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18" f4.5 Starsplitter

JAO

By JAO
in Members Equipment Gallery

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JAO

JAO

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Posted

I have put a few pictures in my album of my refurbished Starsplitter 18" f4.5 Dobsonian (I haven't managed to work out how to upload photos with post!!). I have owned the scope since 1998, but over the years it began to show the ravages of time. Starsplitters are no longer made and Jim Brunkella, who built the scopes in Southern California sadly closed the business up about 4 years ago. Although superb instruments they were never designed for the UKs wet and humid climate.

So about 2 years ago I took the scope to pieces, broke it down in to every last component, sanded it down and had it resprayed with many coats of lacquer. I replaced all the fasteners with stainless steel and reassembled the whole thing. It’s had a lot of use since then and is performing well. For those interested in the Tech spec, it has a Galaxy primary figured by John Hudek, it has a QSP optimised secondary held in an Astrosytems four point secondary holder fitted with a temperature sensing dew heater, the secondary holder is fitted in a modified Ken Novak spider, it has rear cell and boundary layer fans, a Moonlite Tri knob focuser and JMI NGC Max DSC.

I am now in the final stages of finishing the refurb of the Tom Osypowski dual axis equatorial platform that I used to use with the scope. That project is almost done, pics to follow!

Hope this is of interest.

Adrian

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TheThing

TheThing

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Forgive my crudeness, but that is like telescope pornography!

That is one beautiful scope and you have done an excellent job of refurbishing it! Bring it to SGL5 and bagsy first in the queue for a squint thru it.

thanks for sharing the photos.

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JAO

JAO

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Folks

many thanks for the kind comments about my Starsplitter, I am hoping its good for another couple of decades before needing another serious refurb.

SlySi84, the Telrad has an Astrosystems plexiglass cover fitted as well as kendrick heater. I love Telrads (well you either love or hate them) but as any Telrad user will know they are dew magnets. I found even with the heater turned up to 11 I would still get dew forming on an all nighter. The Astrosystems cover that just clicks on is part of my 'belt and braces' approach to dew prevention.

Russ, the scope is a great performer and lets me hunt down those faint Abell Planetaries and Palomar Globulars. A particularly illusive target I will be trying for again when spring arrives is Longmore -Tritton 5 an ancient and very faint Planetary in Coma.

TheThing, it won't be at SGL5 but it will be at the Spring and Autumn Kellings so if you are at either of those you'd be most welcome to have a squint or two. Yes Steve I was ther in September although I only got one good night in.

I'll post a few pics of the Equatorial Platform when I have finished refurbing it.

Clear skies

Adrian

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  • 4 months later...
JAO

JAO

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Hi Dalglish

It is the original woodwork but I stripped the scope down and sanded every piece of wood back to the apple ply top layer. I then restained the timber and then had it sprayed with multiple coats of lacquer. The scope was originally built in southern California where the conditions are somewhat less humid than East Anglia. I have in effect UK equipped the scope!

Thanks for your interest

Kris Thanks for you kind comments

Adrian

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