Re: ATM Am I Nuts?

[Brand <huntb@ucs.orst.edu>]

>        I have completed my 10" Dob.  I am thinking of ways to 
> transport it with my smaller car.  My idea is this.  Cut out 
> 'saddles' from thick plywood and pad w/pipe insulation.  Mount these 
> to my roof racks.  Attach telescope tube w/bungees.

Yeah! I'm not the only nuts. I'm doing the same thing. HAve a little Geo 
metro car, no way am I going to fit a 6ft long 15" tube into it without 
taking out the seats.
I'm mounting two saddles onto a ski rack and using bungees to hold the 
tube down. I'm going to cap the ends and focuser -- maybe the whole thing 
with tough fabric (canvas?). I'm holding the mirror (8" for now) in a 
rubber-maid tuperware thing for tranport. The mirror will be mounted on a 
mount that can be removed from the tube for transport, if I ever think of 
a way to re-align the mirror after putting it back into the tube. Any 
ideas? Or, is it awkward trying to re-align the mirror everytime you set 
up the scope?

>        Does anyone else transport their scope this way?
If you actually keep the mirror in the tube during transport please let 
me know. That would be better if it didn't kill my mirror. Luckily I have 
room for the eyepieces in the car (barely), so I don't have to worry 
a place for them. :)

Good luck with whatever you decide,
Brand

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Brand Hunt                 Email: huntb@ucs.orst.edu
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