Resurrected from the Past: Vixen R150S GP

[Fedele]

Straight from the 80's 90's beginning
Vixen GP R150 S with all original accessories.
The telescope had been parked in a garage for many years. it was owned by a non-astronomer who no longer knew what to do with it (received in the past from a brother in law). (The original GP counterweights that I had elsewhere are missing from the photo). I took it mostly for the GP.
Taken from the garage and mounted just for  curiosity last night, although it was not collimated and despite the conditions of the primary mirror after all these years of neglect, it gave me a simply spectacular vision of the Moon: white, highly contrasted. Its new first light after 15 /20 years!
Even in recovery he gave me a really good lunar image.
A special mention to these two truly exceptional 24.8 ovulars! Even the famous VIXEN green "lunch box" is present!
The mechanical beauty of the telescope and its incredible compactness and lightness are surprising.

[Fedele]

Old and New

[Fedele]

First light!!

0.01.2023
Vixen R150S, ASI178MM
AsiStudio, AstroSurface
A Vixen R150S resurrected and restored after 20 years in a garage.
Imaging  test of the mirror recovered from 20 years of neglect with a moon low on the horizon, between clouds, rain, and haze. 
I did a first delicate wash of the optics. Soon will be restored by an optician.   Anyway, telescope performs great with not important effect! A beautiful moon! Also in visual. Collimation is not perfect yet
Consider that the camera is not working at its correct equivalent focal ratio here

 

 

[Mandy D]

Lovely job on that scope. Must be great to have it back in service. Nice images of the Moon, too.

You gotta love the Hammerite finish on the rings and original mount. That certainly dates it.

[Sunshine]

That is a beautiful Vixen! I have a soft spot for the creme colour tones of those old Vixen's, it look beautiful on the Vixen mount!. You mentioned you are having the mirror restored? that would be great, I would love to find one just like it but I'm sure they are rare birds. As much as the SXD2 offers modern conveniences, I still prefer how it looks on the original polaris mount, wonderful looking telescope!.

Edited January 11, 2023 by Sunshine

[Franklin]

45 minutes ago, Fedele said:

Straight from the 80's 90's beginning
Vixen GP R150 S with all original accessories.

Definitely from the early 90's, Vixen were still selling the Super Polaris in 1991 but changed to the Great Polaris soon after. Here is a picture of your lovely GP R150S from a Vixen catalogue 92/93. So the scope is 30 years old and still going strong, this is why I like Vixen quality.

 

Edited January 11, 2023 by Franklin

[Fedele]

[Franklin]

24 minutes ago, Fedele said:

You can put your sandwiches in that, just in case you get peckish whilst out observing!

[900SL]

1 hour ago, Franklin said:

Definitely from the early 90's, Vixen were still selling the Super Polaris in 1991 but changed to the Great Polaris soon after. Here is a picture of your lovely GP R150S from a Vixen catalogue 92/93. So the scope is 30 years old and still going strong, this is why I like Vixen quality.

 

Its a bit like old Hi Fi. Somehow they just look better..

 

Nice score Fedele, Richard here from the Vixen FB page

 

[Mandy D]

9 minutes ago, 900SL said:

Its a bit like old Hi Fi. Somehow they just look better..

 

 

But, I bet they don't have a pair of KT66s!

[Carbon Brush]

Great scope. Thanks for posting.

Looking at the mirror, I wouldn't get too worked up about spending. I have seen worse that work well.
Just give it a wash and a lot of the problems will rinse off.

Enjoy the scope, David.

[900SL]

17 minutes ago, Mandy D said:

But, I bet they don't have a pair of KT66s!

 

[Mandy D]

12 minutes ago, 900SL said:

 

Now, that is art!

[Sunshine]

2 hours ago, 900SL said:

 

Wow, this looks like something out of a Dr. Who episode (the originals) what is it? it is beautiful.

[900SL]

Quad II amps but let's not sidetrack Fedeles thread

[RobertI]

What a wonderful scope, love Newts and that’s a beaut. Interesting focuser, does this ‘transverse’ design have any advantages over the traditional design? 

[Fedele]

35 minutes ago, RobertI said:

What a wonderful scope, love Newts and that’s a beaut. Interesting focuser, does this ‘transverse’ design have any advantages over the traditional design? 

probably in some back focus aplication

 

[RT65CB-SWL]

Well done you!

Lovely looking instrument/'scope. 

I do regret selling my Vixen GP mount and tripod.
It was the best GEM/EQ I have ever used. 

 

Edited January 12, 2023 by Philip R

[markse68]

I guess it’d need an oversized secondary to avoid vignetting with eps with field stops a long way up the barrel? Not an advantage though 

Mark