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Dynascope 8” deluxe

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#26 SamTheMan

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Posted 15 June 2023 - 02:18 AM

Thank you all for love appreciation of this important member of our astro history.

I didn't mention this, but I also received 7 SEVEN original Criterion eyepieces seen here which are not for sale, just as the Dynascope.

I received this Dynascope from the son-in-law of the original owner.

He and I are becoming friends.  He shared the one-page memorial for his father-in-law who passed away last April at the age of 93.  He just missed turning 94.

When I've had time to read the memorial sheet, I may share some of it with you.

CS

Sam

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#27 deSitter

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Posted 15 June 2023 - 05:23 AM

Thank you all for love appreciation of this important member of our astro history.

I didn't mention this, but I also received 7 SEVEN original Criterion eyepieces seen here which are not for sale, just as the Dynascope.

I received this Dynascope from the son-in-law of the original owner.

He and I are becoming friends.  He shared the one-page memorial for his father-in-law who passed away last April at the age of 93.  He just missed turning 94.

When I've had time to read the memorial sheet, I may share some of it with you.

CS

Sam

That's a nice crew! Those Criterion eyepieces were good performers.

 

-drl


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#28 SamTheMan

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Posted 15 June 2023 - 02:14 PM

SamTheMan again

R U READY!

 

I'm considering removing the leg extensions and shortening my Meade 2" HD field tripod and mount the Dynascope on this and add lockable wheels which I already have

The decision is kinda huge, as I will not have a way to mount my LX50, so it might get sold.

pics later if I do this.



#29 SamTheMan

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Posted 15 June 2023 - 06:36 PM

Ok. We have a winner.

I first thought that I would adapt wooden legs from a Vixen 6" F8 Newt.  They seemed strong enough.  However, I wasn't sure.

Then, I attempted to adapt the Dynascope mount to my Meade HD field tripod.  It would have worked buy placed the center of the EQ head about 8" hyigher than it was on the pier.

Oh. And I toued with the idea of putting wheels on the pier.  However, that idea evaporated quickly because of the pier's weight.

 

So, I did some measuring and discobered that the Cave pedestal for my 8" F8 Astrola was slightly smaller than the working OD of the top cap from thge Dynascope mount.

So, nopw the Dynascope sits on top of my Cave pedestal.

Looks like a narriage made in heaven.

And, JIC you hadn't seen the prior pics, the Cave rotating tube assembly bolts right up to the Dynascope cradle.

 

Next. add encoders to the Dynascope mount for my NGC-Max.  I had already done this for the Cave mount and they are still installed and they worked great with the NGC-Max.  However, the Cave mount is about 30% larger by dimensions and weighs about 50 lbs more than the

 

Dynascope mount.  Mty Cave mount is actually a 12 1/2? GEM.  That will be listed soon.

 

Thanks to all who "liked" my posts.

 

Sam

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#30 SamTheMan

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Posted 15 June 2023 - 09:34 PM

I hope I'm not duping a prior post.

The 8" F8 Dynascope now has a Cave pedestal.

I'll keep the 50-lb. cast-iron pier for posterity.

Also...

The tube is on'y 1 1/2" shorter than the tube for my 8" F8 Cave Astrola, so I assumed it was an F8 also.

Not! F6.5.  I like!

 

First light for me was trees 100 yards away with my 25mm Ortho. rather nice.  Then the 16mm Erfle...also nice. Tonight the stars.

Sam

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#31 SamTheMan

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Posted 16 June 2023 - 12:36 AM

ok. first light for my eyes.

Venus.

R U READY!

 This scope has sat stored in its original shipping crate for 34 years! I have not adjusted a single thing.

The collimation was "dead nuts right on"  (0-0)

The finder, though minus the cross hairs guided me to Venus on the first try.

Venus!  Man (men and women)...I cannot tell you how good it felt to see the venus I remember when I was in HS.

To gain an appreciation for my statement...think the first time you ever tasted a creme soda in the Summer, or the first time you saw the moon up close with its craters flying by as if you were in a helicopter hovering above, or (maybe not this good...maybe?)...your first kiss...that is what I felt and tasted tonight...

AND......

five teen-age people stopped by and I got to do my first outreach showing them Venus and explaining why it shows phases like the Moon. I think I detected a chess player among them.

Just too cool. Best night in a very long time since Obama was president..

just me Sam


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#32 SamTheMan

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Posted 16 June 2023 - 02:31 AM

a

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#33 SamTheMan

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Posted 17 June 2023 - 02:32 PM

and this is what a 1963 Dynascope 8 Deluxe mirror looks like after spending its entire 60-year life in a telescope tube sealed at both ends, except when in use.

Sam

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#34 YourNotSirius

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Posted 17 June 2023 - 04:38 PM

ok. first light for my eyes.

Venus.

R U READY!

 This scope has sat stored in its original shipping crate for 34 years! I have not adjusted a single thing.

The collimation was "dead nuts right on"  (0-0)

The finder, though minus the cross hairs guided me to Venus on the first try.

Venus!  Man (men and women)...I cannot tell you how good it felt to see the venus I remember when I was in HS.

To gain an appreciation for my statement...think the first time you ever tasted a creme soda in the Summer, or the first time you saw the moon up close with its craters flying by as if you were in a helicopter hovering above, or (maybe not this good...maybe?)...your first kiss...that is what I felt and tasted tonight...

AND......

five teen-age people stopped by and I got to do my first outreach showing them Venus and explaining why it shows phases like the Moon. I think I detected a chess player among them.

Just too cool. Best night in a very long time since Obama was president..

just me Sam

It would still be second to the first jump out of the back of a C-130! BWAHAHAHA!

 

 

Q



#35 apfever

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Posted 17 June 2023 - 04:58 PM

Sam can you give me some dimensions of the bell pier for the 8" Dynascope?  I'd like to know if it is the same as the pier for the 10" Dynascope.

My 10" Dynascope pier is about 21" high and 16" across the bottom. I can't weigh it because it is mounted. 

 

There is interest here for 12.5" Cave mount if you are selling. "Here" being a multi state stretch of Front Range from Colorado on North. There is another Cave 12.5" mount floating around here that has been in discussion over the last few months. I'm not sure of it's current status. WA is not that far and I'm due for a trip down the Columbia and the many falls trails, and McMenamins.  What is the shaft size of your mount? I think the one around here is something like a 4" shaft.


Edited by apfever, 17 June 2023 - 05:00 PM.

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#36 SamTheMan

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Posted 17 June 2023 - 05:12 PM

I rode a C121 in an assault landing while taking high caliber rifle from the locals in Tahkli, Thailand.

That was fun. Glad I was buckled in. If I hadn't been I would have been on the ceiling of the plane

 

Thanks to all who enjoyed my Dynascope posts.

I love this scope so much that I am selling everything else and concentrating on restoring it and using it.

Sam


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#37 SamTheMan

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Posted 20 June 2023 - 03:10 AM

I'll post bell dims tomorrow.

The 12 1/2" Cave GEM is now $450 picked up.

Sam



#38 SamTheMan

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Posted 21 June 2023 - 03:35 AM

sorry about the dupe pics.

you've all seen the ugly, gray mottled paint job on the tube.

Here's pics side by side of the Dynascope after 8 hours of sanding and cleaning and painting and my Cave Astrola.

 

You can see the reflective shine on the Cave tube but not in the Dynascope tube. It's a very smooth satin finish after fine sanding and painting.

One step remaining on the Dynascope tube...one more finish sanding then glossy white paint and hopefully it'll look as good as the Cave tube.

 

Note: the masking tape covers the aluminum tracdks for the rotating tube assembly which I sanded and polished to remove the gunky gray paint.

It appears that they spray painted the entire tube after assembling the rotating tube assembly.  Uk!  Very poor.

I'm also overhauling the rotating tube assembly.  I'm replacing the round rods that run in the track with delrin balls. (bearings)

Sam

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#39 deSitter

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Posted 21 June 2023 - 03:44 AM

sorry about the dupe pics.

you've all seen the ugly, gray mottled paint job on the tube.

Here's pics side by side of the Dynascope after 8 hours of sanding and cleaning and painting and my Cave Astrola.

 

You can see the reflective shine on the Cave tube but not in the Dynascope tube. It's a very smooth satin finish after fine sanding and painting.

One step remaining on the Dynascope tube...one more finish sanding then glossy white paint and hopefully it'll look as good as the Cave tube.

 

Note: the masking tape covers the aluminum tracdks for the rotating tube assembly which I sanded and polished to remove the gunky gray paint.

It appears that they spray painted the entire tube after assembling the rotating tube assembly.  Uk!  Very poor.

I'm also overhauling the rotating tube assembly.  I'm replacing the round rods that run in the track with delrin balls. (bearings)

Sam

I liked the grey paint with the pebbly finish - it was so characteristic of these scopes. They had a 50s diner sort of vibe. But I'm sure this will be just fine.

 

-drl



#40 SamTheMan

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Posted 21 June 2023 - 03:26 PM

oops!

here's the pic

SamTheMan

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#41 tim53

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Posted 21 June 2023 - 04:25 PM

Was the original a pebble finish?  or a wrinkle finish?  If the latter, wrinkle grey paint is still available.


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#42 deSitter

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Posted 21 June 2023 - 04:28 PM

Was the original a pebble finish?  or a wrinkle finish?  If the latter, wrinkle grey paint is still available.

I can't remember - I seem to remember pebbly. But it was ages ago. It was a very beautiful scope, very 50s ethos, in a good way, particularly with the magnificent side panel with script lettering. The setting circles were the best ever.

 

-drl



#43 SamTheMan

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Posted 21 June 2023 - 08:26 PM

I've never seen a paint finish like this had.  It wasn't krinkle and it wasn't pebbly.  It had zillions of tiny six-sided features is all I can call them. Each was about 1/32 to 1/16 inch across.  And what was really weird was that each had a slightly sunken interior and the six-sided rim stood out rather prominently.  During the sanding stage, the rim disappeared first.

 

Pictured here is the result of about 8-10 hours of sanding, cleaning...sanding again and cleaning, etc....then, a final 400 light sand and four more coats of glossy white paint.

 

Sam

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#44 SamTheMan

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Posted 22 June 2023 - 02:37 PM

The focuser is just sitting in the hole...not attached.

The optics are not inside yet.

But, this is what it will look like when all of these are completed.

 

Note that the outer tube rings are no longer half black and half polished aluminum.

They are painted wirh a very good silver paint that looks like a fine aluminum casting when dry.

 

Next, the mount.

Fortunately, it appears to need very little in a tune up...just TLC, clean, sand, and paint.

SamTheMan

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#45 SamTheMan

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Posted 23 June 2023 - 01:35 PM

Well, I installed the optics and was very surprised to see that the collimation was still very good.

I installed the focuser you see in the pic above.

So, I had an inpromptu outreach last night. Two neighbors and their children lined up to see the moon and Venus.

It was great.

 

What was not great is that the focuser couldn't focus to infinity. So, I hurriedly remove the 1" tall 1 1/4" interface, leaving just the focus tube in the focuser.  Then, I attached two thin strips of dbl-back foam tape used for mounting pictures...one each on opposite sides of my 25mm SvBony eyepiece.  Then, I struggled to force this into the focuser and managed to do so.  Now, I see where the image plane it and it's much lower than I had imagined.

 

So, either I make or buy a low-profile focuser or moved the primary mirror forward and inch or so.

The focuser must be able to reach infinity and support a DSLR for AP.

any ideas out there?

Thanks for reading and liking.

 

Sam



#46 deSitter

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Posted 23 June 2023 - 01:57 PM

Well, I installed the optics and was very surprised to see that the collimation was still very good.

I installed the focuser you see in the pic above.

So, I had an inpromptu outreach last night. Two neighbors and their children lined up to see the moon and Venus.

It was great.

 

What was not great is that the focuser couldn't focus to infinity. So, I hurriedly remove the 1" tall 1 1/4" interface, leaving just the focus tube in the focuser.  Then, I attached two thin strips of dbl-back foam tape used for mounting pictures...one each on opposite sides of my 25mm SvBony eyepiece.  Then, I struggled to force this into the focuser and managed to do so.  Now, I see where the image plane it and it's much lower than I had imagined.

 

So, either I make or buy a low-profile focuser or moved the primary mirror forward and inch or so.

The focuser must be able to reach infinity and support a DSLR for AP.

any ideas out there?

Thanks for reading and liking.

 

Sam

Gotta move the mirror. When I restored the 4.25" Edmund, modern eyepieces would not focus.

 

-drl



#47 SamTheMan

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Posted 12 July 2023 - 10:40 PM

been a while since I posted.

first pic...

I tink I showed you all this resto of the D8 tube. no crummy gray now. nice smooth white.

2nd pic...

The focuser shown will be gone. I've resto'd the original focuser and added fine helical focusing.

pics 3 and 4...

and, I tackled the rusty DEC shaft. I think it came out ok.

pic 4

how I did it

pics5 and 6

 

started cleaning the ount exterior.

Sam

 

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#48 clamchip

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Posted 12 July 2023 - 11:16 PM

A belt sander! that's a great idea!



#49 Bill Griffith

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Posted 15 July 2023 - 02:15 PM

Congratulations on your planning and results Sam!

 

I may have gone down the path of originality and preservation with the exception of testing optical performance and repairing.

 

The results are the same though; satisfaction of the mission.

 

Bill


Edited by Bill Griffith, 15 July 2023 - 04:06 PM.

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#50 SamTheMan

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Posted 16 July 2023 - 08:49 AM

Thanks toall who appreciate and enjoy my posts.

The best sander is actually a car buffer with the buffing pad removed.  I turned the belt sander belt inside out...gritty side in.  I found that one needs a large diameter turning appliance with good gripping rubberized wheel.  If the motor turning wheel is too small, it can't oivercome the friction between the belt and the shaft when sanding.

 

Been cleaning the outside of the GEM with alcohol. I plan to install DSC's, so disassembling the mount to install the timing pulleys n the shafts will be necessary.  All of the Allen screws holdng the clock drive housing and the DEC slo-mo box together are rusted or frozen in place or have badly damaged Allen fittings. I am not looking forward to the disasembly, as I cannot think of a way to remove the Allen screws, except to drill them out...and I really do not want to do this and risk damaging the mount.

any ideas?

Note: when installing the shaft timimg pulleys, I hope to learn whether I can keep the nice setting circles in place also.  I doubt that I will ever use the setting circles, however, I like the retro look and, if I don't reinstall them, they will either get lost, damaged, or sold.   :-(

Sam




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