I did not go back to AP after their second attempt, they did a real fine job but the problem may very well be in the diameter of dew shield which I believe is just a bit too tight for this scope, another reason for not going back was that the application of felt liner is a very expensive and labor intensive job, I am hoping that painting the dew shield would hopefully solve the problem.
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Vahe
That's very odd. Hmmm. I wonder if the shield is small or the lens collar outside the cell is big. I assume the shield is not just out-of-round.
Which part is binding: the part that attaches to the lens collar (with the tension screw), or the part that slides over the whole front of the scope for storage? Seems like the latter because your photo shows the bubble in the middle of the shield. If so, one solution is to store the scope with another plastic cap and use the dew shield only for observing.
It seems to me that paint will drive you crazy, knowing you are scratching both shield and scope every time you open it.
I actually bought a new dew shield for my AP155 f/7 as the old one was somewhat beat up. It was not cheap. I think I got the last one AP had. Fortunately, it fit perfectly, and the scope looks new.
George