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Super cheap Dew and Light Shield for Vespera

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5 replies to this topic

#1 BrickInTheSky

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Posted 18 June 2025 - 02:11 PM

Ok all the cheap people… here it is 🤪 Total cost is $1.30

Got a piece of Eva foam. I picked the 5mm thick. You can get thicker if you want more structure but even 5mm holds the shape just fine. You can make the shield as long as you want given it weighs almost nothing there will be no weight problem overloading the motor. The black foam is black, no shine, perfect. It is also quite porous so dew will be absorbed if it happens.
Normally you would use a heat gun to shape the Eva but I do not have one so I just held it on top of my electric stove and shaped with my fingers. Images show the process but let me describe a bit:

1) cut a strip of foam. I cut a bit less than 13 inches. You can do longer if you want the shield to fall off when the arm is closing
2) scotch tape to get a tube
3) now you just need to get one side of the tube to be flat. Heat the foam and press it against a flat surface. Repeat till you get it right
4) I heated and stretched one end of the tube so it is easier to put it on the scope
5) super glue the seem
6) do a cheap guy victory dance 🕺

Given it is super cloudy in my area I have not tried this masterpiece yet….

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#2 gooeytek

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Posted 19 June 2025 - 07:57 AM

Looks like it'll do the job nicely. 


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#3 BrickInTheSky

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Posted 19 June 2025 - 08:59 AM

Btw, forgot to mention, there is a popular 3D printed model that allows the arm to close because the hood is hinged: it is quite possible to make one out of Eva foam as well. Will just take a bit more work. If you check YouTube for ‘Eva foam cosplay’ you will see that people make all sort of things…

Meanwhile I am thinking about building a mini observatory or a dome out of foam. 1) it will look really cool: imagine a smart scope sitting it an observatory that is about 1.5-2 meters in diameter, nicely painted and decorated with all the accents like a real deal. 2) it will provide some protection from elements or light. Obviously it will need to be anchored to the ground not to fly away :-)

Edited by BrickInTheSky, 19 June 2025 - 09:04 AM.

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#4 Astronotrip

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Posted 19 June 2025 - 01:50 PM

might work for a bit but when it gets humid those scotch tapes will come off at some point

Doesn t cost much to 3D print this:
https://www.thingive...m/thing:5455237

 

Fits perfectly on my V2 and there s even a 2'' filter holder if you want to 3rd party filter



#5 BrickInTheSky

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Posted 19 June 2025 - 02:29 PM

might work for a bit but when it gets humid those scotch tapes will come off at some point

Doesn t cost much to 3D print this:
https://www.thingive...m/thing:5455237

Fits perfectly on my V2 and there s even a 2'' filter holder if you want to 3rd party filter

Tape was there temporarily while I was shaping it. Then I just glued it permanently with the super glue.

Print of course does not cost much IF you have a printer :-)

Edited by BrickInTheSky, 19 June 2025 - 02:30 PM.


#6 Astronotrip

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Posted 20 June 2025 - 12:35 AM

Tape was there temporarily while I was shaping it. Then I just glued it permanently with the super glue.

Print of course does not cost much IF you have a printer :-)

I don t have one, it was 40eur. Ordered from a nearby company




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