns about and flops around. My old SW150p had a better made unit in it! Has anyone 'improved' the existing arrangement or should I just buy something better and stalk mounted? I know this is the DIY thread, thought it the most likely location for ideas. Thanks in advance.

So how is progress of the tube build going?

I see what you are saying Ed and tend to agree, it does look to be the EP end that is extended, not the nose piece end. Suggesting that distance increase equates to higher magnification. Indeed this is the case with a barlow, pull the EP back up or out a bit and magnification looks to increase. I think you should ring TV and ask Al or David what the case is.

And in that box was.......... drum roll please................ For my dob, replacing a Rigel Quickfinder.

And in the box was, well, another box!

Post person brought a nice box today from FLO. Nice box this. Well you did ask what did the postman bring after all!