What did the postman bring?

[bosun21]

On 14/04/2023 at 13:58, HollyHound said:

Arrived safely and superbly packed… thanks @AndrewRrrrrr 👍

Baader Heavy Duty T2 Quick Change System…. I’ve been after one of these sets for ages 😃

Didn’t I give you one of these with the Maxbright II binoviewer?

[HollyHound]

2 hours ago, bosun21 said:

Didn’t I give you one of these with the Maxbright II binoviewer?

You did indeed, thanks 🙂

I was so impressed that I wanted to setup a quick change on one of my other scopes too 👍

[JeremyS]

On 14/04/2023 at 14:56, bosun21 said:

I’ve often considered buying a Berlebach tripod, but the farthest I’ve gotten is a Berlebach charon  observing seat. What exactly are the benefits over a standard stainless steel tripod? I presume weight for starters.

What everyone else said. Plus Berlebach tripods smell nicer

[Pixies]

Not the postman, but dropped off by a nice chap, nonetheless. 

[wookie1965]

On 13/04/2023 at 15:54, Ratlet said:

Mine is a 10" Dob.

I ordered mine from here and bought an 18" Bearing.  I could have got the 19" as the base of my dob is 22" in diameter, however I don't think it will improve performance enough to justify nearly double the cost!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141742604866

I've not had a chance to take it out and use it in anger yet but it seems pretty smooth.  It moves easily but doesn't do the windmill thing that the standard bearing does and doesnt have that ever so slight rocking thing going on.  @Mr Spock has used ones from simply bearings which he has been very happy with.

https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p187448/600mm-Round-Lazy-Susan-Rotating-Aluminium-Turntable-Bearing/product_info.html

I did try teflon (carpet gliders from Wickes rather) without any melamine but it was a disaster.  I did however end up taking two of them without the stick backing and putting them together so the gliders face outwars and putting them in the middle of the lazy susan just loose.  This means when I tighten the bolt I get a wee bit of extra friction so I can change eyepieces without the dob moving but still move it freely.  As I said though, not tested it out yet.

Did you screw the lazy Susan down there doesn't seem to be any holes to screw into without removing the plastic bits or do you rely on the centre bolt hold it in place thanks. 

[Ratlet]

49 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

Did you screw the lazy Susan down there doesn't seem to be any holes to screw into without removing the plastic bits or do you rely on the centre bolt hold it in place thanks. 

I removed the little white plugs from the outer ring then screwed it to the ground board with a small washer between the ground board and the  lasy Susan.  The top boards just sits on top of the lazy Susan and is held by the centre bolt.  You might have to remove the small washer that goes with the centre bolt.

[bosun21]

1 hour ago, Ratlet said:

I removed the little white plugs from the outer ring then screwed it to the ground board with a small washer between the ground board and the  lasy Susan.  The top boards just sits on top of the lazy Susan and is held by the centre bolt.  You might have to remove the small washer that goes with the centre bolt.

The guide for the one from Simply bearings states that it should be the inner ring that is secured and not the outer. Whether this makes a difference I ain’t sure, but why would they state that otherwise.

[Ratlet]

1 hour ago, bosun21 said:

The guide for the one from Simply bearings states that it should be the inner ring that is secured and not the outer. Whether this makes a difference I ain’t sure, but why would they state that otherwise.

Ah.  Mine was not from there but is mechanically identical but did not come with a guide on installation.  I would defer to bosun @wookie1965

[wookie1965]

2 hours ago, Ratlet said:

Ah.  Mine was not from there but is mechanically identical but did not come with a guide on installation.  I would defer to bosun @wookie1965

I was thinking it should be the inner one screwed down, I have not fitted yet I need a longer centre bolt first. 

It's going to be tricky to fit anyway as the base board is not round it's a Celestron 10" starsense. 

Delta shaped part. 

 

Edited April 17, 2023 by wookie1965

[bosun21]

Courtesy of @Mr Spock the postman dropped off a pristine Vixen SLV 2.5mm. I want this for my Starfield for planetary and tight doubles when those nights of good seeing come knocking.

 

[cajen2]

Just a couple of things for my new AZ GTiX mount:

A Lynx Astro cable for power station / mount and an ADM dovetail clamp. I nearly dropped the OTA yesterday because of the mount's supplied clamp, so I'm told this will help. All I have to do now is work out how to install it - no instructions, of course. 😡

Edited April 18, 2023 by cajen2

[Stu]

My second pair of Baader Maxbrights…. No picture as you know what they look like. I will have matched sets for WL and Ha now, perfect.

I’m waiting for my Mark II CoolWedge to come back as it had to be returned, will post about that elsewhere. Should be able to do a comparison with the mark I.

[cajen2]

1 hour ago, cajen2 said:

Just a couple of things for my new AZ GTiX mount:

A Lynx Astro cable for power station / mount and an ADM dovetail clamp. I nearly dropped the OTA yesterday because of the mount's supplied clamp, so I'm told this will help. All I have to do now is work out how to install it - no instructions, of course. 😡

Additional: the ADM clamp wouldn't fit (after spending some time working out how the SW clamp comes off!). I think it's maybe because the ADM was designed to fit the AZ GTi, not the GTiX. I assumed they'd be the same. I've emailed @FLO for advice but I think it'll have to be a return. Sigh....

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, cajen2 said:

Additional: the ADM clamp wouldn't fit (after spending some time working out how the SW clamp comes off!). I think it's maybe because the ADM was designed to fit the AZ GTi, not the GTiX. I assumed they'd be the same. I've emailed @FLO for advice but I think it'll have to be a return. Sigh....

Never assume nothing.  Especially when it comes to astro equipment. 

[cajen2]

1 hour ago, Mike Q said:

Never assume nothing.  Especially when it comes to astro equipment. 

As you say...true (despite the double negative! 🤣).

[bosun21]

A DPD delivery today from FLO. Today it was an Explore Scientific 2x telecentric barlow. I had one of these before but sold it, but found that with a standard barlow I couldn’t get on with the eye relief changing hence the purchase.

 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, bosun21 said:

A DPD delivery today from FLO. Today it was an Explore Scientific 2x telecentric barlow. I had one of these before but sold it, but found that with a standard barlow I couldn’t get on with the eye relief changing hence the purchase.

 

Thats a good Barlow, have one myself 

[John]

The middle one arrived this morning and later I found the book in the local National Trust book shop.

Comparing these high power eyepieces will be very interesting 🙂

 

[Littleguy80]

47 minutes ago, John said:

The middle one arrived this morning and later I found the book in the local National Trust book shop.

Comparing these high power eyepieces will be very interesting 🙂

 

Excellent John! Looking forward to your reports on TOE  

[Mr Spock]

Jealous much - still waiting for my 4mm TOE to arrive 

[Nakedgun]

~

Vintage pair found online in very good condition, for little money:

 

 

Mfd. by Itabashi Kogaku Kikai Seisakujo, Inc. Tokyo

 

 

The year made I'm unsure about.

 

 

No strap, but case in good shape, too.

 

 

 

.

Edited April 19, 2023 by Nakedgun

[Greymouser]

This arrived today, from FLO of course.

Just a bin bag and a little bubble wrap as packaging!
Inside:

A nice bag for my new to me AA 152mm scope, as I could not find a decent hard case for it. This seems to be very good and should fit the bill. A few more desiccant bags too!

Edited April 22, 2023 by Greymouser

[Deadlake]

13 hours ago, John said:

The middle one arrived this morning and later I found the book in the local National Trust book shop.

Comparing these high power eyepieces will be very interesting 🙂

 

That will work very well with your LZOS on Jupiter/Saturn and the Moon. 
I find using a BBHS mirror diagonal will bring out the reds on Jupiter a little more than a normal mirror diagonal like the MaxBright.

Enjoy!

[Rob]

On 13/04/2023 at 17:12, Stu1smartcookie said:

So another few purchases but I reckon I am almost there when it comes to my Astronomy gear ..  
A lovely pair of 8-24 mm Celestron zoom EPs ( one of which was a freebie from Amazon as they somehow messed up my Easter Sunday) and then a nice Bino viewer courtesy of @cloudsweeper( Thanks Doug) , and finally a very pretty SVBony mirror diagonal . 

I have a SVBony 1.25" Dielectric. Not a diagonal at all. I did blacken the red walls inside mind, then can be quite shiny. Either paint or felt. Can also use a sharpie TBH for speed. Rob

[Highburymark]

On 18/04/2023 at 15:20, Stu said:

My second pair of Baader Maxbrights…. No picture as you know what they look like. I will have matched sets for WL and Ha now, perfect.

I’m waiting for my Mark II CoolWedge to come back as it had to be returned, will post about that elsewhere. Should be able to do a comparison with the mark I.

Look forward to hearing about the new wedge Stu, particularly if any visible benefit to the narrower Continuum, though I can imagine it won’t be easy to compare with the old one.
Are you still using the MkIV for white light - or moved to the MBII?