Derek's 17.5" Strut Kit -- 99% Complete.....

Derek sent me a 120mm fan for his kit. Here, the fan assembly is
complete and sitting in place.

Derek's 17.5" Rocker Box . . .

Every now and then a customer asks for a "strut rocker". Derek chose
this configuration to "lighten the weight". I think it looks pretty good, too.

The front struts are 1.25" while the rear is 1". Perfect for any size telescope.

More on Derek's 17.5" Telescope . . .

Rocker box sides.

99% complete, the 27.5" altitude bearings are just about complete.
The telescope kit, itself, is 90% complete. Nice!!

More on Derek's 17.5" . . .

A few of Derek's mirror cell from the rear. The vent hole will
get a 120mm fan assembly.

Derek's mirror cell on the mirror board.

Rocker Box sides for Derek's 17.5" strut telescope.
The altitude bearings measure 27.5" in diameter.

A 17.5" Strut Telescope for Derek . . .

This will be a big telescope! A 17.5" for Derek in San Jose, California.
Note the 12" rule on the mirror board for scale.

John's 8" is Complete . . .

John's 8" is complete, here shown is the altitude encoder in place.

The Dew Shield.

Focuser baffle, the Kendrick secondary dew heater is shown
the "red band" keeps a thermal layer in place.

All of my fully constructed telescopes get a "name plaque".

John's 8" Juuuuust about Complete . . .

The 6-point flotation mirror cell and Lockwood primary mirror.

The telescopes sports a Moonlite 2-speed focuser, curved-vane spider, red-dot
finder and Easy Transport Telescope option. A dew shield needs to be added.

A single fan helps cool the primary mirror during "cool down"

Another view of the top ring and components. Here you can see
the DSC "stage" and sliding counterweight.

John's 8" OTA Just About Complete . . .

A fan for John 8" to help cool the primary during setup.

Just about complete is the OTA for John's 8" strut telescope.
Here, the altitude bearings are finished and attached.

Next is to assemble and complete the rocker box.

Mike's Coulter Telescope --

Mike, in Frankfort, Kentucky, had me build a custom rocker box kit and mirror cell for his 10.1" Coulter reflector. Here's a couple of photos and comments from Mike:

"Hi Dennis

I assembled the ground board (with your autograph), but I'm more likely to use the equatorial platform, seen in both photos, for observing. The round sheet of laminate on the bottom of the rocker box rides very smoothly on large round furniture coasters attached to the platform.I applied two coats of a varnish / sealer to the rocker box.
 
In the second photo, I've turned the scope to make the mirror mount that you had built earlier for me visible. Also note that the low board on the back of the rocker box has been attached in a "lying down" position, to keep it out of the way of the mirror end of the 'scope tube when looking very high into the sky.

It has all come together very nicely. You did a great job of building to the dimensions I sent you, and moving the altitude bearings up on the tube has made for much better balance.   Now I hope Mother Nature will cooperate soon for some Milky Way deep-sky viewing!



Mike
Frankfort KY"

John 's 8" OTA and More . . .

The "intermediate" ring and mirror box. Note the Lockwood
mirror and mirror cover. 

The custom color is "Early American", a Moonlite 2-speed focuser
and Destiny curved-vane 3-vane spider is installed.

John's rocker box starts to come together. Fit
fit is great. Nice motions.

8" F5.8 Continued . . .

John's 8". Here, the detail of the 3-vane curved-vane spider and Moonlite focuser.

The Mirror Board and Top Ring assemblies. This is with the mirror cover in place.

And, the OTA components with the Lookwood primary mirror in place.

An 8" for John . . .

A 6-point all metal flotation mirror cell is affixed to te mirror board.

The front shows the "points of contact".

The early stages of construction for an 8" for John in Dyer, Indiana.
This is an ETT telescope and features a finely crafted Lockwood mirror.

Paul's 14" Telescope . . .

My good friend Paul, from the SF Bay Area, built this nice 14" truss telescope.
I was able to help, too, with the components for the Upper Tube Assembly.

A 10" Mirror Cell . . .

A 10" mirror cell for a 12" tube. The construction is all Baltic birch.
The cell is optimized with Plop and has 6-points of contact.

Built for Jim in Towson, Maryland.

Alex's 12" Kit -- Continued . . .

I like to assemble a "kit" rocker box for fit and finish. In this case
the fit and finish are perfect!!

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A 12" Kit for Alex . . .

The beginnings of a kit for Alex in Redwood City, California.
Here, the mirror cell is attached to the mirror board. The
two other rings just about finish the OTA components

The rocker box sides, a couple of clamps and altitude
bearings are nearing completion.