Altair40

I've only been registered on this site for three months - here, no one is looked down on for using MkI eyeballs. I probably see more targets walking to work than when I've dragged the scope out.

It's just a case of 'get out there', weather permitting. You can even have a moan when it does not.

Some of the beginners sketches are amazing. I can't draw anything apart from a schematic diagram of how something is supposed to be...

I'd never even heard of a binoscope until I saw that beast. You are to be congratulated. A lot!

Stick some actutators on it and get it to walk out of the garage on it's own! (Joke).

Wow!

I've looked at grinding my own mirrors for something as mundane as an eight inch newt but there seems to be no price difference from buying a factory built newt. I'll read some more.

As for the 130mm I have now - it's very well designed and from what I can work out, cheaper than it's component parts.

Maybe the tradeoff works better for a big dob? I'll start another thread on this - don't want to steal your light!

I'm a technician in a uni and might be able to gain permission to use our Myford Super 7 lathe for this sort of thing. If only to improve my skills in my own time. I'm basics only, I've never cut thread. There's a few other machine tools around in the workshop such as diamond and band saws plus a pillar drill that could be used for end milling at a pinch.

I've done a lot of wear work and grinding and polishing for spec prep but never a mirror. 20nm RA, yes. In a parabola, no.

I feel I have to post here.

I learned more about practical observation and many other areas in my first week here than I did in the previous 30yrs!

Still a long way to go just reading around.

It's not just a case of probably the most friendly forum of any sort I've visited or joined - it is.

I've had pm's from people who thought I might not like their advice posted openly on the board - when there was nothing negative about the advice offered. That was incredibly thoughtful.

I've had another member point my attention to an item of kit and when this was received it worked perfectly to expectations. So thankyou there.

What an amazing group of people!

Thanks for all of the help and encouragement

BTW, I like your signature photosbykev

If I ever have an encounter of the third kind I'll be asking 'How do your engines work?'

The 'hide theory' won't work because of our radio emission...

Maybe the've all gone digital which is why we can't hear them...

I'll try to scavenge enough ram and a fast chip set to try to help. That I can do.