Rainy Day Telescope Mods

[rockystar]

after reading about @DRT making some mods to his new purchase, a few others flocking their scope and yet others about the ideal telrad location; I decided to take the plunge, take my telescope apart (eek) and see what I could do.

So armed with a drill and 2 rolls of flock from wilkos, I set to it.

I remove the primary then the secondary mirrors, the dob rocker circles (i'm sure they have a proper name), the focuser and the finder shoe, and then get the wife's hairdryer to remove the telrad stickies. I then drilled new holes for the finder, a couple for the telrad and some larger holes for the handle. Filed down the bits of metal from the inside of the tube, then set too with the flock.

The first measure was a bit short (by about an inch), but it very helpfully had a grid on the back, so I knew how big the next piece needed to be - that was short too, because the grids didn't start at 0!!!

I also flocked the draw tube and the back of the secondary - for what difference that may make (?)

I then moved the finder shoe over a bit so that I can move the telrad up to fit between the finder and focuser.

Turned out to be the best fun a person can with a telescope without looking at stars with it.

3 hours later and here are the results:

Let's hope for some clear skies too can I look through it once again

[brantuk]

Good mods Lee - you'll get a little bit more contrast with the flocking - it was noticeable when I did my 12" way back.

[spaceboy]

Summer might be disappointing for getting out under the stars but it allows us time to make those small tweaks and mods we have put of time and time again over the winter months. There has been debate over the usefulness of flocking but I'm confident you will notice an improvement in contrast albeit a small one.  Setting circles should be next on the list Lee

[rockystar]

lazy Susan I was thinking of next, but maybe setting circles at the same time .

also been trying to work out if I can create some kind of pulley system for the altitude control...

[happy-kat]

You could 'll dig out a relevant post

Edit

Got it

Link here

[sockgoblin]

I made the slo motion movement for the 130p and it works very well. I struggled with the az movement but have found this interesting link today applying a system to a large dob. I may try the belt drive approach for the 130p

zlomotion   

and there is the large version , of my mod here

inexpensive slo mo