Arief's 10-incher

Post by **acc** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 2:59 am

Heh Arief your 10-incher looks good!

Care to share with us your observing experience with it and how its image compares with an 8" SCT?

cheers
cc

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 9:32 pm

Hi CC,
Under Singapore sky, image is very similar to Elton's T10 :-)
Mirror was figured by Mike Spooner (one of the master optician recommended by Zambuto), 1.83" MA protostar secondary. Contrast is much better than a C8 because of the low CO (18% vs 33%).

Will post more complete review after CNY

cheers,
Arief

ps: I also have one of the 7" mirrors figured by Alan Raycraft for the original Starmaster Oak Classic (www.scopereviews.com/best.html), was planning to make a copy of the OC, or maybe a T7 clone, but seems like it will take more time and fund than I previously thought, may need to sell my beloved C8 first :-(

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:49 pm

Some pictures of the finished scope ...

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:04 pm

Side bearings with wilsonart formica was acquired from Astrosystems clearance sale, made from baltic birch. Scope glides smoothly on teflon pads. Well-balanced even with heavy eyepieces.

First light was about two weeks ago, almost full moon. Initial problem with poor baffling, stray lights came up from behind the mirror cell. Decided to fully cover the scope (including the tailgate) with spandex (same material as the Teleport :-) ), this improved contrast significantly. Jupiter was quite a sight on a 10" :-)

Bad weather this weekend, can only do indoor collimation using the tectron toolkit. The real test of this scope will be in Mersing...anyone going?

Post by **weixing** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:20 pm

Hi,
Hmmm.... Where is your finder scope???

Have a nice day.

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:31 pm

haven't attach a finder. used my c8 dewshield for additional baffling for my upper cage, the dewshield got telrad mounted.

Post by **weixing** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:40 pm

Hi,
Is that dewshield big enough to cover your 10" upper cage?? I thought it is a dewshield for your C8??

Anyway, I think it will be difficult to "attach" on the upper cage due to the odd shape of the upper cage. May be it'll be easier to use a Rigel Quick Finder (same as Teleport

)... it is lighter(won't have balance problem) and take up less space than a Telrad.

Have a nice day.

ariefm71 · Post by **ariefm71** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:45 pm

It covers most of the area behind the focuser (which is what really matters). Noticed the red color tapes on the upper cage? those are velcro for attaching the dewshield. Yes, a Rigel should be better for this small upper cage.

Post by **Airconvent** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:33 am

nice....just need to buy a ladder and we can start observing!
so when will there be cloudy skies in tampines for us?
that's when you will be deploying your scope! :-)
rich

Post by **acc** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:36 am

What a beauty! Looks professionally made. The curved spider must have been quite a challenege to install?