I've been quite busy with a number of priorities but I finally managed to unpack and partially assemble the scope for my initial review. If I have the time, first light happens in a day or two.
Contrary to what you may have read on that other website, the unit is shipped well-packaged. I noticed a "contributor" on that other website included a picture of some apparent damage to the box and feared he might have a "cracked mirror" when he opened it. What he neglected to tell you is that the unit comes double-boxed with each individual piece separately boxed in Styrofoam so the chance that you might receive a broken mirror is remote at best. Unless the box was dropped at the dock when it arrived by ship or other means, you'll have little to fear when you open it.
Putting the scope together for the first time is a challenge as the instructions are sparse and include some comments about revisions and associated parts. A step by step guide would be much better, especially for the novice observer. If you get one, you'll probably have a trial and error in figuring out which long screw/knob combo fits the mirror box and altitude bearings. Revisions in the scope include teflon bearings, a longer extension for the focuser, and modified hex-screw knobs for the rocker box.
I'll probably leave the mirror box in the rocker box with truss tubes and cage detached as it's easy enough to lift and place into the car for a grab and go scope.
So far, I haven't seen any of the nit-picking nonsense I've read in that other website about small tabs and pieces that supposedly don't fit or need to be replaced.
Additionally, I've drawn a blank thus far regarding DSCs for these scopes. ES lists them as "sold out" and a vendor in Australia who provides them won't respond to an email. I've also emailed Astrosystems without a response which is a bit surprising since they do sell DSCs for scopes other than their own. I'll continue to pursue the latter.
More to come when I get right into the wave-front for your viewing enjoyment...
Contrary to what you may have read on that other website, the unit is shipped well-packaged. I noticed a "contributor" on that other website included a picture of some apparent damage to the box and feared he might have a "cracked mirror" when he opened it. What he neglected to tell you is that the unit comes double-boxed with each individual piece separately boxed in Styrofoam so the chance that you might receive a broken mirror is remote at best. Unless the box was dropped at the dock when it arrived by ship or other means, you'll have little to fear when you open it.
Putting the scope together for the first time is a challenge as the instructions are sparse and include some comments about revisions and associated parts. A step by step guide would be much better, especially for the novice observer. If you get one, you'll probably have a trial and error in figuring out which long screw/knob combo fits the mirror box and altitude bearings. Revisions in the scope include teflon bearings, a longer extension for the focuser, and modified hex-screw knobs for the rocker box.
I'll probably leave the mirror box in the rocker box with truss tubes and cage detached as it's easy enough to lift and place into the car for a grab and go scope.
So far, I haven't seen any of the nit-picking nonsense I've read in that other website about small tabs and pieces that supposedly don't fit or need to be replaced.
Additionally, I've drawn a blank thus far regarding DSCs for these scopes. ES lists them as "sold out" and a vendor in Australia who provides them won't respond to an email. I've also emailed Astrosystems without a response which is a bit surprising since they do sell DSCs for scopes other than their own. I'll continue to pursue the latter.
More to come when I get right into the wave-front for your viewing enjoyment...
