The mighty mighty Neville! :-) For the cost of the accessories you could cover a significant part of a nice permanent backyard roll-off roof observatory. And you would get much more use out of the telescope. Jeff At 12:22 -0700 12/1/05, Neville Cole wrote: >I also have a 12" LX200GPS, but mine is portable. It took a few accessories >and modifications to get it that way though. Warning: it isn't cheap to do >this. > >1) Pete Peterson's Get-A-Grip handles are a must. They make a huge >difference. > >2) Get a mounting assistant type tray to park on top of the Meade Giant >Field Tripod. Mine is rectangular and is approx 12" x 18". It has some >nylon bumpers to help with aligning to scope base on top of the tripod, a >pair of bubble levels, and holes for various eyepieces. Got it from OPT in >Oceanside, CA. > >3) The mounting table has thickness to it, making the long bolt you thread >up from underneath a tad short on some scopes. I got a longer one from >http://www.scopestuff.com > >4) Get a JMI carrying case to store it and transport it. JMI = Jim's Mobile >Inc. > >Although it's pricey, the JMI case helps immensely because it has big ballon >tires and folding wheelbarrow style handles. I've got my techniques worked >out so I can completely move everything and setup by myself. I can load up >my equipment at home, unload it at the star party, set everything up, and do >it all in reverse. When lifting the scope's OTA, there's the "clean-jerk" >from the JMI case, a 180 degree turn, two steps, and then I place it on top >of the mounting table between the pegs, and then I can safely let go. Takes >less than 10 seconds. The Get-A-Grip handles and the mounting table are >essential for this part. > >The hardest thing is that damn tripod. It's big, heavy, and awkward. The >mounting table on top of it makes it even worse, but it's a necessary evil. >I'm considering getting the kit from Peterson Engineering and chopping it >down. That, and making a cradle of some sort to help schlep it around. > >It was interesting getting the handles and the case to work together, >because they were not compatible. The lid wouldn't fit with the handles >installed. After much bugging, I talked JMI into modifying their case and >eventually got one of their new ones that is now compatible with Pete's >handles. > >Couple more notes. I don't setup my scope if my back is feeling tweaked, or >something else is bothering me. Even with my techniques, it would be too >much to do and I wouldn't want to drop it. And finally, it still depends on >the individual whether or not they can handle this scope, even with all >these tricks. > >Neville -- Jeff Hopkins HPO SOFT http://www.hposoft.com/Astro/astro.html Hopkins Phoenix Observatory 7812 West Clayton Drive Phoenix, Arizona 85033-2439 U.S.A. www.hposoft.com -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.