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Ed Kessler
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/17/06
Posts: 828
Loc: Millersburg, PA
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Just a quick update on my "new" 1961 Questar that I displayed in an earlier post.
I just received it back from Questar today with the following upgrades:
Standard Service
A new set of standard optics
Powerglide II Retrofit.
Everything seems to be working perfectly with the exception of some mirror shift that I hadn't noticed before I sent the scope to Questar. I'll be doing a star test when I get a chance, but the optics snap to a very sharp focus on terrestrial objects.
Next I need to fabricate an "adapter plate" of some sort so I can mount it on my Quickset tripod head and still have access to the Powerglide socket on the base of the mount.
Here's a very quick photo:
--------------------
Ed Kessler
Televue NP127is, Borg 101ED,
Coronado SM60, 1961 Questar Standard (updated with new optics and a Powerglide II Retrofit, 2009)
16" "Jeff Counsil Dob"
Vixen VMC200L
Pentax XO, XP, SMC Orthos, Vernonscope Brandons
Televue 2-4mm Zoom, 13mm Ethos, 22mm Nagler, 35mm Panoptic;
TAK 32mm MC Erfle; 25mm and 15mm Zeiss Microscope Eyepieces
sic itur ad astra (Just to look profound!)
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GR1973
member
Reged: 09/29/07
Posts: 70
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Congratulation...Ed
But why you change the optics???
you told us about musty smelling in eyepieces that you have send to vernon scope for cleaning..I am interesting to know the result if they found a fungus or not???
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Ed Kessler
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/17/06
Posts: 828
Loc: Millersburg, PA
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Hello,
I had Questar change the optics to the newer R2 corrector system. There were several reasons: optically the scope wasn't as "sharp" as I thought it should be; there were multiple circular reflections that I noticed which were certainly affecting its performance; and I thought that, if I was going to keep the scope, I wanted optimum light transmission considering the small aperture.
Also, I admit that when it comes to optics I have a bit of OCD!! 
This is going to be my grab-n-go telescope.
The eyepieces are still at Vernonscope for cleaning. I'll report back when I receive them back. I have another set of Brandons that I'm using in the meantime.
Clear Skies,
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Ed Kessler
Televue NP127is, Borg 101ED,
Coronado SM60, 1961 Questar Standard (updated with new optics and a Powerglide II Retrofit, 2009)
16" "Jeff Counsil Dob"
Vixen VMC200L
Pentax XO, XP, SMC Orthos, Vernonscope Brandons
Televue 2-4mm Zoom, 13mm Ethos, 22mm Nagler, 35mm Panoptic;
TAK 32mm MC Erfle; 25mm and 15mm Zeiss Microscope Eyepieces
sic itur ad astra (Just to look profound!)
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Mapman2
member
Reged: 09/09/08
Posts: 22
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Congratulations, looks good. I think you will like the PGII.
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GR1973
member
Reged: 09/29/07
Posts: 70
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Quote:
Also, I admit that when it comes to optics I have a bit of OCD!!
I have the same syndrom with my optics...
Certainly ,You will enjoy your new perfect optics
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Clive Gibbons
Mostly Harmless
Reged: 05/26/05
Posts: 13421
Loc: Oort Cloud
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The scope looks beautiful, Ed! 
--------------------
A few telescopes of dubious value.
Understanding wife, two curious cats and one sadly departed.
"Semper ubi sub ubi"
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Matt Looby
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/09/03
Posts: 828
Loc: Wadhams, NY
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Hi Ed,
Nice looking Q... would you tell me a little about the tripod "Quick Set"?
Thanks,
Matt
--------------------
CN GALLERY
6" F/8 Newtonian
3.5" Mak-Cass
7x50 Binolux Binoculars
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Ed Kessler
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/17/06
Posts: 828
Loc: Millersburg, PA
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Quote:
Hi Ed,
Nice looking Q... would you tell me a little about the tripod "Quick Set"?
Thanks,
Matt
Hello Matt,
The Quickset tripod is government surplus. I actually have two of them. They are quite robust and can handle fairly heavy equipment, have geared center columns and clamping adjustable legs, and a variety of heads are available. The tripods can be extended well over my head (i.e., for binoculars).
I bought both of them at a ham radio flea market (hamfest) last year. The one that I use with the Questar was actually a Homeland Security unit and the head was designed to hold a large video surveillance camera in a fixed position. It works great as a "wedge" since it can be adjusted up to about 45° - just right for me in PA. I just discovered that it will work without any adapter plate with the Powerglide II cable. So, I'm set. The head on this tripod was originally mounted on a pier.
The other tripod I have has a very large head and can easily handle my Borg 101ED when I use it for terrestrial viewing/photography. (I've attached a photo of this one.)
I have one other, smaller head that I'm currently not using and I've even adapted a Bogen head that I use occasionally. These units are very smooth and solid, and I believe they are still available from the manufacturer. However, the last time I checked they were very expensive - probably since Quickset's main clients are the government and the entertainment industry.
Occasionally, you can find them on Ebay however.
Clear Skies,
--------------------
Ed Kessler
Televue NP127is, Borg 101ED,
Coronado SM60, 1961 Questar Standard (updated with new optics and a Powerglide II Retrofit, 2009)
16" "Jeff Counsil Dob"
Vixen VMC200L
Pentax XO, XP, SMC Orthos, Vernonscope Brandons
Televue 2-4mm Zoom, 13mm Ethos, 22mm Nagler, 35mm Panoptic;
TAK 32mm MC Erfle; 25mm and 15mm Zeiss Microscope Eyepieces
sic itur ad astra (Just to look profound!)
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Ed Kessler
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/17/06
Posts: 828
Loc: Millersburg, PA
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Quote:
Congratulation...Ed
But why you change the optics???
you told us about musty smelling in eyepieces that you have send to vernon scope for cleaning..I am interesting to know the result if they found a fungus or not???
I received the eyepieces back from Vernonscope today. Don did a very nice job of cleaning them and provided a bit of history on the "Questar" 24mm (i.e., non-Brandon) eyepiece. He did not detect any fungus, but they definitely smelled "musty" when I sent them to him. They do not exhibit any such odor now.
It's time to give the Q a thorough testing!
Clear Skies,
--------------------
Ed Kessler
Televue NP127is, Borg 101ED,
Coronado SM60, 1961 Questar Standard (updated with new optics and a Powerglide II Retrofit, 2009)
16" "Jeff Counsil Dob"
Vixen VMC200L
Pentax XO, XP, SMC Orthos, Vernonscope Brandons
Televue 2-4mm Zoom, 13mm Ethos, 22mm Nagler, 35mm Panoptic;
TAK 32mm MC Erfle; 25mm and 15mm Zeiss Microscope Eyepieces
sic itur ad astra (Just to look profound!)
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GR1973
member
Reged: 09/29/07
Posts: 70
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congratulation Edd
Thanks for your update
....It is a great idea to buy an old Questar with original style metal work and paint and changing its optics to achieve a new performance ...Cheaper and may a better shape than a new one....
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Ed Kessler
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/17/06
Posts: 828
Loc: Millersburg, PA
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Ready to Go!
Here's a photo of the complete setup. I built a bracket to hold the Powerglide controller on the tripod center post.
--------------------
Ed Kessler
Televue NP127is, Borg 101ED,
Coronado SM60, 1961 Questar Standard (updated with new optics and a Powerglide II Retrofit, 2009)
16" "Jeff Counsil Dob"
Vixen VMC200L
Pentax XO, XP, SMC Orthos, Vernonscope Brandons
Televue 2-4mm Zoom, 13mm Ethos, 22mm Nagler, 35mm Panoptic;
TAK 32mm MC Erfle; 25mm and 15mm Zeiss Microscope Eyepieces
sic itur ad astra (Just to look profound!)
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 730
Loc: Maryland
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Nice setup, Ed.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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Matt Looby
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/09/03
Posts: 828
Loc: Wadhams, NY
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Ed that is a beautiful set up! Thanks for sharing!
Matt
--------------------
CN GALLERY
6" F/8 Newtonian
3.5" Mak-Cass
7x50 Binolux Binoculars
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