My LB 16" arrived .....

[outdoorsfellar]

Just for fun ... & warning, I thought I would post my experince in unpackaging & setting my new scope. This is not a first light report. Since I knew this would arrive today, I tried to have things in place so I could jump on this as soon as the UPS man left. First of all, these are BIG boxes, as most here will atest, or would imagine. I had gone to Staples yesterday so they could make me a new laminated Setting Circle set up. I went back this morning to pick it up, so all I had to do was wait for the arrival. I could see there was some damage to the OTA box, but I wasn't concerned. I started out by opening the rocker box first, & went ahead & applied my setting circle technique. I've done other rocker boxes, so this was very easy & didn't take time. I then took the pieces up to the observatory & assembled .... a very smart thing to do since this is a BIG base. When I went back to open up the OTA box, I did see some broken styrofoam, but no damage to the OTA or trusses. Just the same, that sytrofoam crap was all over the place & add a 90 degree day to make things irritating. After taking the trusses out, could see thru the plastic that the focuser was not attached to the upper OTA. I also soon saw that the secondary mirror was not attached either. I did see the screw that holds the secondary in place ALONG with it's spring were lying about. The mirror was wrapped thank goodness. The end of the screw was stripped a bit, so my heart & anger started to swell.I took the focuser out since it was lying about & it just looked like crap. It was all scratched around the base. After taking the upper OTA out, I miraculously noticed a small as an ant hex screw, one of two that hold the focuser in place, at the bottom of the box. I saved that in a safe place & continued to unpack the lower OTA. I did notice that the upper OTA was also scratched up around where the focuser was. The lower is quite heavy & I had to lug that up the hill a bit & that was a chore. With the rocker assembled, I placed the lower into it & so far, so good. I attached the trusses & then the upper OTA. All went well. I then attached the secoondary mirror & surprisingly, I was able to laser collimate quickly. The focuser is not perpindicular to where you stand, so at times you will find yourself leaning into the scope as you view.

When I first bought my XT6 years ago, I couldn't beleive how big it was. When I bought my Z10 a month later, I couldn't beleive how small the 6 was. Well, you know what I'm gonna say about the Z10 now ... WOW !

Things did go together well, but I'm not please on how it was assembled & sent. I called the company I bought this from, even though they had nothing to do with that, but they do represent MEADE, & I voiced my displeasure. I'm the only one who will notice the imperfections, so I'll leave it at that. Ok... time for pics !!!


The boxes:



The unpacking:







The setting circle:









My Z10 setting circle:



The rocker box:



The assembly:





After setting it up, I think I'm going to be ok with my views towards Sagitaritus, for what will be offered due to the trees & the height of the walls. I had ordered weights that will arrive tomorrow, but I don't think I'll need them. I can't wait for first light report !

[EJMaine]

Great report, good to know things worked out for you. I do appreciate that you let us know the trials endured!

[jglerner]

...
I had gone to Staples yesterday so they could make me a new laminated Setting Circle set up. I went back this morning to pick it up, so all I had to do was wait for the arrival.

...

After setting it up, I think I'm going to be ok with my views towards Sagitaritus, for what will be offered due to the trees & the height of the walls. I had ordered weights that will arrive tomorrow, but I don't think I'll need them. I can't wait for first light report !

I want one of these!

Where did you found one?

MY LB 16" is the same as yours but the black trusses. Mine are white (old one year than yours!). And I need badly this Setting Circle!

WOW!

[bigjack]

Congrats and glad everything is "OK". Will be interested in the first light.
Clear Skies

[photonseeker]

You can get your ground board setting circle template from here:
Setting Circles - You are not logged in
You can copy the file to a CD, take it to a copy store and ask them to print it out for you with a diameter of "X" inches. Laminating it would be required to protect it from dew.

[sportsmed]

Congrats on the scope...nice setup!

[outdoorsfellar]

Thanks everyone ! I will add that I'm 6'3" & the focuser at zeineth is right at eye level when standing next to it. Also, when I had Staples print & laminate, they could go no larger than 24". I called another place & they too could go no larger than 24".... unless it was special ordered, but this size works well. I decided not to add a Telrad or a RACI. When it's cold, I'll replace the laser with the red dot finder.

[jglerner]

You can get your ground board setting circle template from here:
Setting Circles - You are not logged in
You can copy the file to a CD, take it to a copy store and ask them to print it out for you with a diameter of "X" inches. Laminating it would be required to protect it from dew.

There´s a link right here on Astronomy forum, number 7 post, for free!

Thanks , appreciated your link but, a bit of fiddling on our site saved me some cash.

[Zeiss]

Looks good, waiting for your first light report

[theodoros1978]

Aperture fever its a beauty beast!