Big Alt-Azimuth Mount

[John]

I'm still pursuing the concept of a really big alt-azimuth mount to hold my Istar 6" F/12 refractor which is a bit of a monster of a scope to mount 

Here are a couple of pics of the current contender. It's a Bray Tablet mount sitting on a steel "owls nest" extension by Astro Engineering which in turn is bolted onto a Meade Giant Field tripod. The height of the dovetail clamps is now just over 6 feet so I should have a sporting chance of viewing the zenith area when seated on a chair rather than having to lie full length on the ground !

The mount head is 6" in diameter, the "owls nest" is 6.5", the tripod hub is 8" and the tripod steel legs are 3" in diameter. Big and heavy stuff - nearly 90 lbs in total without a scope !

I've yet to actually put the scope on this combination as I don't have room in the house so thats the next test.

I can now more fully understand why long 6" refractors are usually found in observatories ! 

[Naemeth]

If you didn't have room in the house to mount it, I have to wonder why you bought such a large scope.... Actually, I don't have to wonder, had I seen it / had the cash I might've bought it  . 

Might be time for a clear up so the scope can be mounted . Prime position in the living room .

[sbooder]

Just looked up the scope, wonderful looking thing.  I have never seen a commercial Truss tube Frac before.

[John]

If you didn't have room in the house to mount it, I have to wonder why you bought such a large scope.... Actually, I don't have to wonder, had I seen it / had the cash I might've bought it  . 

The scope came available at a price that I could not resist Jonathan and I'd always wanted a large, long refractor. I thought I'd grab the chance to have one while I've still got the energy to use it !.

[John]

Just looked up the scope, wonderful looking thing.  I have never seen a commercial Truss tube Frac before.

I've not seen one either - mine is the solid tube version. I did enquire recently about moving my optics into the truss tube version but the cost was rather steep I felt and the Istar dealer admitted that the solid tube would probably perform better.

Anyway, novel though it is, the skeleton tube does not quite fit my vision of a traditional long refractor 

[sbooder]

Just been looking here at the range of fracs they do.  I have a new lust for the 204mm f9 now, not that I have a spare £3.5k hanging around!

[osbourne one-nil]

Is this the Bray Tablet that was advertised on UK Astro Buy & Sell?

I used to have one many years ago, and I thought it was wonderful, but I didn't appreciate until I'd used it a few times just how sturdy it was and never had the scope to do it justice.