152mm PST Stage 2 Mod has Begun
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2018 12:57 am
You all have inspired me once again and I have begun my 152mm Stage 2 mod. I am converting my 100mm PST Stage 1 into the new scope.
I have opted to go at this piece at a time while still getting value all the while and use of the scope.
I have removed the PST Black Box from the Stage 1 and created the assembly below. Yes... I am using every single adapter in my 20 year stockpile and am holding the thing together at the moment with green masking tape. I have also cannibalized the old gold tube to use as new nosepiece. The trick is to get the Baader Glasspath 1:1.7 in front of the etalon, but I will worry about that when it arrives.
GOALS:
-Only use one scope for both Solar and DSO; this makes the use of my single mount (CGM-DX) the only mount I need.
-Build useable telescopes as money allows, but each step adding value over the prior version
PHASES
1) Make the Stage 2 Mod out of my current PST 100mm f10 refractor; this allows me to lighten the PST and to test the Stage 2 mod in a known f10 scope. I can also more safely piggy-back both the 152mm and the 100mm on the same mount
2) Add the 1:1.7 Baader Glasspath to the Stage 2 mod and then use the 152mm Explore Scientific; I have a 100mm Lunt ERF which I'll have to use for now. It is only 1/4 Wave and internal, but it should still offer improvement over the 100mm f10 Stage 1
3) Acquire one of Val's Aries tri-band D-ERFs; then I can sell the Lunt 100mm ERF and have a truly convertible Day/Night scope
4) Get a bigger blocking filter. I'll need to use the standard PST BF5 until money is ready.
Does this series of goals and steps make sense?
I hope to test the Stage 2 mod in the 100mm F10 system tomorrow and order the Baader Glasspath 1:1.7 tonight.
Jack
I have opted to go at this piece at a time while still getting value all the while and use of the scope.
I have removed the PST Black Box from the Stage 1 and created the assembly below. Yes... I am using every single adapter in my 20 year stockpile and am holding the thing together at the moment with green masking tape. I have also cannibalized the old gold tube to use as new nosepiece. The trick is to get the Baader Glasspath 1:1.7 in front of the etalon, but I will worry about that when it arrives.
GOALS:
-Only use one scope for both Solar and DSO; this makes the use of my single mount (CGM-DX) the only mount I need.
-Build useable telescopes as money allows, but each step adding value over the prior version
PHASES
1) Make the Stage 2 Mod out of my current PST 100mm f10 refractor; this allows me to lighten the PST and to test the Stage 2 mod in a known f10 scope. I can also more safely piggy-back both the 152mm and the 100mm on the same mount
2) Add the 1:1.7 Baader Glasspath to the Stage 2 mod and then use the 152mm Explore Scientific; I have a 100mm Lunt ERF which I'll have to use for now. It is only 1/4 Wave and internal, but it should still offer improvement over the 100mm f10 Stage 1
3) Acquire one of Val's Aries tri-band D-ERFs; then I can sell the Lunt 100mm ERF and have a truly convertible Day/Night scope
4) Get a bigger blocking filter. I'll need to use the standard PST BF5 until money is ready.
Does this series of goals and steps make sense?
I hope to test the Stage 2 mod in the 100mm F10 system tomorrow and order the Baader Glasspath 1:1.7 tonight.
Jack