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Project: Skylight F15m (mini): launching at NEAF!

Started by ukcanuck , Jan 16 2011 01:21 PM

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137 replies to this topic

#101 SkyscraperJim

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Posted 22 March 2011 - 11:18 AM

Now that is looking pretty sweet! I'm looking forward to seeing one in person (and eventually through one).

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#102 7331Peg

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Posted 22 March 2011 - 01:02 PM

Yeah, I agree - those finder rings make a huge difference. The shark fin didn't bother me all that much, but the rings make quite a difference in the appearance. They definitely add a touch of elegance.

What's the overall weight of the scope with the rings and finder attached?

John $:refractor:$

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#103 ukcanuck

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Posted 22 March 2011 - 04:20 PM

What's the overall weight of the scope with the rings and finder attached?

I don't have a fully assembled one with the new rings yet, but the first one with the original finder mounting weighs slightly over 2.5kg. I estimate that the version with the new finder rings will weigh just under 2.5kg, but will update when I can say for sure.

Thanks.

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#104 BillP

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Posted 22 March 2011 - 04:36 PM

Hmmm....brass rings that could hold a Vixen plate would look spectacular on this scope as well :question:

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#105 BillP

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Posted 22 March 2011 - 10:22 PM

Here's another black&gold beauty! Love the steering handle on the focuser, as well at the tube rings, and the ornate finder holders, and all the rivets!!! LINK

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#106 ngc2289

Soyuz

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Posted 22 March 2011 - 10:36 PM

WOW!! Nice scope!!!!! :ubetcha:

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#107 Homunculus

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Posted 23 March 2011 - 10:37 AM

Here's another black&gold beauty! Love the steering handle on the focuser, as well at the tube rings, and the ornate finder holders, and all the rivets!!! LINK

Good on you Richard; the man who conjured the original Steampunk.

J.

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#108 philjay

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Posted 24 March 2011 - 02:56 PM

Those look really good Richard much more elegant and more in keeping with the look of the scope. Nice

Phil

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#109 Doug76

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Posted 24 March 2011 - 09:59 PM

They certainly do!

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#110 Doug76

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Posted 24 March 2011 - 10:05 PM

A few other details:

The F15m is not actually an F15 refractor, this is the Carton F16 lens...I'm taking a bit of artistic licence with the name.

Closer to f/17, f/16.7 really, if you are using the 60/1000 lens.
That one is an excellent lens, and you could not have picked better IMO.

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#111 Doug76

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Posted 29 March 2011 - 07:44 PM

You kind of inspired me to try a new look with my latest, also a Carton 60/1000 lensed scope.

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#112 ukcanuck

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 08:50 AM

Ok.

I picked the tubes from the powder coaters today and did a first/second assembly. As you can see, the finder rail is history, and I'm quite pleased with the result:

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#113 ukcanuck

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 08:51 AM

Closer look at the focuser end:

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#114 ukcanuck

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 08:52 AM

Closer still. Why not? :question:

More later...

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#115 BillP

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 09:22 AM

Wow...beautiful!!! :jump:

Imagining brass focuser knobs and a brass highlighted diagonal on there as well

Love the lines of the dew shiled and collar. Fits it perfectly! Think I'll get some brass plates made up and affix them to the sides of my 1.25" diagonal :grin:

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#116 zjc26138

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 09:33 AM

Beautiful is right!

I can't wait to see these scopes in person at NEAF.

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#117 SkyscraperJim

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 09:40 AM

The scope looks great.

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#118 hfjacinto

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 10:00 AM

Beautiful scope.

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#119 BillP

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 10:55 AM

Beautiful is right!

I can't wait to see these scopes in person at NEAF.

I can't wait to see it in person in my back yard!!

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#120 ukcanuck

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 11:42 AM

Beautiful is right!

I can't wait to see these scopes in person at NEAF.

I can't wait to see it in person in my back yard!!

Thanks Folks.

Bill, this one is #2 and isn't actually yours...yours is #1. :cool:

I haven't assembled it yet.

However, it will look equally cool in your backyard. :ubetcha:

Please note this still does not show the custom focuser that this scope will have. It is due to have brass focus knobs and will read 'Skylight F15m' where you would normally see 'Crawmach.'

The original focusers will not be installed until a few days before NEAF, so the F15 won't be seen in its' true entirety until NEAF on Saturday morning.

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#121 Doug76

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Posted 30 March 2011 - 07:32 PM

Now that's a scope!
The brass knobs and Skylight logo will really make it unique.
Bravo on the finder bracket redo, very classy now.
You've really done a nice job.

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#122 philjay

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 06:26 AM

That looks the business now Richard and with the brass focus wheels on the crawmach it'll look superb

Have a good NEAF

Phil

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#123 ukcanuck

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Posted 05 April 2011 - 07:27 AM

Thanks to all for your positive comments.

I'm very pleased with how the scope has turned out given its' unusual conception and build process. The idea was committed to in January, and building didn't start until the second week of Feb. This means the Skylight F15m has gone through the stages of design/prototype/build/final finish on the first examples in under two months!

Beautiful is right!

I can't wait to see these scopes in person at NEAF.

I can't wait to see it in person in my back yard!!

Bill, yours was the first to be fully assembled :cool:

and here is the scope that will be in your back yard. Please note that these images show the brass dew shield. This is an optional accessory.

My metal guys found a real prize for the dew shields, they found a very old piece of brass tubing that has gone unused for many years, so the dew shield is almost antique in itself! The first 4 examples will use this tubing.

The heads on the brass collimation screws were a little too wide for the available space on the cell, so each and every screw (on all the F15m's that follow too) have a millimetre or two spun on the lathe (by hand, naturally).

Enjoy: