Fitting 9x50 Skywatcher RACI finderscope to Skywatcher Heritage 150P?

[Isaac 49]

Hello, I’ve got a skywatcher heritage 150P and I wanted to replace the red dot finder with a RACI one.  I guess I should have checked but as both products are skywatcher I thought they’d be compatible but as you can see from the photos the 9x50 from FLO is too big. Does anyone know if there is a bracket I can order that doesn’t require me drilling into the telescope as I’ve seen is necessary with some?

I’ve emailed FLO but they’re shut until Tuesday so I wondered if anyone here had any advice?

Cheers, Isaac

[Mark at Beaufort]

No the finderscope won't fit into the RDF bracket. I have the smaller Heritage 130P and I had to drill holes for the finder bracket.

It works very well - see attached photo

[Isaac 49]

Thanks Mark! Can you tell which bracket you used and where you bought it from?

Cheers,

Isaac

[Mark at Beaufort]

Isaac same as this - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/william-optics-vixen-style-finder-shoe-mounting-base.html

Or this - if you don't mind white - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/finder-mounting-shoe.html

The cheaper version is out of stock at FLO although you can find them on eBay.

If you look at the photo - near the top you will see 4 black tabs. These were original holes that i drilled but I did not like the finderscope placement. So I moved it further down.

[Pixies]

A red dot finder will work well alongside the RACI, so this is a useful solution.

[Isaac 49]

32 minutes ago, Mark at Beaufort said:

Isaac same as this - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/william-optics-vixen-style-finder-shoe-mounting-base.html

Or this - if you don't mind white - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/finder-mounting-shoe.html

The cheaper version is out of stock at FLO although you can find them on eBay.

If you look at the photo - near the top you will see 4 black tabs. These were original holes that i drilled but I did not like the finderscope placement. So I moved it further down.

Thanks Mark, I’ve ordered the white one “#Yorkshire” cheers.

[Tiny Clanger]

I drilled holes in my heritage dob (a process I admit that I found nerve wracking 😉  ) , but only after testing if the spot I thought best would work by attaching the shoe with a little patch of several 'no more nails permanent fixing pads' ... they actually did the job for a few weeks, I only removed them and drilled the holes when the  pads started to let the finder wobble.

Heather

By the way, that wonky thing in the centre of the dob base ? It's a magnet salvaged from an old speaker. I used it as a counterbalance when I had a mixture of very light & slightly heavier EPs , when not in use it stuck on the central nut.

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Tiny Clanger
added postscript

[Alien 13]

46 minutes ago, Tiny Clanger said:

I drilled holes in my heritage dob (a process I admit that I found nerve wracking 😉  ) , but only after testing if the spot I thought best would work by attaching the shoe with a little patch of several 'no more nails permanent fixing pads' ... they actually did the job for a few weeks, I only removed them and drilled the holes when the  pads started to let the finder wobble.

Heather

 

Nice one, thats exactly how modifications should be done..

Alan

[Louis D]

On such a short, light tube, I would recommend mounting the finder directly opposite (or slightly forward or back of, depending the RACI's CoG) the altitude bearing so as not to upset balance at any angle.