New Scope Completed!

After a couple of months of intensive work, I am basically finished with what I hope will be my 'ultimate' or lifelong telescope: a 16" f/4.5 built around a notionally 1/20th wavefront Obsidian Optics primary with Galaxy Optics' enhanced coatings, and a certified 1/40th wave Antares secondary.

I started with a Baltic Birch structure and 18 point cell/tailgate by James Grigar of Astro Sky Designs, which I customized considerably with, among other things:
--a Clement focuser,
--Protostar spider and heated secondary holder
--Flash 4 Sky Commander with 8000 tic encoders
--powered ground board
--metal mirror sling, with teflon on the sling and mirror edge to avoid lateral friction/astigmatism (the coefficient of friction for teflon-on-teflon is virtually zero)
--built-in accessory table
--locks to allow secure transport of the assembled scope
--SEVEN variable speed ultra low vibration fans for active cooling

The Clement focuser was an integral element of the design, since it allows me for the first time to use my favorite planetary filter without Barlowing. (It takes 1.5" of in-travel beyond my next closest eyepiece, the Nagler 31.)

Here is the URL for the web site I'm building.

http://users.adelphia.net/~jbrspace/

Follow the link to "Natasha" if you want more details about this scope. Comments are welcome, either substantively or about the site itself (it's my first foray into web publishing, so be gentle.)
I'll be adding a quad geared Dob Driver 2 once I decide whether to go with the classic belt drive, rim drive, or new "clutchless" rim drive on the azimuth axis. (I already plan to go with the clutchless setup on the azimuth axis.) Does anyone have any first hand experience with the clutchless drive?

Jim

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VERY nice Jim! 8)

[COLOR="Purple"]Very nice Jim! You are a true blue ATMer to do all that you did to get the scope the way you wanted it. Buying "stock" is just not an option to those of us who love to build.
Many happy hours under the stars with it!!
Bill[/COLOR]

Hi Jim
Excellent scope choice! My Astro Sky with tailgate cell will be finished next week. I can hardly wait for it.
Like you I have gone the limit for excellence in optics. ZOC 10" 1/37 wave mirror and 1/50 wave Antares secondary and a Feathertouch 2" draw focuser. I have only one fan installed by James, but I may alter that when it arrives. I too have some changes to make, but I had James do a bit of custom work on my scope that differs from stock configuration.
I will add Velvet to the UTA for flocking and a UTA extension and light baffle to aid in eliminating stray light. I have made my own Light shroud and secondary mirror cover as well as a cover for the primary mirror to keep the dirt off during storage, setup and wait time before observing. I see that you have added a lower cover light baffle for the mirror box, I too have one that I will install. This should help a little with contrast.
The rest of the changes I will decide on after the scope arrives.