505 replies to this topic

[southmike]

this should be a great thread..have a look at the Meade lx/rcx section and look for a post called show off your rig...It would be nice to see some black and orange versions out there

[nreid]

Well as soon as the weather allows I will post a pic!

[JZaun]

OK, Here is a quick one.CPC 8" XLT. Telrad, Orion 9X50 R/angle finder, Kendrick Dew heaters and controller,Celestron dew shield, Celestron Power Tank 17, 2" diagonal and 35mm Orion 2" EP.

Jerry

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[Syzygy]

NS11 GPS XLT:

Losmandy rails

Orion ST80 piggyback refractor

Telrad

Antares 12x80 Finder

Starizona counterweights

Kendrick dew strips on corrector, Telrad, finder objective, refractor objective, refractor EP, and Bino EP's

Denkmeier Binos

Starizona spreader / accessory tray

Landing Pad

Wing Thing hand controller holder

AstroZap dew shield

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[Run]

Hi Guys,

Well, Im new to the forums and just got my NS11 GPS XLT last week, and have yet to collimate it properly. So havent seen anything really. I built a power system into a roll around tool chest that should power the scope and dew heaters and my laptop for a day or so. It has about 50 Amp Hours so it should last quite awhile.

I am still waiting on some accesories but a quick list is as follows, DewBuster, AstroZap Dew shield, Televue Piggycam, Losmandy Counter balance, Dew-Not heaters, Rigel Finder (not mounted yet), Denkmeier X-Power Diagonal (not here yet) Kendrick Solar Filter, Anti Vibration pads and a WO Digiscoping device for my Canon SD500. Im looking to run the scope from my Tapwave Zodiac Palm device using Bluetooth with Astromist software. The Bluetooth dongle hasnt arrived yet though, so I havent tried it.

Also, I havent been able to get the scope to link to satellites yet so have a few things to work out before real observing can commence. Look forward to learning a great deal here and think this is a great thread idea.

Took this tonight while I was trying to get the GPS to link up


Almost forgot, thats Gus in the pic with the scope, he thinks its all for him:-)


Rick

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[rboe]

Welcome to CN Rick! Nice scope, nice dog, good times ahead.

[nreid]

The new tripod looks real good. I wish the came with a eyepiece tray!

[Burnim]

Actually there are holes for 2in. and 1.25in. EPs in the club-shaped spreader piece.

B

[Run]

Burnim is right, it does come with the Eyepiece tray, and it looks cool and works great. Here is a closer shot of it for those interested. I like the way it looks and mine seems to be cast aluminum which is quite heavy and helps stabilize the tripod. The other leg of the triangle has the 2" eyepiece holes in it.

Rick

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[b1gred]

My setup is posted elsewhere in this topic. I just added a "FeatherTouch" to my TV-85, it's "SWEEEEEET".

[Run]

BTW Thanks to all for the warm welcome, I know Im going to learn a lot here and have a great time doing it. I have already garnerd a great deal just reading old posts, so thanks for that too:-)

Clear Skies to all!

[garyc11]

that power station is nice what tool box did you use and where did you get it.

[Run]

Hi,

Yea I really like the way the power station turned out. I got it at a fire sale from Home Depot, they actually had a fire and it was smoke damaged. Anyway, its a Husky and there is no model number on it and I think I paid like 30 dollars for it. Presently I have 3 - 12Ah and 3 - 7Ah Gel Cell batteries all stored in the bottom compartment. The bottom compartment is a bin and not a drawer per say. When you pull the handle the bin rotates towards you pivoting on it's bottom. I could probably get about 75 A hours of batteries in there but it would be way too heavy to lift using the handles. The top of the tool box comes off and is a small carry around that I stuffed with pick & pluck foam and a heater pad for eyepieces. The drawer below that holds all my heaters and the dewBuster. I went looking for stuff from Husky for it like accesories and never found anything. matter of fact I never found their main website. It has accessories you could get for it but I dont know where you get them, neither does Home depot, Go figure:-)

Thanks

Rick

PS, when you going to post your NexStar pics?

[CheesyD]

Here's my GPS 11 and my new Scopebuggy. I'm using Starizona's weight system, Landing Pad, and accessory tray. I also have a 22 Pan, 35 Pan, 12 Radian, WO diagonal and focuser, Astro Physics 2" visual back . And I use a Telrad and the Powertank 17.

[andersee]

Nice looking rig. It looks like you have both a telrad and the stock finder installed. I'm curious how you attached the telrad? My shiny new CPC 800 XLT arrives tomorrow and I was figuring I'd just need to replace the stock finder with the telrad... Having both like you have would be very cool indeed.

-Erik

[JZaun]

Erik,

Look up a few replies and you will see my cpc 8 XLT with the Telrad. I replaced the stock finder (it will not focus the cross hairs) with the Orion finder off my 13" dob. I like to have both. I even use the Telrad for the initial alignment step. Its easier and faster than the finder.

The Telrad attaches with 2 sided tape already on its base. Works well.

Jerry

[nreid]

Works well till the tape pulls off! I hate that when it happens.

[b1gred]

I haven't had that problem, it's always taken "goo gone" or peanut butter to get the stuff off my OTAs.

[andersee]

Cool thanks. I must admit to being a bit hesitant about attaching the telrad with tape. Seems like it'd end up sortof wobbly. I guess I'll try it that way, and if it ends up not as solid as I like I can always try attaching it some other way...

[Run]

I am not too crazy about the tape aspect myself. I have the Rigel and the stock finder and the rigel tape just came off twice, so now I have two different lines of tape *Word deleted by the gnaughties gnomes* on the scope. Whats Goo gone and is it any good? I would love to find something that would remove the tape residue from the rear cell. Also, Im getting ready to piggy back a Orion ED80 so will probably get rid of the Celestron Finder all together.

Rick

PS Nice Scope and how do you like the Scope Buggy? I have access to welding rigs and was thinking of making something like it, but with ten inch wheels to let it go across fields and such.

[b1gred]

you should be able to get "Goo Gone" in a grocery store, or Wally World or such. It releases adhesive and I have never seen it damage a surface. Doesn't mean it won't but haven't seen it do anything other than remove adhesive.

[ForgottenMObject]

Goo Gone is incredible - it removes glue that nothing else seems to tough. Lighter fluid also works, but Goo Gone is better. Note that it is an oil-based goo-remover, so you need to clean it up once you are done with it, but it works miracles.

[b1gred]

Peanut Butter works also. Makes you wonder if "Goo Gone" is a derivitive of PB or if PG contains GG... Mmmmm, think I'll go have a PBJ for lunch.