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Post by boomboom on Nov 10, 2013 20:57:33 GMT -5
Have just weighed it, and as is comes in at 12.7kg. Not to far from where I hoped. Dewshield will be made from thin ply and 450mm long? Is that too much? In the previous post the laser beam is in the centre, the black dot is as close as I could get on the Synta f8, and that still had perfect stars at the edge....either the laser is out (Icollimated it) or Refractors are close enough is good enough. Another view of the rear end
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Post by bn1777 on Nov 11, 2013 7:32:01 GMT -5
OH yea ! , sweet Matt . Brian.
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Post by boomboom on Nov 17, 2013 21:26:23 GMT -5
Starting to look like a scope now! Had a quick look this morning at Jupiter and what a terrific piece of glass this objective is. ED like in the view. Never have seen Jupiter look so clear, contrasty etc this Istar leaves my 6" f8 Synta for dead....just an amazingly beautiful sight. Now I understand why long fl refractors are so good at the Planets. Shame that clouds rolled in 5min's after I started. Here is the last pic of the scope ,minus dewshield which I'm building up now from ply, before I pull it apart and send it off for a Powdercoat. Matt
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Post by Kitch101 on Nov 17, 2013 22:04:52 GMT -5
A job well done Matt !
I haven't done anything on my scopes yet, still getting the new house in order. How I hate landscaping !!! I did get an email from the chap who is restoring the Grubb mount for the Oddie, going to try and get up there to have a look.
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Post by bn1777 on Nov 18, 2013 19:13:51 GMT -5
Yes well done Matt , cant wait until its all coated and reassembled ,, clear skies mate . Are you gonna use it on the EQ6 and tall HW tripod ? I cant wait to see it all set up on that as well . Oh yes the balance point looks good , about center on the tube ? by the looks . Brian.
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Post by boomboom on Nov 19, 2013 18:49:50 GMT -5
Thanks gents, Yes I will have it on the hardwood tripod as soon as it's painted. Just a last photo and a comparo between f12 and f8... a BIG difference! Gotta say that at the eyepiece the f12 feels so good, a real telescope. Matt
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Post by jimcurry on Nov 21, 2013 20:53:09 GMT -5
Yeah, a dewshield 450 is good. I bet you'll never get dew. Let's see a nicenmounted profile. ote author=" boomboom" source="/post/3504/thread" timestamp="1384904990"]Thanks gents, Yes I will have it on the hardwood tripod as soon as it's painted. Just a last photo and a comparo between f12 and f8... a BIG difference! Gotta say that at the eyepiece the f12 feels so good, a real telescope. Attachment DeletedMatt[/quote]
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Post by bn1777 on Nov 22, 2013 3:33:18 GMT -5
Hell yes Matt , it dwarfs the synta f8 , don't it ? . As Jim asks , any chance of a nice side profile , dew shield tripod and all ? before stripping for painting . Thanks . Brian.
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Post by boomboom on Nov 22, 2013 8:10:35 GMT -5
Well I'd like to show you all but I'm now on dew shield version III The Plywood had a large flat spot I couldn't get rid of…..ggrrrrr Then tried a thin Aluminium sheet 0.6mm one which was going great, and then I decided to cut a little bit more off……just cut and didn't measure….woops so Version IV Another Al sheet rolled up this time 1mm thick with 200 x3mm diameter Aluminium rings on both ends joined with rivets…that's the theory anyway. When it's done I'll post a pic of the lot but it will take a couple of days. It's been so easy until now….
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Post by bn1777 on Nov 23, 2013 7:03:58 GMT -5
Matt steam the ply in the oven with a raosting dish of boiling water under the rack with the ply layed flat on it with the oven on about 75 degrees and a wet tea towel on top of the ply for 1/2 an hour or so then wrap the warm steamed ply around a former of the right size + 3-4mm ( for felt )tape or zip tie it in position with plenty of them holding it firm and lay aside for a day or 2 to harden off , remove the tape or ties and glue it together . Good luck .
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Post by Mike on Nov 23, 2013 14:44:50 GMT -5
Nice job Matt! Glad to hear the "glass" is living up to your expectations. Not that I ever doubted it would
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Post by boomboom on Nov 27, 2013 20:44:45 GMT -5
Here is a photo of my dew shield version V. Half way through making version IV I realised that the rivets would mean the shield would have to be a permanent fixture...not a good thing, so this a piece of 203mm tube. The bad bit is the weight, 2.4kgs which brings the total weight of the naked ota to 14.5 kgs. A bit more than I wanted so I intend to try and 'glue' the thin sheet together with JB Weld and see how that goes. In the meantime it's this one. Had to put the Synta in for the final compare. Dewshield on the Istar is 450mm. What do you think? Look good, too long maybe or just right. I still have to do something to pretty up the junction between scope and dewshield it's a bi too abrupt for me. Looking down the front end... and the back end.... By the time I add rings dovetails and finder this baby will weigh a healthy 17kg's. The NEQ6 is groaning in the background as I write.... Next up is a Pillow Block Mount....gulp. Matt
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Post by astromanuk on Nov 28, 2013 5:17:59 GMT -5
Matt, thing you have the dewshield length just right for that classic appearance. Very reminiscent of those made in the late 1800's by William Wray of London. It will certainly keep off dew and also be excellent at shielding the lens from stray light.
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Post by bn1777 on Dec 6, 2013 7:57:48 GMT -5
Matt, thing you have the dewshield length just right for that classic appearance. Very reminiscent of those made in the late 1800's by William Wray of London. It will certainly keep off dew and also be excellent at shielding the lens from stray light. +1 on the look , Matt a classic look deserves a long thro 6 inch refractor , leave it as it is I recon . Brian.
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Post by boomboom on Dec 6, 2013 23:22:14 GMT -5
So at long last the final bit to this saga. Dewshield is done at 450mm long. In the end I cut the solid tube up into a skeleton and wrapped it with .5mm aluminium sheet which needed a few rivets to help keep it in place. Didn't mind as it gave it a bit more of the look I am after. My 16 year old son took a look at it assembled today and was really impressed....made me feel real good So here it is .....and it's clear big blue sky today...just hope it lasts into the night. Still on the metal tripod, the wooden one needs a bit of work still. A detail of the dewshield and end of the cell and from the rear once more If it stays clear I'll give e report on the first proper light for this new Istar scope. Matt
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