Re: questions from a possible 900GTO owner
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Joe Zeglinski
Hi Mal,
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It could be I might be over complicating my desires of "portability" issues. First, a correction, Gil and I are hoping to continue using our "Losmandy tripod"; I introduced the Meade reference, because I intend to use the Losmandy "MA" option - a Meade tripod adapter. This is normally used to convert the Meade tripod , or for a permanent post in the ground. That is convenient, saves making a special mount holder by hiring a machinist. What I am also trying to avoid on the AP900 field use, is messing with: (1) poking around with a flashlight to get the 4 screws into the fork base & adapter, during setup (2) removing the AP900 RA assembly, by unbolting 4 screws, completely during take down (3) risk losing one or more of these screws in the snow or grass (4) saving time (5) make it easier to work with cold hands and fingers With the "reducing adapter" approach, the installation & removal of the AP900 emulates the Losmandy G11 system: (1) loosen, but not remove, 3 large bright aluminum, Losmandy optional knobs (2) twist the RA assembly/"G11 reducing adapter", in the 3 notched holes, and lift out Done: The G11 tripod adapter along with its 3 knobs, all still attached to the original AP900 RA assembly (including AP900, with fork still bolted down to its Rotating or Standard adapter, and azimuth/elevation settings untouched ), is packed away for travel. Reinstallation on the Losmandy G11 tripod, (or a permanent post with the MA "G11 to Meade Tripod Adapter"), is a simple drop back down, twist to lock, and snug up the 3 knobs. Quick and easy - plus, for short trips between the dedicated back yard observing spot (post, or pads), and the house, no change of site alignment is required - quicker initialization. In your Meade tripod setup, how do you pack up the AP900? Since the AP pier adapter plate is permanently bolted to the Meade tripod, you no longer have the option to put your Meade Wedge back on it, if desired, so it is now a permanent AP900 tripod. For travel, do you have to remove the 6 tiny button screws around the AP900 Flat Surface Adapter (FSA) plate, and then lift off the AP900 RA assembly? Not much fun in the dark, and they WILL likely get lost. Or, do you leave the AP900 "Rotating or Standard Adapter" plate screwed down to the FSA, but remove the 4 bolts from the AP900 fork base, and pack that away? Again, the hassle with the complete removal or insertion of those 4 bolts. Please correct me if I am misunderstanding something about the AP900 installation procedures. I would do anything to simplify and speed up repeatable field setup procedures, especially when it's very cold. Thanks, Joe ----- Original Message -----
From: "Mal Speer" <mal@...> To: <ap-gto@...> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 8:30 AM Subject: [ap-gto] Re: questions from a possible 900GTO owner For the fellow with the Meade tripod: If you buy the AP mounting plate all you have to do is drill and tap 4 -20 holes in the Meade tripod top to match the 4 flat mounting holes in AP 900 mounting plate. I used an AP 900 with a C14 on a Meade Giant field tripod and it worked great. Mal --- In ap-gto@..., "Joseph Zeglinski" <J.Zeglinski@...> wrote: bottom, and saw the dimension Drawing of the AP900 Pier Adapter Plate, and see itis easy to make a "reducing" adapter so that the top of this 2" or 3" tallring has the shape and 6 small screw holes - as though this were the top of anyAP tripod - to accept the AP900, then is cut inward, to the shape anddimensions of the Losmandy head base at the bottom.document, at their Tech Support page, under the AP900 list of PDF documents(consider this the same as the bottom of your AP900, which drops into an AP tripodpipe): Standard or Rotating Pier Adapter, which you would be already using on thatmount. Have your machinist make the top 1/2 inch or so it accepts this base.The bottom of the reducing adapter is just a narrower cylinder with 3 holes toscrew in the Losmandy G11 screws/knobs.pipe), and G11 male at the bottom.G11 mount - for your Losmandy tripod - or with MA option, if you like using theMeade tripod legs (or any other heavy photographic tripod) with aLosmandy MA bolted on top of it.are so convenient. You might buy an extra set for your G11 adapter. Theymake it soooo easy to just drop the heavy mount straight into it's pier,knobs and all.stays attached to the AP900 mount (pier adapter) permanently, just likethe AP900 actually had a Losmandy G11 mount base. That way, I can simply dropthe AP900 directly into my G11 tripod, or into my Losmandy Meade Pier Adapter(MA) - same thing.your travelling case - you may have to remove a bit of foam since theLosmandy adapter remains screwed to the bottom of the AP mount with those 6permanent screws. Since I haven't received my AP900 yet, I can still searchfor a suitable case for it to fit this modified bottom shape.standard AP900 shaped pre-cut foam insert, which won't be cut for that 2 or 3 inchadapter - and the case might even then be slightly too small (don't know). Iplan on using a suitable Pelican case, and remove the foam cubes myself tofit the end result.you say, then we are in the same boat. I won't start machining until itarrives so the result can be test fitted to both parts.him the AP900 pier adapter plate dimension diagram, in preparation. It's sosimple, AP should have done this a long time ago, since a lot of AP mountowners are current or former G11 owners as well. Makes VERY good marketingsense. Heck, it may even help Scott sell more of HIS tripods, for those like mewho don't like the AP tripods. Then again ... maybe AP doesn't want toencourage customers buying Losmandy's tripods, and Losmandy doesn't wantpeople buying AP's mounts instead of his own G11 etc :-)enough data for your friend's advice already. To UNSUBSCRIBE, or for general information on the ap-gto list see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ap-gto Yahoo! Groups Links |
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