Show Us Your Dobs

[CraigT82]

On 29/01/2020 at 12:22, fiestazetecmk2 said:

My lifetime dob.

Now that is a modded dob! Looks a bit steampunk... love it! Have you got another thread somewhere outlining how you've done the mods?

[estwing]

Elan , not far from the reservoir 

[bish]

Here's my 250px at Kielder. I never try and modify things because I will just break it.  Been thinking about a much bigger scope for several years but something always gets in the way. If I do go bigger I will still keep the 10", a very handy scope.

[elliot]

On 29/01/2020 at 12:22, fiestazetecmk2 said:

My lifetime dob.

This is fantastic! There's so much going on!

[Tyson M]

Here is my latest acquisition.  A Celestron Starhopper 12.  Mirror was recoated by Normand Fullum not too long ago.  It is a very sharp mirror.

Major issue was the azimuth control.  The roller bearing on the sheet metal offered little to no friction which made controlling the dob hard, and very noisy.

I did away with the sheet metal and used 2 pieces are hard cardboard from a box that a vacuum came in.  Much better and super smooth.

The stock focuser was fine, but I put on a moonlite on it. 

[CraigT82]

3 minutes ago, Tyson M said:

Here is my latest acquisition.  A Celestron Starhopper 12.  Mirror was recoated by Normand Fullum not too long ago.  It is a very sharp mirror.

Major issue was the azimuth control.  The roller bearing on the sheet metal offered little to no friction which made controlling the dob hard, and very noisy.

I did away with the sheet metal and used 2 pieces are hard cardboard from a box that a vacuum came in.  Much better and super smooth.

The stock focuser was fine, but I put on a moonlite on it. 

Dont think I've ever seen one of those... good looking scope 👍

[RobH2020]

Looks like an artillery park!

 

On 31/01/2020 at 11:18, estwing said:

Mine between Steve's and Damians 

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by RobH2020

[fiestazetecmk2]

Wow they look amazing. Makes my 200p look like a finderscope. 

Are they all manual.???

Edited March 1, 2020 by fiestazetecmk2
More info

[estwing]

Yes...

[fiestazetecmk2]

That's nice to hear.they look fantastic scopes. 

As I said makes my 200p look like a finderscope 

[Paz]

I've only ever had one dob and have no plans to change it.

[garryblueboy]

Had a few now started of with 

12 “ flex tube  

16” flex tube GOTO that was a beast

12”Orion XT 

12” ES MK2

16” custom build

14” Sumerian ultra light Zambuto  

18inch Stargate GOTO on loan 

14” David lukhurst ultra 2  with Oldham Optical mirror current scope it is in his pictures gallery very portable 

 

 

Edited March 11, 2020 by garryblueboy

[fiestazetecmk2]

I think I'd give a kidney for the one on the lawn.

wow fabulous 

[garryblueboy]

7 minutes ago, fiestazetecmk2 said:

I think I'd give a kidney for the one on the lawn.

wow fabulous 

Which one there’s two on the lawn 😂 

[fiestazetecmk2]

The one with the black cover.

[Barry-W-Fenner]

2 minutes ago, garryblueboy said:

Which one there’s two on the lawn 😂 

I though you meant which Kidney 🙂

 

 

[Barry-W-Fenner]

On 01/02/2020 at 13:50, bish said:

Here's my 250px at Kielder. I never try and modify things because I will just break it.  Been thinking about a much bigger scope for several years but something always gets in the way. If I do go bigger I will still keep the 10", a very handy scope.

I have added the Astrozap Dew shield to my 200p I find it really helped with lateral light intrusion.

 

Baz

[garryblueboy]

2 minutes ago, fiestazetecmk2 said:

The one with the black cover.

That was a custom build made by a member from here but was a bit heavy for portable 

[garryblueboy]

2 minutes ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

I have added the Astrozap Dew shield to my 200p I find it really helped with lateral light intrusion.

 

Baz

They are nice scopes give a nice image 

[fiestazetecmk2]

I made my dew shield out of a yoga matt.for my 200p. 

Edited March 11, 2020 by fiestazetecmk2
Picture

[bish]

2 hours ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

I have added the Astrozap Dew shield to my 200p I find it really helped with lateral light intrusion.

 

Baz

Yes they are very useful. At home it cuts out the light and at star parties helps with dew.

Edited March 11, 2020 by bish

[Nakedgun]

My first dob was a 10" Coulter Odyssey red tube that I bought used for $200 in the late 90s. I don't know if I have a photo anywhere, perhaps I'll stumble upon it sometime. Coulters had crude hardware, but that was the scope I used to gain my first view of Pluto at a star party near here known as RTMC (now defunct).  

 

Having aperture fever at that time, I spent way too much money (just ask my wife!) on my then-new hobby by ordering this Starmaster 18, w/Zambuto f/4.3 primary, ProtoStar secondary, FeatherTouch focuser, and Sky Commander/Sky Tracker goto, as well. I saved some money by not ordering the transport handle option from Rick Singmaster and fashioned a pair myself (this did not assuage her).

 

The heart of the beast: (transport box included with scope)

 

Mirror cell:

 

 

Operator's station:

 

A relaxing pastime:

 

The largest scope I will ever own, this instrument showed me a great many deep-sky wonders (blue supergiants in M31, no less), but after 16 years I finally grew tired of transporting it to dark skies, the setup and teardown (the mirror/cell in its box weighed 75lbs) and sold it off to a good home.

Do I miss it? No question, but I have no regrets.

 

Edited March 12, 2020 by Nakedgun

[faulksy]

On 29/01/2020 at 09:14, Barry-W-Fenner said:

Another John with a great collection and experience with various scopes. I know where to go when i need advise on my next dob 🙂

 

Baz

the blue orion optics scope. was that helens (moderator)?

[faulksy]

Home made

[Piero]

17 hours ago, Nakedgun said:

My first dob was a 10" Coulter Odyssey red tube that I bought used for $200 in the late 90s. I don't know if I have a photo anywhere, perhaps I'll stumble upon it sometime. Coulters had crude hardware, but that was the scope I used to gain my first view of Pluto at a star party near here known as RTMC (now defunct).  

 

Having aperture fever at that time, I spent way too much money (just ask my wife!) on my then-new hobby by ordering this Starmaster 18, w/Zambuto f/4.3 primary, ProtoStar secondary, FeatherTouch focuser, and Sky Commander/Sky Tracker goto, as well. I saved some money by not ordering the transport handle option from Rick Singmaster and fashioned a pair myself (this did not assuage her).

 

The heart of the beast: (transport box included with scope)

 

Mirror cell:

 

 

Operator's station:

 

A relaxing pastime:

 

The largest scope I will ever own, this instrument showed me a great many deep-sky wonders (blue supergiants in M31, no less), but after 16 years I finally grew tired of transporting it to dark skies, the setup and teardown (the mirror/cell in its box weighed 75lbs) and sold it off to a good home.

Do I miss it? No question, but I have no regrets.

 

 

Superb! That looks like an outstanding telescope. Thanks for sharing.