Telescope Reviews: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon

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michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: Bob S.]
#5659673 - 02/03/13 10:26 AM

Quote:

Although the LE series is winding down, it is such a friendly and easy scope to use that it was simply a great pleasure tonight like I almost cannot describe.

Hi Bob, Quick correction...Your 12.5" is a TL. This is the series that, unfortunately, is going to be discontinued, not the LE.

Hope you all have a great time at the WSP, sorry I can't be there.

Mike

Post Extras:

Peter Natscher
sage

Reged: 03/28/06

Loc: Central California

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5659807 - 02/03/13 11:37 AM

Mike,

If discontinuing the TL, are you discontinuing scope sizes less than 16" aperture?

Quote:

Quote:

Although the LE series is winding down, it is such a friendly and easy scope to use that it was simply a great pleasure tonight like I almost cannot describe.

Hi Bob, Quick correction...Your 12.5" is a TL. This is the series that, unfortunately, is going to be discontinued, not the LE.

Hope you all have a great time at the WSP, sorry I can't be there.

Mike

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: Peter Natscher]
#5661558 - 02/04/13 11:16 AM

Hi Pete,

PM sent

Mike

Post Extras:

Jaxdialation
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/01/07

Loc: Northeast, FL

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5664432 - 02/05/13 10:27 PM

That looks fantastic Mike.

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665639 - 02/06/13 04:47 PM Attachment (47 downloads)

Hi All
Wheels and handles are in place.

Mike

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665650 - 02/06/13 04:54 PM Attachment (29 downloads)

1" X 14 gauge steel square tube is used for the handles. They insert into the rear openings at the back of the rocker.

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665657 - 02/06/13 04:59 PM Attachment (47 downloads)

Showing the front wheels (separate from the handles) made from the same material as the handles. Inserted into the front openings of the rocker. Because they mount inside the rocker there is no added width to the scope.

Next photos will show the new location for the truss pull down winch set-up. This is used so the UTA can be installed without a ladder on all size scopes where needed.

It is now mounted in the front of the mirror box and pulls the mirror box down rather then pulling the mirror box up as it did on the LE. It may be a little hard to understand how it works from the photos but in actual use it works perfectly. This arrangement is more compact, stable and more user friendly.

Mike

Edited by michael (02/06/13 05:11 PM)

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665676 - 02/06/13 05:13 PM Attachment (39 downloads)

Pull down set-up.

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665682 - 02/06/13 05:16 PM Attachment (39 downloads)

Installed into the opening on the mirror box.

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665694 - 02/06/13 05:21 PM Attachment (36 downloads)

The strap goes to an opening located at the front of the wheel assembly. This picture showing the scope with the trusses mounted and scope in zenith position.

Edited by michael (02/06/13 05:26 PM)

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665705 - 02/06/13 05:29 PM Attachment (37 downloads)

Showing the scope pulled down for UTA installation.

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665709 - 02/06/13 05:30 PM Attachment (30 downloads)

Closeup of the winch pull down set-up.

Mike

Edited by michael (02/06/13 05:33 PM)

Post Extras:

mark cowan
Vendor (Veritas Optics)

Reged: 06/03/05

Loc: salem, OR

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5665944 - 02/06/13 08:08 PM

Slick.

Best,
Mark

Post Extras:

DHurst
super member

Reged: 03/10/06

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: mark cowan]
#5706029 - 02/28/13 07:24 PM

Will you be powder coating this sweet scope Mike?

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: DHurst]
#5711196 - 03/03/13 06:39 PM Attachment (38 downloads)

Hi All,
All done, here is a finished picture of the first production Starstructure Horizon.

Mike

Post Extras:

michael
Vendor (Starstructure Telescopes)

Reged: 01/24/04

Loc: Trinity Florida

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: DHurst]
#5711207 - 03/03/13 06:43 PM

Hi Dave,

I would love to get set up for power coating. Just don't have the room for the size oven I would need. Farming out all the parts is just to risky and the shipping back and forth is too expensive.

Mike

Post Extras:

Carl Wright
member

Reged: 08/05/04

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: michael]
#5711351 - 03/03/13 08:00 PM

With permission, here are 2 links of the assembly videos of the new 26" Horizon. I also helped transport the scope in my minivan and commented on how the overall footprint of the scope was no bigger than my 22" when loaded in the van. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgFtEURVppk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndnf_167Xys

Post Extras:

Bob S.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/14/05

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: Carl Wright]
#5711419 - 03/03/13 08:32 PM

Absolutely fantastic Mike. The 25 minutes spent watching the two videos was delightful and cleared up a number of questions I had thought about when viewing your still shots of the scope. Congratulations on a spectacular new design. I cannot wait to see one of these scopes in action. Bob Schilling

Post Extras:

Daud
sage

Reged: 08/05/06

Loc: AZ, Scottsdale

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: Bob S.]
#5711842 - 03/04/13 01:17 AM

I am thinking how life is short and maybe I shall get this scope next year. But it won't be a change money for me and everything would have to be perfect, incl. the thermal management. Bob, can I hire you as a consultant

Post Extras:

Bob S.
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/14/05

Re: Starstructure 26" F3.3 Horizon new

[Re: Daud]
#5711962 - 03/04/13 05:54 AM

David, Mike Zammit is aware of the CBLMS and will be evaluating it sometime at CAV. He is the consultant. I am just an end user. I am sure that when he sees my CBLMS, he will probably come up with ways to improve/tweak the design. He is certainly well-versed in thermal management issues. Now that we have an opportunity to see the scope with some motion, you can imagine why Mike Z. is so excited about the design's ability to scale up to monster size scopes. I think Mike said that this scope's design has been brewing in his thoughts for years and that "aha" moment has really seemed to bear some incredible fruit. I can't get over the relatively small footprint of this very large scope. Bob

Post Extras:

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