Dual Scope Mount (Scrapheap Challenge!)

[Macavity]

Over the years I seem to have accumulated quite a few bits of junk - Equipment
intended for "wonder projects" that, for one reason or other, never quite made it!
Notably the (rather excellent and inexpensive?) Skywatcher Guidescope Mount...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/guide-cameras/skywatcher-guidescope-mount.html

I have often mulled over the idea of a DUAL Scope Mount, but the above is a bit
too heavy for mounting any two of my scopes one-above-the-other on an HEQ5!  

A recent purchase of a Lunt LS50THa got me thinking about a dual SOLAR setup
(combined with White Light) and I remembered NET images of DIY Dual Mounts...
I had two UNEVEN (40 & 30cm) lengths of 80x6mm Al Flat Bar, and came up with:

Of course, the Dovetail Bar will be mounted below the plates now the holes are drilled!
But the *adventitious* GAP can be used to accommodate the Lunt Pressure Tuner!

Then I thought maybe it could double up as a general "wide field" imaging setup...
I am thinking of a scheme for adding the weights below the dovetail clamp if needed?

The keen eyed may spot the small *motor* to the left of the Canon 70-200 f/4 Tele.
Another thought I have been toying with - Remote electric focussing for a DSLR lens.
N.B. I have  NO idea whether the idea (based on an MXL belt) will work or not yet!

But I DO WISH I had tried this idea before though! A side-by-side scheme allows
so much more space to "prototype" ... to merely play with random ideas etc. etc.
And ultimately it's a far more mount-friendly solution weight (or inertia?) wise! 

[StuartJPP]

The main problem I found with side-by-side mounting is that it hits the mount/tripod sooner (depending on the set-up) so you can't go anywhere past the meridian.

[Gina]

My 3 scopes side-by-side triple 400mm imaging rig doesn't catch the mount but the latter is an EQ8.

[Macavity]

I think I am safe from any possibility of the setup catching.

Of course there is the issue that moving a scope laterally
means that it may not see over the observatory side, but...

These things are sent to try us? Not least the absence of 
the promised clear blue skies of today...  <frustration>

[Davey-T]

My portable setup is side by side, a scope each end and guide scope between them, have got meridian flip tuned off so it keeps going round for a while past it before hitting.

Dave

[Horwig]

Can't comment on the benefits and pitfalls of dual mounting, but I can comment on the remote focussing of stills lenses.

I have some Pentax 67 lenses which I remote with a  stepper, controlled by an SGL focus controller, and then with SGPro for autofocus.

It works a dream, the belt are Synchroflex T2.5 x 6.

Huw