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Amateur Telescope Making

Charlie Wicks

6 Inch Airline Portable String Scope

10 Inch Airline
Portable String
Scope

10 Inch f/5 "String" Travel Scope

This scope is an ultralight 10 inch f/5 string scope specifically designed for travel. The scope was designed to fit into a 1560 Pelican case (22" x 18" x 10"), with all parts contained within. This case is a little bit larger than most airlines will accept for carry-on, however, the case is very sturdy and the components are are held in high density foam, so checking the scope should not endanger it.

The scope is a black anodized aluminum frame with three .75" aluminum compression struts, which break in half. The altitude trunnions attach to the bottom frame with two knurled aluminum knobs and require removal to fit within the case. The rocker is a "flex" rocker design, with the azimuth bearing pads directly under the altitude bearing pads. The focuser is a Moonlight 2" crayford.

The entire scope weighs 30lbs, including 7 lbs of counterwieghts which ride at the bottom of the altitude trunnions. The case weighs 15 lbs, for a total packge weight of 45 lbs.

At left is the bottom end frame and 6 point mirror cell. The mirror and cell are easily removable, to allow transport as carry-on luggage.

The six strings are permanently attached to the upper end ring and are attached to the bottom end frame by looping them over a post and capturing the ends behind a hitch pin.

Assembly is less than 10 minutes and consists of the following steps:

Attach the trunnions (4 knobs).
Screw the compression struts onto 3 threaded posts.
Set the upper end ring onto the compression struts.
Loop the strings around each post and insert the hitch pins.
Tension the strings by unscrewing the compression struts until the strings are tight.
Set the rocker on the ground board and the scope on the rocker.