StellaLyra 12" Unboxing

[Mr Spock]

As usual, no actual boxes, just the scope. 

Oh my, it's huge! Size does matter 😜 Thankfully I can move it around ok despite the dodgy back. 

Overall I think it's exceptionally well finished for the money. It's a whole lot of scope and quality parts for very little. It did arrive with the secondary badly out of collimation - you could only see half the primary. Soon sorted though. The whole thing was easy to assemble with the base just taking a few minutes. I didn't see any instructions, but, I didn't really look for any. Focuser seems really nice - what a step up from Skywatcher. The whole package is next level + compared to Skywatchers.

It sits very nicely on the base. The base has az bearings and is easy to move. The alt is also well done and adjustable for weight, though, you can't adjust it on the fly. It's a nice height to see comfortably and will be even better when it's on an EQ platform.

Look at the size!

I left off the eyepiece holder. It seems to me to be a bit of sharp metal just at knee height...

Nice focuser

Big shiny thing

Bottom end stuff. Have to be careful setting it down on it's end. Everything sticks out the bottom

Decent quality RACI

Nice alt bearing arrangement

Now all I need are clear skies and no storms.

[RobertI]

A quality looking scope. Looking forward to seeing how you get on, as it’s on my wish list. It’s difficult to appreciate the size from a photo, but zooming in on the focuser on the first photo, the tube does look very big! Would be good to see an average height human next to it 🙂. 

[Robindonne]

Nice dob.  The one thing thats missing is an unboxing of the 16” model

[Andy ES]

1 hour ago, Mr Spock said:

whole package is next level + compared to Skywatchers

Michael,

Congratulations, looks like a great scope. What do you think are the advantages over the skywatcher 300p flex tube, other than it’s about £200 cheaper?

Thanks

 

[Whistlin Bob]

Congratulations. Buying a big dob was one of the most wonderful things I've ever done. 

[Clarkey]

I have big scope envy...

Very nice bit of kit on my "when there is room" list.

2 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

. Have to be careful setting it down on it's end. Everything sticks out the bottom

Looks like there are 3 additional holes in the base. Could these be used to attach some small 'feet' or are they grub screws?

[niallk]

Congrats - looks the biz 😎👍👍

[Stu]

Love that black finish, classy looking scope. Let’s get this storm out of the way and then hopefully you will get a first light soon 👍

[cajen2]

Great scope! Makes my 8" look positively puny! If I'd bought that, I'd have been out on my ear....😄. Will it live in the shed?

You're right: Skywatcher will have to look to their laurels! The base and bearings are smooth as silk in comparison to the SW.

Edited February 18, 2022 by cajen2

[Mr Spock]

19 hours ago, Andy ES said:

What do you think are the advantages over the skywatcher 300p flex tube, other than it’s about £200 cheaper?

Where to start. The advantage of the flextube is the tube design and compact storage, other than that, the SL wins at everything. It has a better focuser, better mount, better bearings, better mirror cell, a fan. Overall you'd have to say the Skywatcher is very dated and the SL has quality and a more modern feel. Some things could be better, like the secondary mounting, but there's not much to criticise at this price.

[Mr Spock]

18 hours ago, Stu said:

Love that black finish, classy looking scope.

Yes, it does look good. I think SL have a winner here. Especially with the better than average specification.

[Mr Spock]

19 hours ago, Clarkey said:

Looks like there are 3 additional holes in the base. Could these be used to attach some small 'feet' or are they grub screws?

The white knobs are for locking the mirror. When screwed out it can rest on them. The black collimation knobs are a bit farther in as is the fan. I wouldn't set it down on uneven or soft ground though.

[neil phillips]

23 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

As usual, no actual boxes, just the scope. 

Oh my, it's huge! Size does matter 😜 Thankfully I can move it around ok despite the dodgy back. 

Overall I think it's exceptionally well finished for the money. It's a whole lot of scope and quality parts for very little. It did arrive with the secondary badly out of collimation - you could only see half the primary. Soon sorted though. The whole thing was easy to assemble with the base just taking a few minutes. I didn't see any instructions, but, I didn't really look for any. Focuser seems really nice - what a step up from Skywatcher. The whole package is next level + compared to Skywatchers.

It sits very nicely on the base. The base has az bearings and is easy to move. The alt is also well done and adjustable for weight, though, you can't adjust it on the fly. It's a nice height to see comfortably and will be even better when it's on an EQ platform.

Look at the size!

I left off the eyepiece holder. It seems to me to be a bit of sharp metal just at knee height...

Nice focuser

Big shiny thing

Bottom end stuff. Have to be careful setting it down on it's end. Everything sticks out the bottom

Decent quality RACI

Nice alt bearing arrangement

Now all I need are clear skies and no storms.

Congrats looks great. Its giving me fantasies. Been spending ages trying to go more portable. But cant get this and the dob tracking platform out of my mind. Any idea of the tube weight ?

Edited February 18, 2022 by neil phillips

[Sunshine]

Congrats! it certainly does look like it is built well, that focuser caught my eye right away as it looks like a really nice one!

[Mr Spock]

19 minutes ago, neil phillips said:

Any idea of the tube weight

Not sure - box says 24kg, so, less than that. 

[neil phillips]

48 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Not sure - box says 24kg, so, less than that. 

just found it. its a beast. 19.5 kg fairly heavy. 

[Mr Spock]

Some final configurations:

Finders

Az adjusted to balance at 45° with an NLV and Telrad. Plenty of adjustment for heavier eyepieces. That 12" lump of glass is quite a counter-weight.

[Mr Spock]

I forgot to mention the accessories. There's a nice 35mm extension in there - same as the one I've already got 

Two eyepieces I don't need. I had a look at the 30mm - it's absolute pants. I've never seen such a blurred field stop. Yuk! The other will remain unopened.

[faulksy]

15 hours ago, neil phillips said:

just found it. its a beast. 19.5 kg fairly heavy. 

my primary mirror weighs more than that 🤣

lovely scope michael 👍

[maw lod qan]

Nice looking piece of equipment!

When I got back into the hobby, I bought an 8" OTA.  Having old refractors I thought 8" would be great!

Sure wish now I had gone 10" or 12"!

Edited February 19, 2022 by maw lod qan

[Ian McCallum]

Looks like the Telrad base is just sticking at the edges.  I'm guessing a larger diameter OTA would require a mod to the base...  

[Mr Spock]

9 minutes ago, Ian McCallum said:

Looks like the Telrad base is just sticking at the edges.  I'm guessing a larger diameter OTA would require a mod to the base... 

It's enough. The 10" was the same.

[DrMike]

It looks terrific, and I’m envious. I’m not sure if I could manage to lift it though.
Will you leave it in “one piece” or or leave it in “two” parts until you’re ready to take it out?

all you need now is some clear weather. 
 

enjoy it, I imagine the views will be brilliant.
 

[Mr Spock]

23 minutes ago, DrMike said:

Will you leave it in “one piece” or or leave it in “two” parts until you’re ready to take it out?

It will only fit in the shed whole. So, a three step process to set up. Take the tube off and stand outside, lift the base outside then put the tube back on.

[neil phillips]

3 hours ago, faulksy said:

my primary mirror weighs more than that 🤣

lovely scope michael 👍

Sounds like the perfect telescope for moving around my bungalow then 😄

My Orion at 11kgs becomes off putting. Must admit back breaking aside, lunar and planetary imaging at 12" is a lot of fun. and with flos dob drive now available. Its a cheap option for a large visual imaging scope.

Will be interested in any optical quality reports