Yeah... no kidding!
Since I got the 11 incher last week, my upcoming 'New Year resolution' (and promise to Vincent and all) is to tweak/fine-tune this and put it to good use by sharing it with you guys at Mersing next year onwards (this year 23 Dec 06 too if there are any keen driver available).
So I probably then won't have enough time to build this 15" dream scope for at least a year or so. Rather than leaving the mirror to 'hibernate' at home for so long, I am seriously considering to let this go to an aspiring Amatuer Telescope Maker here who is keen (or starting to dream) to build and own a 15" CZ scope! In future, I will still buy another one from CZ and build my scope. If there are no buyer, then of course I will just keep it and build this later.
I ordered this mirror in April 06 and Carl just told me yesterday that he is dong the polishing work now and it should be ready in 2 months; you will save the standard waiting period of at least 6-8 months. This is a 15" f/4.5 mirror with a 1.5" edge thickness. The focal length is 1714.5mm.
Why 15" mirror? This is a optimum-sized scope to fit into a standard-sized car, good weight to move around if you build a lightweight structure, good height to view without a step-ladder and optimised aperture to binoview DSOs without noticeable compromise on image brightness. Any size above 15" and you will need a ladder and bigger car!
Its condition? Based on Zambuto's reputation, definitely it will be excellent! It will come with Zambuto's endorsed certification that this mirror (combined with the optimum scope and under optimum sky condition) will excel in its perfomance at a magnification of 50x per inch or better. If you have observed through the Teleport or Portaballs or Arief's 10 incher, you may understand better the quality of a Zambuto mirror.
So...how much is it? That mirror cost $2400 USD. This is CZ's original price. CZ's prices may change in future, especially if and when Pyrex glass production stops and the Pyrex stock is depleted. The shipping cost is a separate cost and to be advised by CZ in due time.
Do sms or PM me if you are seriously keen or have questions. And thanks for reading this!
