Steve,

Thanks for the many pictures and for answering the questions. Now, I see how useful the tension control handles are for carrying the beast.

I have little doubt that Orion will be selling a modified version of the flextube with COL in the near future. I have a feeling the 12" will be very popular. When retracted, it's 92.5cm or 36.4in which should fit in almost any car. Now, only if the large base could be collapsed. Then it would be a really "portable" 12" dob.