Something for the refractor fans ......

[John]

I'm a bit lost for words with this one :

Istar 204mm f11.7 Achro First Light - Review

Just an amazing scope

[JamesM]

Thanks for the post John. I've been keeping my eye on Istar and their forum contains a lot of interesting comments from Achros to Super Apos. Once the company gathers more awareness and a proven product record I suspect they will be able to step up production across their range though I should imagine that will mean their prices rise a little further. I do like the handles that he has made though I was little disappointed that he hadn't made the counterweights out of lignum vitae! All together with the tripod it is an impressive project though from some angles it is still going to resemble one of those large medieval trebuchet.

Thanks for posting

James

[John]

Hi James

You are probably aware of this site, but just in case, you might find the following link interesting:

Home Page

[glowjet]

That is one awesome scope and I do not doubt it will perform very well indeed, if he can get rid of the clouds, but the colour and finish on the OTA, well everyone to their own choice yes, but it reminds me of striped pajamas

[moonwatcher]

nice looking scope...anyone ever made their own?

[great_bear]

nice looking scope...anyone ever made their own?

DaveGibbons mentioned in a recent For Sale post that the one scope that he is keeping, is the IStar-based one which he made himself.

One of the scopes that I own is the 1/12th Wave PV, OO-based 150mm Newtonian built by johninderby - but the tube that it's made from is a brand-new Sky-Watcher 150PL body, rather than a home-made tube.

The tube in the article above, looks entirely made from wood - surely its focus would drift depending on the humidity?

[umadog]

There's also this one: The Great Wetherell Refractor

I know that's been posted here before but, like Dr. Thingy's 40" Dob, it's always worth re-posting for those who've not seen it.

[andrew63]

I wonder if you would need planning permission for one in your garden!

andrew

[johninderby]

Nice workmanship. He's certainly put a lot of time into it. Would love to build something using this objective myself. Would make a fantastic scope.

But why does this particular scope remind me of..........................

John

[robbie c]

There's also this one: The Great Wetherell Refractor

I know that's been posted here before but, like Dr. Thingy's 40" Dob, it's always worth re-posting for those who've not seen it.

Wow that's some scope thanks for re-posting umadog not seen before

P.S the girls quite nice as well

[paulastro]

I'd like one of these, but my run-off observatory would be rather inadequate to house it,ha ha. I'm taking delivery of a used ISTAR 6" f10 refractor on Monday and I'll have to be careful I don't foul the roof even with that focal length! If it gives images comparable with this scope I'd be more than delighted.

[melsky]

Nice optics but it looks like a giraffe.

[StuartJPP]

Just found the blueprints for it along with a couple of other models...

Seriously though, great craftsman skills went in to building that.