Its alive!

I have finally completed the initial construction of my 16" truss dob. I say initial because I still need to install a finder scope and tweak some of the parts of the scope like the counterweight system or azimuth/altitude bearings. I also am trying to learn about locater systems or goto systems that can be applied to this scope.
The scope took about a year to build from initial ideas gathered from this forum and other internet ATM sites. I guess its similar to the obsession line in construction. I made the mirror box out of basswood due to weight. The mirror cell, bearings, secondary,holder,spider and focuser were purchased from astrosystems. I decided to go with a ball connector system for the truss tubes since I could not build an effective clamp system. I am pretty clumsy with wood. The mirror is one of the last made by Tom Waineo. It is a 3 in monster thus setting up the need for the wheelbarrow design.
I did get a chance to look into the sky earlier this week and wow! I understand why some say apeture is king! The view was awesome. Still need to work on collimation techiques, but I am going to enjoy this scope.
Thanks for the help and advice during the early days. Lots of good people willing to share their ideas to help me design and build the scope. Thanks

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Gee it's nice to see a scope that looks like a scope. Nice UTA, looks light. Going to put some kind of light baffle on there?

Congratulations Tom!

There are few things as exciting than having a new scope ready to go. I think everyone who hangs around here knows that feeling. I know I can remember that time, and for that matter, feeling something very similar every time I take mine out.

May you enjoy many years of that feeling with your new scope.

Clear Skies

Nice Job! Tom