PRICE SLASHED, ready to sell 12-1/2 inch f4.95 Newtonian truss-tube. Solid, well-built 'scope.

Truss-tube Dobsonian in the heartland! This mirror was made by Parks optical, it has been refigured & recoated by Optic Wave Labs in California and is ready for your dark sky location. You can see their Specs in the pictures. I did rub a small hole in the coating when I got overzealous in my cleaning. Let me know if you want a picture of that flaw. My woodworking and metalworking skills are very good but not extraordinary. I have built a very solid and stable telescope that is easy to use and has some unique inovations. The standard movements are there, very smooth and easy Altitude and Azimuth movements (virgin teflon on laminate). The optical tube assembly can also be rotated on it's axial center, placing the eyepiece in the optimal position for viewing, no matter where the scope is pointed.
There are the usual counterweights for balance, I used iron barbell weights, and there are plenty to balance your heaviest eyepieces, binoviewer, or camera and adapter. The only things lacking are a black fabric light shield and a Telrad or other type finder scope. If you consider these essential, I can ask my Sister-in-Law (she's a skilled seamstress) to fabricate a light shroud, you can have a light shield made, or find a commercial-made model that fits. I can also add a wood panel to the upper cage on which to mount a Telrad base, or other pointing device, just let me know.
The base (rocker box, mirror box) of this scope might be considered overbuilt by some for a 'scope of this size, but a solid, stable mount is essential to the enjoyment of the hobby that is telescope astronomy.
New hickory (or ash?) wheelbarrow handles, 10 inch pneumatic tires make this easy to move about and they are easily removed without tools once you are in location. Assembly of the truss-tube section is done with hand knobs from ACE Hardware into 1/4-20 UNC threaded Tee nuts in the tube base and hand- tapped brackets (1/4 inch aluminum angle) on the upper cage section. There are no small loose screws or hex nuts to drop and lose in the dark. The primary mirror is covered and protected in case a knob or something were dropped during assembly. pretty standard practice, right?
The focuser is a very nice 2" Event Horizon model from JMI. Very smooth Reverse Crayford style. The primary mirror is very well supported in it's cell, made of 1/4 inch aluminum alloy plate from a local aircraft plant. It's design is very open for good ventilation/fast cool-down. The mirror is not "glued in" but rests on thick felt pads made to be furniture glides. The mirror retainer clips have cork board glued onto them so the mirror does not touch the aluminum cell, but is fully supported as it should be. If you would like to see more photos of the primary mirror cell, e-mail me - it's very nice and well made. Come "kick the tires" in the Wichita, KS area and see what this scope delivers. Speaking of delivery, I can deliver and demonstrate assembly within a reasonable distance for a fee we must discuss and agree on, but ideally, you should come see the scope and try it out. I have a 16 inch Meade mirror in a very similar scope, we can compare them side-by-side and judge whether refiguring a factory mirror is as important and beneficial as it is claimed. It certainly is not cheap.
I came across the secondary mirror heater, it is included in the price of the scope. It's a circuit board with a 9 volt battery attachment. It's made to be glued onto the back of the secondary mirror, the battery residing on top of the secondary holder. This way it's in the "shadow" of the secondary mirror and there are no wires to try to hide on a  spider vane. The secondary mirror and heater are from Astrosystems in Colorado. Excellent quality products, and a pleasure to deal with.
I need to sell this telescope - the price is reduced. These are all quality components and skilled build techniques. You should come see/try this scope and make me an offer. You won't hurt my feelings with a lower price offer, I'm a big boy, I can handle it. Once you see the quality, you'll want to own this scope. Homebuilt does not mean compromise in the build of this instrument. 
Would anyone like to see it at the Nebraska Star Party or the Heart of America Star Party? I could bring it to demonstrate at these events if I felt there would be interested persons there. Please advise.
Rich Smith, motivated seller