Show us your Vixen Scope or mount

[osbourne one-nil]

Yeah, quite - I wouldn't bother. I'd "relegate" it to an alt-az mount for visual if I were to upgrade. You don't think there's a definite need to yet? 

I know it's entirely down to whether I'm happy with the results; I'm just trying to work out if I'd be happier with a new one!

[Franklin]

2 hours ago, osbourne one-nil said:

I know it's entirely down to whether I'm happy with the results; I'm just trying to work out if I'd be happier with a new one!

Sounds like you should treat yourself to a new one and keep the older one as well for visual.

 

[osbourne one-nil]

My bank manager thanks you for your comment....it would be the fun option!

[NGC 1502]

6 hours ago, skybadger said:

Yea. No probs. My vc200l was purchased in 2002 and still going strong. Mind you, recoating that could be interesting due to the coating forming part of the figuring process.

Indeed, I’ve heard that from reliable sources that the specialist coating process forms the fine figuring of some Vixen mirrors.  If that can be confirmed then regular stripping and recoating by the 3 UK companies I know of would destroy the figure.

But if the coating looks good, including shining a bright at the mirror surface and viewing from the back, it’s all ok👍

Best guess- Vixen mirror coatings will be top notch, therefore very long lasting.  If it ain’t broke….😊

Ed.

[Franklin]

1 hour ago, NGC 1502 said:

 If that can be confirmed

From Vixens 2016 catalogue.

 

[Franklin]

Yours as well.

 

[Franklin]

1 hour ago, NGC 1502 said:

 If it ain’t broke….

Your scope looks mint!

[Pixies]

Up here in Edinburgh, the latitude is about 56° North. That's touch-and-go with the Vixen AP:

I assume that as the lower end of the RA body comes down, the adjuster bolt screws in enough to miss it. But it's pretty close!

[NGC 1502]

1 hour ago, Pixies said:

I assume that as the lower end of the RA body comes down, the adjuster bolt screws in enough to miss it. But it's pretty close!

Could you shorten that bolt by cutting and then filing the inner end?   Or is there some purpose in it protruding so much?

[woldsman]

Hoping someone on this forum can identify whether this is a Vixen mount. It’s the mount on the left. Advice how to attach a scope on a dovetail would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 

Edited September 21, 2022 by woldsman

[Saganite]

My lovely Vixen ED103s has appeared on here before, but not looking as  beautiful as now.  The Feathertouch focuser shown was never meant for the Vixen because they do not offer an adapter to fit this model.   When this appeared for sale I immediately wanted it because of its 95mm of travel.  The adapter thread was 88.5mm x 1mm pitch, whereas it is 88mm x 1mm pitch on the Vixen OTA, but I knew it would be a simple job for Mark at Moonraker to chase the thread and that is what he did for me, in short order ....top man .

Until this year I had never used a Feathertouch focuser, and now I could never go back, they are sublime.

 

Edited November 6, 2022 by Saganite

[LDW1]

My newly arrived A62SS .

[Pixies]

Heads up!

There's a fully-driven Vixen AP mount and tripod on UK Astro Buy & Sell for a very reasonable cost!

[LDW1]

My A62SS now on my new iOptron Sky Hunter AZ mount.

[900SL]

On 06/11/2022 at 11:17, Saganite said:

My lovely Vixen ED103s has appeared on here before, but not looking as  beautiful as now.  The Feathertouch focuser shown was never meant for the Vixen because they do not offer an adapter to fit this model.   When this appeared for sale I immediately wanted it because of its 95mm of travel.  The adapter thread was 88.5mm x 1mm pitch, whereas it is 88mm x 1mm pitch on the Vixen OTA, but I knew it would be a simple job for Mark at Moonraker to chase the thread and that is what he did for me, in short order ....top man .

Until this year I had never used a Feathertouch focuser, and now I could never go back, they are sublime.

 

I covet my neighbours scopes!

Lovely set up

[osbourne one-nil]

On 18/09/2022 at 15:43, Pixies said:

Up here in Edinburgh, the latitude is about 56° North. That's touch-and-go with the Vixen AP:

I assume that as the lower end of the RA body comes down, the adjuster bolt screws in enough to miss it. But it's pretty close!

I'm at 54.5 and even I have to orientate the bolt thing correctly. It's fine if the end cap comes off, but it is a bit of an oversight I think.  The mount itself though is lovely!

[Highburymark]

On 06/11/2022 at 09:17, Saganite said:

My lovely Vixen ED103s has appeared on here before, but not looking as  beautiful as now.  The Feathertouch focuser shown was never meant for the Vixen because they do not offer an adapter to fit this model.   When this appeared for sale I immediately wanted it because of its 95mm of travel.  The adapter thread was 88.5mm x 1mm pitch, whereas it is 88mm x 1mm pitch on the Vixen OTA, but I knew it would be a simple job for Mark at Moonraker to chase the thread and that is what he did for me, in short order ....top man .

Until this year I had never used a Feathertouch focuser, and now I could never go back, they are sublime.

 

Ooo, that’s very nice indeed. 

[Franklin]

6 hours ago, osbourne one-nil said:

I'm at 54.5 and even I have to orientate the bolt thing correctly. It's fine if the end cap comes off, but it is a bit of an oversight I think.  The mount itself though is lovely!

According to Vixen their AP mount is usable from 0 degrees to 65 degrees, though I have found with mine that above 55 degrees you need to remove the polarscope cover to prevent damage as it appears to be made from eggshell.

[Cleetus]

On 01/09/2022 at 07:30, osbourne one-nil said:

Yep! I queried this with Telescope House as it's WAY above even our current inflation rate, and the response was (perhaps not unreasonably) that raw materials go to the highest bidder and telescope manufacturers are some way down the list so don't have much negotiating power. Have Skywatcher, etc, gone up by this much though?

I did some maths on ordering direct from Japan, including the shipping and import costs, and it does offer quite a saving. I wouldn't fancy dealing with returns though!

20% off at Telescope House at the moment so fill your boots, or empty your wallet.

[osbourne one-nil]

If I could justify anything, I would!!

I've noticed a chip on the paintwork of my SD81. Obviously this is upsetting me massively; does anyone know a matching colour for VIxen paintwork? I asked Vixen directly once, and they said they didn't have an RAL code for it. I bet they do really!

[LDW1]

1 hour ago, osbourne one-nil said:

If I could justify anything, I would!!

I've noticed a chip on the paintwork of my SD81. Obviously this is upsetting me massively; does anyone know a matching colour for VIxen paintwork? I asked Vixen directly once, and they said they didn't have an RAL code for it. I bet they do really!

Over here in Canada a paint shop can analyze the color by scanning it and match the color perfectly by mixing the color exactly. Try a paint shop and talk to them. Cost wise it may not be that expensive for small touch up can.

[osbourne one-nil]

Yeah, I'll do that. Good idea!

[Franklin]

Been setting up my new SD115s today and all seems well, I'm very pleased with it and can't wait to get it out under the stars. Some pics of it mounted for @F15Rules as requested. Love the way I can balance a 6.5kg rig with a 1.9kg weight using the SXD2, the dual-speed add-on is the MoreBlue offering, I thought the Vixen one made the course focusing a bit too "Gritty", maybe it needs adjusting but I don't really know how.

 

 

Edited March 24, 2023 by Franklin

[F15Rules]

Stunning, Tim, just stunning.

Thanks for sharing, and I hope this scope will stay with you for the long term👍.

Dave

Edited March 24, 2023 by F15Rules

[John]

I've not caught up with this thread for quite a while - some very nice Vixen's on show. That 115mm is really rather something and it looks a perfectly balanced setup with that SXD2 mount 👍