Although the panoptic has 6 lenses, there are only 4 separate pieces of glass (6 elements, 4 groups). See: http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=214&plain=TRUE#.U_hGzrtx0xA This gives only 48 arrangements (ignoring spacers), not all of which will be possible because of lens curvature. There is a diagram of the lens arrangement here which should be a useful guide: http://www.handprint.com/ASTRO/ae5.html#panoptic The problem is, from my own experience, solvable. You do have to be very very careful with the lenses which will get stuck and can be chipped if they go into the barrel at an angle. I have found it a help to support each lens in turn on a post of smaller diameter and to lower the partially assembled lens down, over the top. You need not worry about the lens getting dirty in trial assembly indeed it can be a help to mark the surfaces for identification purposes. Thorough cleaning for final assembly is vital and you may need more than one go to completely eliminate annoying dust. Of course return to base is a good option for Televue eyepieces but not for most other makes.