Show us your Frac

[bosun21]

Another Starfield 102 to add. I am waiting on a delivery today of the go to upgrade kit from FLO. I can’t get on with the Enhanced motor drive kit. I’m also considering one of the handsome wooden tripods.

[Stu]

30 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

Fabulous  Stu..

Actually a GPDX holds this scope quite well provided it's on a good (ie wooden) tripod..I used mine on one a number of times and its stability compares to my Tak EM2 mount.

Dave

That’s good to know. As said, I’m sure the mount is capable providing the tripod is stable enough.

I’ve not used my GP-DX very much, must get it all setup and connected to SkySafari so I can start using it regularly.

[mikeDnight]

8 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Let’s hope there’ll be no backsliding on these lovely FS 128 finders to non Tak RACI models 😊

Is a straight through non-Tak finder ok as a temporary measure Jeremy?   My FS128 did come with a RACI finder which I admittedly struggled with last night, and sold a few hours ago. I've since sprayed a black SW 9X50 white and am waiting for it to dry before I fit it to the Tak finder bracket. It will drive me nuts eventually, but as I've no funds for a Tak 50mm as yet, it will have to wait a while. 

Now with tacky SW finder fit. Looks ok in the dark!

Edited May 11, 2023 by mikeDnight

[F15Rules]

Here is my entire scope collection.. firstly, FS128 1999 vintage on 1998 Tak EM2 mount.

Note Tak decal on OTA tube..

..and Fluorite decal on dewshield in both English and Japanese..apparently not all FS128s have all the decals..🤔

EM2 mount conservatively rated (as ever with Jap mounts) at 10.5kg. I'd say 12kg was more like it.

The Fluorite element (Front Surface ie FS) was a breakthrough in the 1990s as it allowed high quality hard coatings to be applied to the Fluorite element, now located at the front - which Takahashi stated was the optimum Fluorite placing to get the lowest scatter and best contrast from a doublet lens.

The coatings are certainly attractive, and more importantly seem to work really well.

This shot shows also my Vixen built 1980s "SBS" branded 80mm F15 achromat. Note the length of the F15 tube..longer than the F8 1040mm Tak.

This scope originally was purchased in France, and I believe the SBS branding may have been specially for that market..for a French Importer, perhaps?

This one shows the Tak acting as a mega finder for the Vixen!😂🤣

..and finally, this one shows the ladder I use to reach the Vixen dewshield!!

Thanks for looking😊

Dave

 

Edited May 11, 2023 by F15Rules

[Stu]

Now I’m jealous of your Takahashi sticker on the tube, I haven’t got that on mine 😭😭🤣

[mikeDnight]

7 minutes ago, Stu said:

Now I’m jealous of your Takahashi sticker on the tube, I haven’t got that on mine 😭😭🤣

There's nothing on mine except the serial plate. My FS152 was only in Japanese, which may have said when translated "Sucker"! It was beautiful though!

[Sunshine]

Seems like these 128’s are coming out of the ground like weeds, across the pond, Someone send me some seeds!.

 

[JeremyS]

16 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

FS128 last night after checking out Venus and Mars.

 

3 hours ago, Stu said:

FS-128s are just so common these days, like buses, don’t see one for ages then a few come by at once! 

Errmmm 🤔….both supremely lickable 

Edited May 11, 2023 by JeremyS

[Alan White]

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

Errmmm 🤔….both supremely lickable 

Watch out chaps, he’s off …. 😉

[F15Rules]

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

 

Errmmm 🤔….both supremely lickable 

Steady, Tiger!!🙄😂

Dave

[John]

Venus-bound this evening:

 

[Alan White]

Venus bound as well, but sadly clouded up now ☹️

[Stu]

Just had a quick look at Venus myself, looking nice, though quite wobbly

[Pixies]

26 minutes ago, Stu said:

Just had a quick look at Venus myself, looking nice, though quite wobbly

Ah! A gentleman with a similar attachment to mowing as myself! Albeit, you do appear to have a field!

[Stu]

1 minute ago, Pixies said:

Ah! A gentleman with a similar attachment to mowing as myself! Albeit, you do appear to have a field!

There is a funny story behind that. I’ll let my FB post do the explaining. I still haven’t got it back!!

[John]

Venus has been nice and crisp here from 300x to 480x. A touch less crisp at 600x. A large cloud bank from the NE is about to spoil the views though, alas so it looks like, for tonight at least

 

 

[PatientObserver]

45 minutes ago, Stu said:

Just had a quick look at Venus myself, looking nice, though quite wobbly

What was the cause of the wobble?

[mikeDnight]

28 minutes ago, PatientObserver said:

What was the cause of the wobble?

Probably atmospheric turbulence. 

[Stu]

45 minutes ago, PatientObserver said:

What was the cause of the wobble?

Yes, just poor seeing although it got better so perhaps just the scope cooling down.

[Captain Scarlet]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

There is a funny story behind that. I’ll let my FB post do the explaining. I still haven’t got it back!!

They’re passive-aggressively enforcing no-mow-May on you. Insects are grateful 🐝 😁

M

[Stu]

4 minutes ago, Captain Scarlet said:

They’re passive-aggressively enforcing no-mow-May on you. Insects are grateful 🐝 😁

M

It’s getting to the stage where I may have to set Mrs Stu on them. They really will regret their lack of delivery if that happens 🤣🤣

[cajen2]

Let slip the dogs of war....! 😆

[mikeDnight]

8 minutes ago, Stu said:

It’s getting to the stage where I may have to set Mrs Stu on them. They really will regret their lack of delivery if that happens 🤣🤣

When you come to the AC to collect your solar scope you should grab yourself a goat or two, or a couple of sheep. Or may be a cow, then it can moo the grass for you. 

[PatientObserver]

3 hours ago, Stu said:

Yes, just poor seeing although it got better so perhaps just the scope cooling down.

Was not certain if you had loaded the AZ75 with a scope that large before, so I was confirming it was not the mount and tripod.

[Stu]

4 hours ago, PatientObserver said:

Was not certain if you had loaded the AZ75 with a scope that large before, so I was confirming it was not the mount and tripod.

Ah yes, I see your point now. I’ve put the LZOS 130 on it before which is shorter but significantly heavier. The AZ75 handles them with no problem. The AZ100/Planet combo is steadier, but a lot heavier to put out. I can lift them all in one go but my back doesn’t thank me, the 75/Uni-28 is much easier.

Last night the vibrations were damping down quickly so it seems quite useable. I will try it on the GP-DX too, particularly for high power lunar and planetary observing.