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Equipment Discussions >> Reflectors

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panhard
Mongo
*****

Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 5105
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: bsim]
      #2312274 - 04/07/08 09:43 PM

Yes I think they pulled goofed when they chose that name. First thing I thought of was. The scope waving in the breeze.

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Edited by panhard (04/09/08 12:53 AM)


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Jeff-g
member


Reged: 03/23/07
Posts: 66
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: panhard]
      #2312378 - 04/07/08 10:26 PM

I agree that looks like R2D2s tiwn brother. What a laugh..

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Celestron CG5-T AST
Celestron C6-SCT
Celestron SLT 102 (For Sale)
Hardin DSH 8"
Baader Hyperion 24mm & 17mm
EQ Platform


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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: Jeff-g]
      #2312891 - 04/08/08 08:39 AM

Quote:

No light shroud, and none available at the moment that I know of (although it really does need one). Might be interesting fitting one, to be honest. The Meade LBs have the V section bars round the outside, so a shroud will fit around the outside of any light path, but with only three vertical struts on the Flextube, a shroud will need to fit the upper and lower ends and will need to be self supporting for its tubular shape.





I was thinking, wouldn’t be possible to make a semi-rigid shroud by placing bicycle spokes between two pieces of some sort of material (like the wood planks in an oak barrel)? What material is used to make a shroud anyway? Does it matters what is used?

--------------------
Jimmy

If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?

"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12


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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: InkDark]
      #2313577 - 04/08/08 03:36 PM

I went to a local dealer today (to finally get a Telrad) and I asked the vendor if he had any news about when those Sky-Watcher retractable Dobs are going to be available. He told me that he heard that the 12” is going to appear first on the market (before the 8 and the 10 inch). Without being completely sure, he’s expecting them to be available before the summer!

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Jimmy

If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?

"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12


Edited by InkDark (04/08/08 06:21 PM)


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nightstalker
sage


Reged: 03/30/07
Posts: 248
Loc: Great South Land
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: InkDark]
      #2315872 - 04/09/08 05:05 PM

looks great .. pity they couldn't of dropped the height of the base ..its just so begging to be done ..shorten the bottom tube ..lengthen the poles ..and move the bearing
mounts .

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28pretoria22t414xw8.5xf
12" truss dob and numerous missplaced accesories...graham


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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: nightstalker]
      #2315941 - 04/09/08 05:36 PM

It’s very interesting (looks very transportable and portable for the aperture) but it seems a bit expensive though! Much more than the LB.

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Jimmy

If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?

"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12


Edited by InkDark (04/09/08 05:37 PM)


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epee
professor emeritus


Reged: 11/30/06
Posts: 696
Loc: Suh-van-nuh, Jaw-juh
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: InkDark]
      #2316044 - 04/09/08 06:22 PM

You'd think a shroud could be made like those childrens collapsible play tunnels so that it would pop open on flexible fiberglass stalks as the tube was extended.

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Jim Girardeau




Orion XT12 Intelliscope
Celestron 11X80mm binoculars





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SteveL
super member


Reged: 03/18/07
Posts: 160
Loc: Cambridge, UK
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: InkDark]
      #2316900 - 04/10/08 04:34 AM

Thats odd... in the UK, the 12" Skywatcher Flextube is UK£50 (~US$100) cheaper than the 12" Meade LightBridge

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--
Steve
www.steves-astro.com


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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: SteveL]
      #2317101 - 04/10/08 09:30 AM

I must be doing something wrong. If I do a conversion (on the net) of pounds into Canadian dollars, I get 600 pounds = 1210$ CAD. The 12" LB is going for 900$ CAD. Clearly I'm wrong somewhere here. On the other hand, a 12" Sky-Watcher retractable Dob for 800$ CAD is good news.

Steve, one more question. Does the 12” come with a fan or maybe a rig to hook up one?

The specs are available for the 12” but not for the others. Does someone know what is the F/ratio on the 10”?

--------------------
Jimmy

If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?

"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12


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SteveL
super member


Reged: 03/18/07
Posts: 160
Loc: Cambridge, UK
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: InkDark]
      #2317181 - 04/10/08 10:45 AM

No, you are not doing anything wrong...

12" LB -> £700
12" FT -> £650

UK astronomers pay silly prices for kit (but lets not get into that whole shouting match right now )

Sadly the 12" unit isnt mine, it was someone elses that we kind of "looked after" for the star party weekend.

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--
Steve
www.steves-astro.com


Edited by SteveL (04/10/08 10:46 AM)


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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: SteveL]
      #2317641 - 04/10/08 02:36 PM

Quote:

12" LB -> £700
12" FT -> £650

UK astronomers pay silly prices for kit




Well the good news is that the price went down a bit - When this thread started it was advertise at 650, as you said, but now it is at 599! - 12" SW FlextTube

--------------------
Jimmy

If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?

"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12


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JosephR
member


Reged: 11/30/05
Posts: 14
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: InkDark]
      #2318074 - 04/10/08 05:34 PM

One advantage of the design, which I haven't heard mentioned, is that it may be ideal for binoviewers. It should be possible to vary the strut length in order to use a binoviewer without an OCA.

Joseph


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Doug76
Postmaster
****

Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5494
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: JosephR]
      #2318751 - 04/10/08 11:38 PM

At least they got the tube rings and trusses the right color, and dig that mirror tube cover! All these are things Meade should have done.
Doug

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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer


The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty

6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch


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panhard
Mongo
*****

Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 5105
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: InkDark]
      #2319298 - 04/11/08 10:14 AM

any idea of the weigth of the 12" sccccccope?

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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2079
Loc: Arizona
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: InkDark]
      #2319440 - 04/11/08 11:22 AM

Those are pretty cool. I think thats the future of Orion Dobsonian right there. I would be much more interested if they had at least a 14" model and VERY happy for a 16". Already having a 10" there would be no reason for a 12".

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www.skywardeyes.webs.com


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TITAN
sage


Reged: 01/06/06
Posts: 363
Loc: SW Idaho
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: panhard]
      #2319581 - 04/11/08 12:30 PM

Hmmm, I wonder when I'll be able to purchase just the shell and transfer my glass/curved vane into it...

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-Jeremy-
12x60 Binoculars
60mm Celestron Firstscope
Celestron C102 HD
300mm ANTTLERS HPN Dobsonian
20mmT5 - rebuilding collection...

Reynold's Creek, Idaho


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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2079
Loc: Arizona
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: skyward_eyes]
      #2319617 - 04/11/08 12:49 PM

Seriously if Orion and Skywatcher want to keep the dobsonian competition over Meade they need to make a 16".

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www.skywardeyes.webs.com


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Darenwh
Pooh-Bah


Reged: 05/11/06
Posts: 1179
Loc: Covington, GA
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: skyward_eyes]
      #2319828 - 04/11/08 02:33 PM

I don't know, looking at the size of this scope, a 16" scope built like it would still be mighty big. I think for a 16" scope a true truss such as the light bridge is still a better option. More complexity in setup but much smaller for transport. Look at the picture from earlier in post carrying a 12" and imagine how big a 16" would be. You would be bear hugging it to pic it up and would be dealing with the additional weight of the 16" version.

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Daren
Covington, GA


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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2079
Loc: Arizona
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs new [Re: Darenwh]
      #2319850 - 04/11/08 02:42 PM

Yeah but still the 16" LB is no small scope. The lower portion is HUGE! I do agree that a TRUE truss system is the best. Thats why if they do not relase a 16" model I will just go with the 15" Obsession as the next scope for me.

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www.skywardeyes.webs.com


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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel


Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
Re: New Sky-Watcher Flextube Dobs [Re: skyward_eyes]
      #2324625 - 04/13/08 05:21 PM

The 12inch is here! It's going for 875$ CAN! Scroll down in this link.

--------------------
Jimmy

If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?

"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12


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