Several good coats of polyurethane, some work with aluminum, and the mirror cell mounted makes a complete mirror box. Well, almost. I still need to prepare and mount the altitude bearings. The mounting points for the trusses match perfectly between the mirror box and the secondary cage. Next step is to complete the altitude bearings, then build the rocker box. Images of telescope v.2 are in this photo set.

Today I knocked together the mirror box. It's basically the same configuration as the secondary mirror cage, with three braces to support the trusses. The back is squared off and .75" plywood sides will support the bearings. The primary mirror is mounted inside a 10.5" diameter cookie tin, which will fit inside the mirror box. I need to get a few coats of polyurethane on it and make the aluminum side pieces for the truss supports. Images documenting my progress building v.2 can be found in this Flickr photo set.

This weekend I finished out the secondary cage and mounted the HC-2 focuser. My original plan called for cutting small blocks of half inch plywood to go on the sides of the 3 strut braces to stabilize the struts. But I decided to try aluminum bar and I'm quite pleased with the way it looks and with the weight savings (which I'll need because of the Orion 1.25" adapter I'm going to have to stick in the focuser). Images of telescope v.2 progress can be viewed in this photo set.

The creation of the new telescope inches along slowly but surely. Today I began building the upper cage, which will hold the secondary mirror and focuser. As can be seen from the photo at left, I've got the bare bones of it done. I still need to finish the braces that will hold the 3 struts steady and attach the bolts that will hold the struts, and attach the piece where I'll mount the focuser. It needs paint and polyurethane, as well. Images documenting my progress building v.2 can be found in this Flickr photo set.