magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Hey Barabino - I've got a scope very much like that, except mine's on a simple homemade alt-az mount (now painted since this picture was taken last winter). It's a nice scope - I really like it. For me it hits the sweet spot of "easy to move, yet enough aperture to see a lot." I can understand why you wanted to replace the one you lost.
I'm in the process of building a 127mm f/4.4 scope to work on the same tripod, though I may have to go with a shorter cradle section (the unpainted portion in the picture, that I made to be removable and interchangeable). Otherwise - as I found out the other night testing it - the focuser is too high even for me, and I'm 6 feet tall!
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 330
Loc: Slidell La
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Thanks Magic!I had to round up the parts for this scope from various sources,and got it finished.I have'nt had a chance to aim it skyward yet-cloudy weather over this area.I had my original one for about a year and even photographed the lunar eclipse of 2004 with that one.However,I like your scope,very well built;looks like it is a nice grab and go system.I also have a Konusky 6" f/8 refractor,but it is a bit heavy for the Skyscan 2000 mount in the picture.This scope is light enough for that mount,and since finishing this scope,I have mounted it on the Sky scan and taken down the Konusky.I,m looking forward to the next clear evening so I can get to use it.One more pic:G
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Gary,
The new 127mm looks fantastic! 
It was a pleasure to help the one who introduced me to this great hobby. This is only a small token of my appreciation for what you have done for me. May the diffraction limit of this fine instrument exceed your expectations. Look forward to you bringing it down to Riverview.
Mel
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Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Great 127mm scope you have there, Magic612! Please post photos of the newly painted instrument when time permits.
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Well, between work and my fishing excursions, I did a little more work on the tripod components. I decided to use Oval Head 1/4-20 2.5" long stainless steel bolts I purchase on eBay to connect the face plates to the legs. With this being the case, I used a bevel tipped countersink bit to put a beveled edge in the face plate holes to receive the oval head bolts. This will aid in preventing the face plates from shifting. This may be overkill, but I want the new North Star II to be solid as a rock. After the holds were beveled, I sanded the face plates using a 60-grit disk on my random orbital sander to receive a couple of coats of Black Rustoleum Hammered finish spray paint, which will be done later.
Here is a picture of two face plates showing the before and after effects of sanding. The before face plate is on the right, which goes without saying.
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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In working on the face plates for the bottom half of the legs, I nearly forgot about the upper face plates for the accessory tray.  I will have to drill and sand them as well. There is only three of them, since I will be placing one on each leg opposite the door hinges (used to support the accessory tray). So it should not take as long to prep them as I had to do with the lower face plates.
This is a photo of the three sets of hinges and unprepared face plates for the accessory tray support system. The black dots are where I will be drilling holes for the oval-head bolts.
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 330
Loc: Slidell La
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Mel,as usual I am impressed with the details and professional look you are giving to the components of this new instrument and I anticipate this telescope will look better and has been built better than a market scope of this size and type.Looking forward to first light a joint observing session using these new scopes.Seeing this great work coming togather is what has inspired me to get my own 5" f/9.I'm enjoying reading the status reports on the work you're doing on the scope!!!Looks like you're in the home stretch with this project.Fantastic!G
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 330
Loc: Slidell La
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First Light with the 5/ f/9.The weather improved this morning 10/28/2009 and I had a chance to set up the 5".the time of first light 12:10 AM 10/28/2009 and the target was the waxing gibbous moon.Excellent and crisp views of the region around Clavius and the rest of the moon,using three eyepieces-32mm Plossl,11mm Televue and 10mm Wollensak.I hope to get in a few winter DSO's when luna gets out of the way.I am pleased with this instrument and looking forward to more observing runs with it.Humidity was a bit rough but I took a picture of the instrument set up.A fine addition by subtraction to the Collection of a Telescopist.G
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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allanovercast
member
Reged: 08/02/07
Posts: 55
Loc: Billings, MT
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Beautiful! You will truly enjoy the views out of your new scope. When I am not traveling I enjoy taking it out, a bit heavy but well worth it. Now enjoy it after all the hard work!
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Allan Overcast
Cloudy Skies Observatory
10" Meade RCX-400
80mm Homeade Refractor
1277mm Homeade Refractor
Canon 350D Modified Camera
Q-Guider Camera
Pier-Tech 2 Pier
8' Exploradome
http://www.cloudyskies.org
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Quote:
Great 127mm scope you have there, Magic612! Please post photos of the newly painted instrument when time permits.
Mel
Thank you Mel, and here's a picture of the updated tripod/mount. Not much different, though I did swap out the other finderscope for a "new" homemade one - this one utilizes a 50mm lens with 220mm focal length and a 25mm Kellner as the eyepiece. It's very sharp, and because the eyepiece is nearly at my normal standing height, it's much, much easier to use than where the dovetail location is on the focuser.
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 330
Loc: Slidell La
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Hey Alan!Looking forward to a picture of your 5 inch with the new tube rings.I know you will like their quality.Gary(G)
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Awesome difference there, Magic! So, what is the electrical cable for? Is it for a moto-focus?
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Found a bit more time to work on the tripod to finish the metal work. I even completed painting the main leg face plates. As previously mentioned, I counter sunk, or beveled the holes in the face plates to receive oval head screws.
Today, I completed drilling the holes in the three accessory tray face plates and the dovetail plate for the cradle rings, followed by sanding. Here is a photo of these items before their edges were ground and surfaces sanded.
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Here is a picture of all of the fabricated aluminum plates to be used on the North Star II field tripod prior to painting with Rustoleum Black Hammered Finished spray paper.
The items in the photo are as follows:
Top Row: Dovetail Plate for cradle and dovetail bar.
Second Row: Face Plates for accessory tray.
Third and Fourth Row: Main Leg Face Plates for supporting main leg overall structure and braces for center leg. NOTE: The large hole in four of the main face plates were already in the scrap piece of aluminum plate.
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
|
dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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With all aluminum plates prepped, I painted the main face plates with Rustoleum Black Hammered finished spray paint. Below is a shot of some of the face plates. Note the hammered finish taking effect. I will paint the dovetail plate and accessory tray face plates soon. 
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
|
magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Quote:
Awesome difference there, Magic! So, what is the electrical cable for? Is it for a moto-focus?
Mel
Heh... if only! Actually, it's far more simple and pedestrian. The "cable" is actually just a simple green bungee cord. I use it to wrap around the tripod legs so that when I'm moving it, the legs stay together. Makes it much easier to move in and out of the garage that way. The cord is hanging from a handle; that allows me to move the whole tripod with one hand when the legs are "wrapped up."
Not as exciting as a moto-focus, unfortunately.  
I've been considering adding a center column and some kind of spreader bar set up, but so far the tripod has worked very well and been quite stable in use. So it's not been a high priority to make that change as of yet. Maybe over the winter... we'll see.
By the way, nice metal work on the aluminum plates. Looks great! I like that "hammered paint" look.
--------------------
- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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I was fooled!  ...a bungy cord you say?!  ...and I thought it was an electrical cable of some sort. Looks quite impressive though.
Thanks for the kind words about the aluminum plates, Magic! Yes, the hammered finish paint is great. This is my first time using it and I plan on doing so again! The only thing I am a bit concerned about, is that I did not prime the surface before painting. In any case, from what I have read, you can apply this stuff directly over rust! I also read that it does not do so well on aluminum though, but for me it looks fantastic.
Today, I managed to complete painting of the remaining aluminum pieces, which are the accessory tray face plates and the dovetail plate. I also had to repaint a couple of corners on one of the main face plates (lower left), because Lord Klutz got the better of me and sent it flying to the garage floor.   I recovered well though. My next move will be to start assembly of the tripod legs and sanding and finishing the center legs.
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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BarabinoSr
sage
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 330
Loc: Slidell La
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Mel!Great Job.You're making steps every day you work on the scope.Picture this:Your 5" f/9.4 refractor of the Vega Sky Center II and the 5" f/9 Yulin of the Vega Sky Center I standing side by side from the VSC II at Riverview Fl.Awesome!!G
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12"GSO f/5.3" Newtonian Reflector 10" Meade LX-50 Fork Mounted Schmidt-Cassegrain
8" Hardin f/6 Newtonian reflector
6" Konus f/8 Refractor,Yulin 5"f/9 refractor,
4.5"TASCO Luminova f/9 Newtonian Reflector 4.5"TASCO 11TR(Lunagrosso) Red reflector
90mm Meade f/11 refractor,Tasco 10TE 76mm 1200mm f/l Refractor
60mm TASCO 7TE-5 1000mm f/16.7 Refractor 60mm TASCO 9TE 700mm f/l refractor
60mm TASCO 9TE-0 710mm f/l Refractor 50mm-TASCO 6TE-5 600mm f/l Refractor
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dawsonian2000
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/26/06
Posts: 574
Loc: Riverview, FL, USA
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Thanks, Bam! Can't wait for that day to come, which I hope is soon. I just got home from work and the paint is curing wonderfully upon checking. I'll give the paint about a week or two to cure thoroughly before I start assembly. Before I do, I will have to narrow the center legs on the drill press so they can slide easily between the face plates of the main legs. Then I will spar varnish them. Man...! This project is starting to feel like a NASA project. 
Mel
--------------------
Clear Skies, Forever!
The Vega Sky Center
10" (254mm) F/5.65 Home Built Fork Mounted Newtonian Reflector
5" (127mm) F/9.4 Home Built Refractor (under construction)
3.5" (90mm) F/11.1 "Vixen-Spec Modified" Konus Refractor
3.1" (80mm) F/6 Scopos ED APO Refractor
4.5" (114mm) F/8 Tasco 11te-5 Newtonian (under restoration)
2.4" (60mm) F/16.7 Tasco 7te-5 Refractor
2.4" (60mm) F/15 Jason Discoverer 313 Refractor
http://www.vega-sky-center.com
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allanovercast
member
Reged: 08/02/07
Posts: 55
Loc: Billings, MT
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Got the rings in yesterday and just attached them. I will get a picture posted in a few days. Thanks, they look great!
--------------------
Allan Overcast
Cloudy Skies Observatory
10" Meade RCX-400
80mm Homeade Refractor
1277mm Homeade Refractor
Canon 350D Modified Camera
Q-Guider Camera
Pier-Tech 2 Pier
8' Exploradome
http://www.cloudyskies.org
|
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