256 replies to this topic

[walter a]

While going trough my files looking for pics of my two ar-1s I found this pic saved from the www. of this rather large mizar mount but I dont recall the model.

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[Kasmos]

I believe it's the EX series.

[walter a]

AR-1s, one under my 80mm ATM and the other next to a tv- carton for scale.

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Edited by walter a, 01 February 2020 - 04:13 AM.

[Kasmos]

AR-1s, one under my 80mm ATM and the other next to a carton for scale.

That ATM's one attractive set up!

[Bomber Bob]

Normally, I would post this in the What did you do... thread, since I spent 4+ hours today getting these 2 Mizar EQ rigs finished.  But...  I'm posting here because...  well, I'll get to that shortly.

 

 

Both of my Mizar mounts are now on genuine Mizar tripods:

 

- Super Polaris on the tall wood tripod with an ADM dual-knob bracket for Vixen dovetails:

 

 

- AR-1 on the short aluminum tripod with a thick cast aluminum plate tapped for all sorts of hinged rings:

 

[Bomber Bob]

Why did it take so long to get these finished?  Glad you asked!

 

My Problem:  2 Mizar EQs + 2 Mizar Tripods + 1 genuine Mizar Tripod Hub.  My Solution:  Adapt (carve-up A/R) a Vixen SP tripod hub to carry the AR-1 + ShortPod...

 

- Mizar versus Vixen tripod hubs:

 

 

Pretty similar, right?  Well, turns out the Mizar ShortPod leg clamps have very very tight tolerances!! 

 

 

Ergo, as I discovered after a couple of very frustrating hours, these Mizar legs will only fit a Mizar hub.  The Vixen leg brackets are too wide, too thick, and flare out too much.

 

On the positive side, note the care taken in designing & crafting these clamps:  The handle has a reverse-thread screw that locks it to the chrome shaft; a thick vinyl top / web fabric back patch cushions the bracket (and makes for a TIGHT fit!); and, the painted bolt end has a square end that fits in a matching clamp slot.  A whole lot of effort went into securing this tripod, and into preventing flexure (and maybe vibrations).

Edited by Bomber Bob, 01 February 2020 - 02:42 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

At the other end, the ShortPod legs have surveyor-style feet, but with another very thoughtful detail / difference:

 

 

On flat surfaces (like our concrete patios), the rubber tip engages, and prevents slippage.  But on the lawn, you use the short pedal to push that metal tip past the rubber, and into the sod -- like traditional scope tripods with fixed metal spikes -- two tips in one!

 

Both Mizar tripods have the circular shallow dish accessory trays.  On the wood tripod, the struts are fixed / bolted to the legs.  On the ShortPod, the struts are removable, and each uses a keyhole attachment for quick assembly / disassembly.  Properly done, these trays & struts add a rigidity similar to my Goto's.

 

SP vs AR:  At first glance, these EQs appear identical.  Well, they're not.  Notice that the DEC slow-motion assembly is closer to the setting circle on the SP vs the AR-1.  The AR-1 slo-mo worm is angled / canted away from the top plate.  Also, with both mounts stripped-down, the AR-1 is almost 3 pounds heavier than the SP.  In use, the AR feels like it has ball bearings in the polar axis -- which I doubt -- but I bet it has thicker bushings.  In my first tests, I was surprised at how well the AR-1 carried my RV-6, when I think its max intended load was the 120SL photography rig (with the 30mm finder + 68mm guide-scope).

Edited by Bomber Bob, 01 February 2020 - 03:07 PM.

[walter a]

From my reading the ar-1 is the heavier mount on the wood tripod?

[Bomber Bob]

The SP is on the tall wood tripod, and the AR-1 is on the aluminum ShortPod.  I use the SP for 4" & smaller refractors, and the AR for my 6" reflectors.  (Had my RV-6 on it last night -- light, portable, & Smooth!).

[walter a]

Ok thanks, from your pics it looked like the larger r/a housing is on the wood tripod along with the two fine latitude adjustment bolts.

Edited by walter a, 02 February 2020 - 01:15 PM.

[walter a]

Mizar ad calls these both AR-1s so it would seem my other mount is a sp. Always learning.

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Edited by walter a, 02 February 2020 - 01:12 PM.

[Bomber Bob]

The naming scheme is confusing.  But in your photo, the AR-1 is on a ShortPod -- I think that's as intended.  The catalog page earlier in the thread has the SP version on the wood tripod -- same as mine.

 

In addition, Mizar had some original variations, like a cradle that bolted to the top vs a plate; and, it appears they made some small hardware changes over time, too.

Edited by Bomber Bob, 02 February 2020 - 11:18 AM.

[Marcus Roman]

Mizar SL120 1/8 lambda on AR1 mount (1985)

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Edited by Marcus Roman, 02 February 2020 - 11:57 AM.

[Marcus Roman]

....and some vintage cheap Mizar eyepieces from ‘70s

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[Kasmos]

The naming scheme is confusing.  But in your photo, the AR-1 is on a ShortPod -- I think that's as intended.  The catalog page earlier in the thread has the SP version on the wood tripod -- same as mine.

 

In addition, Mizar had some original variations, like a cradle that bolted to the top vs a plate; and, it appears they made some small hardware changes over time, too.

While there are some slight variations of knobs, clamps, etc. (from what I've noticed so far,) I believe the easiest way to tell a SP from a AR (at a glance), is to look for the dual adjusters for the RA altitude and the fine adjusters for Azimuth. The ARs have them and the SPs don't.

[walter a]

My ar has a metal thread on  polar cap whereas my sp is held in by a thumb screw.

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[Bomber Bob]

Mizar SP testing tonight:  I got my AT102ED up to 450x on the Moon.  The SP + MMD-II drive system kept lunar features in the center of field for 15+ minutes with slight turns of the DEC cable + working those hand controller buttons & knobs  Not bad, since I merely pointed the axis towards north, and didn't bother to level the tripod.  A lot of the drift was me forgetting to make adjustments -- got engrossed in the spectacular views.

 

[First excellent Planetary Seeing night since Halloween.]

Edited by Bomber Bob, 04 February 2020 - 09:26 AM.

[Terra Nova]

Mizar SP testing tonight:  I got my AT102ED up to 450x.  The SP + MMD-II drive system kept lunar features in the center of field for 15+ minutes with slight turns of the DEC cable + working those hand controller buttons & knobs  Not bad, since I merely pointed the axis towards north, and didn't bother to level the tripod.  A lot of the drift was me forgetting to make adjustments -- got engrossed in the spectacular views.

 

[First excellent Planetary Seeing night since Halloween.]

What planets? Venus at 450X with a 4”?!

[Bomber Bob]

What planets? Venus at 450X with a 4”?!

The Moon - just updated the post.  Wrote more stuff about the AT102ED over on the Refractor Forum, as it's not a Classic - yet.

[Bomber Bob]

BIF:  Noticed a while ago when setting up my Stubby 6 on the AR-1 + ShortPod, I have a tendency to grab the back of the polar axis when moving this rig -- way too close to the Polaris finder's plastic eyepiece cap!  One of these nights, I'm gonna break that thing off...

 

 

My AR-1 now has a thick aluminum mount plate for attaching the hinged rings for my 6" Newtonians, while my SP model as the ADM dovetail clamps.  And... I noticed that I still have these mounts & tripods wrong.  The latitude hubs / forks need to be swapped -- AR is on the SP & vice versa.  Good Grief.  I don't think it makes any performance difference, but it's gonna bug me when I'm out there in the dark, and swatting real bugs...

[Kasmos]

I've made some good progress on the 68/1000mm Cleanstoration. 

It's going to get its own thread, but In the meantime, here's a sneak peek.

Would you believe it was probably the crustiest scope I've ever bought?

Edited by Kasmos, 16 February 2020 - 03:01 AM.

[Arnold de Bruin]

Dear all,

The Mizar 68/1000 I acquired a week ago in its original packaging.

 

Also today found what appears to be a Duetron although not branded.

 

Are there sites with info on classic Mizar's? I struggle to find them....

 

Cheers, Arnold

Edited by Arnold de Bruin, 27 February 2020 - 09:04 AM.

[Chuck Hards]

I bought an  equatorial mount years ago that looks just like these.  I remember at the time I was very busy and just stuck it on the shelf.  I need to dig it out and check.  

[Kasmos]

I just found a blog that has the complete 1980 catalog in jpgs. It's in Japanese but still fun to check out their features.

 

http://tamrac.blogsp.../search?q=mizar

[stmarch]

Here is my Mizar Kiaser, 80mm/1200 telescope.

Did a restore last year.  Posted a thread here on CN about this scope

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