Milky way help needed

[mackiedlm]

So, my second night out with StarAdventurer mount, Canon Eos1100d, Kit 18-55 EFS F3.5 lens at about 24mm and F4.6.

Clouds were tormenting me again so 9 X 90 second ISO1600 darks and bias applied (no flats because I screwed them up !)

 

Stacked in DSS (first image) and Sequator (second) and minimally processed in photoshop - curves, levels some Carbonis actions.

 

I feel that there is more in the data than I'm getting out (please tell me if you think thats not the case). So, some questions

 

1.     Is there anything i can do in DSS to get a better output - I tried all permutations of White balance, black point etc but this is the best I could get to

2.     Can I do anything to reduce the blue in the sequator one (M39 looks ridiculous :crazyeyes: )....

3.     .....and pump up the red without making the noise even worse

4.     Any tricks for doing flats on such a small lens - i used the same as i do on a larger scope (white T LED panel) but it came out with a horrible criss/cross pattern (the weave of the T)

5.     Any other suggestions on how to make this better.

 

Anyway, here y'go, enjoy!

 

Thanks for any assistance.

 

David