 The G11 head is seen here mounted on my short tripod ("Stubby"), using the custom alloy adapter shown. This adapter also fits my tall tripod ("Stasis") so I have the option to use it with a refractor. In this photo the adapter has yet to be black anodised. It's made from 6" dia x 3/4" wall tube, and I have plans to place a 12 to 18V converter plus the power supply for the Polar Scope inside the adapter (with a connector panel on the outside to power the Gemini). The adapter remains attached to the G11 head, the assembly being clamped to the tripod using a single hand-knob located beneath it. |
  This photo shows the finished tripod adapter, black anodised, and the power supply connections put in. The potentiometer controls the brightness of the Polar Scope's LED whilst the small LED indicator above it serves as a reminder that it's switched on. The 12-18V DC converter is inside the adapter and the two connections (12V in and 18V out) are on the left of the panel. |
 There was not a lot of room to work with here but it was important to me that all alignment adjustments be 'tool-free'. I really didn't like those two hex screws! My solution to the lack of space is a sliding tommy-bar arrangement + hand-knob on either side of the mount (later I replaced one of these as you only need a knob on one side of the mount to lock it). The Tommy-bar offers plenty of leverage to fully tighten the mount after making changes to the ALT setting. |
  I added my own handles to the clutch knobs. Made from 1/2" SS rod and threaded 6mm to screw into tapped and counter-bored holes in the knobs. I think the handles might be a bit longer than those on the Losmandy version. The DEC handles are set at 25 degrees, and it's lucky I checked the clearance on the RA knob because at my latititude (53deg N) the handles had to be set at 45 degrees to clear the Azimuth Adjuster! |
  Next thing required was a saddle-plate adapter to carry the tube rings of my Orion Optics (UK) 12" f/5.3 Newt. On the left you can see two plates being cut to shape from a piece of 3/4" aluminium plate, and on the right one of the plates having it's 4" dovetail cut. On one of the plates I machined an integral 1" dovetail to accept my own accessories - and which my tube rings were designed to fit. |
  Here you can see the finished saddle-plate adapter and tube rings for my 12" Orion Optics Newtonian reflector attached to the G11. Fitted to the underside of the tube plate and at one end is the base for attaching my ETX guidescope. I'm not yet convinced it will work in this position but I shall try it. |
  A simple yet practical addition - a plastic bag cover for the Gemini control box! I discovered a 6"x9" polythene bag is exactly the right size to hold the unit, just slip it over and and cut some holes for only those connectors you use in the field. The cover helps keep frost and water out of the Gemini box. Cheapest mod ever I think! |
   My 12" Orion Optics Newtonian in action on a chilly (-6deg C) night at Gradbach in the high Pennines, UK. The G11 and Gemini worked flawlessly despite the cold! |
 A simple but useful accessory - a counterbalance weight stop collar. When travelling to my observing site this allows me to quickly set the correct position of the weights to balance the scope. Prior to this I used a black marker pen, but the marks kept rubbing off! It's machined from a length of 2" stainless steel bar and uses a brass slug to clamp onto the shaft. The collar is left on the shaft all the time, just the weights being removed for transport. |
 In addition to the stop collar this picture shows the one-piece safety screw for the end of the counterweight shaft. Much better than the original fiddly thumbscrew + cheap washer. |
  Beautiful new stainless steel weights. Machined from 6" bar stock, with recessed clampscrews which won't snag any cables. The clampscrews are also solid stainless steel but with a brass slug to prevent marring the shaft. I've made 2 sizes - those shown here are 2.75" long (about 35lb I think - haven't weighed them), I have made others 1.75" long. If you have a G11 I can sell you some.. :-) |
   New setup for astrophotography using a Genisis SDF and the ETX90 guidescope. Here I'm using a tandem bar with 4" Losmandy dovetail. |
  The ETX plus guidescope mount is described elsewhere, but it is much lighter than the SDF and so it is offset some way to the right to maintain balance. |
  On the left-hand side is an adapter plate having a female section of 4" dovetail and quick-release clamp (there is a second for the RH side but it is removed for mounting the ETX). The matching male dovetail plate is attached to the SDF's clamshell with 3 1/4"x20 SS screws, it's the work of seconds to attach it to the tandem bar. |
    A few pics taken in daylight. A short section of dovetail bar bolted to the middle of the tandem bar allows a second camera to be mounted for wide-field shots. |
 This photo of M31 (Losmandy G11 / Genesis SDF f/5.4 @ 45 minutes) was autoguided using the ETX in the configuration shown above. No evidence of mistracking (but the focus leaves something to be desired!). To the right are sections taken from the center and edge of the 35mm frame. The negative was scanned using an Epson 1240p flat-bed, only the colour balance and levels being adjusted. |
 The North America Nebula & Pelican Nebula. Three 30min photos stacked with Registar, Processed in Photoshop. |
The G11 head is seen here mounted on my short tripod ("Stubby"), using the custom alloy adapter shown. This adapter also fits my tall tripod ("Stasis") so I have the option to use it with a refractor. In this photo the adapter has yet to be black anodised. It's made from 6" dia x 3/4" wall tube, and I have plans to place a 12 to 18V converter plus the power supply for the Polar Scope inside the adapter (with a connector panel on the outside to power the Gemini). The adapter remains attached to the G11 head, the assembly being clamped to the tripod using a single hand-knob located beneath it.
This photo shows the finished tripod adapter, black anodised, and the power supply connections put in. The potentiometer controls the brightness of the Polar Scope's LED whilst the small LED indicator above it serves as a reminder that it's switched on. The 12-18V DC converter is inside the adapter and the two connections (12V in and 18V out) are on the left of the panel.
There was not a lot of room to work with here but it was important to me that all alignment adjustments be 'tool-free'. I really didn't like those two hex screws! My solution to the lack of space is a sliding tommy-bar arrangement + hand-knob on either side of the mount (later I replaced one of these as you only need a knob on one side of the mount to lock it). The Tommy-bar offers plenty of leverage to fully tighten the mount after making changes to the ALT setting.
I added my own handles to the clutch knobs. Made from 1/2" SS rod and threaded 6mm to screw into tapped and counter-bored holes in the knobs. I think the handles might be a bit longer than those on the Losmandy version. The DEC handles are set at 25 degrees, and it's lucky I checked the clearance on the RA knob because at my latititude (53deg N) the handles had to be set at 45 degrees to clear the Azimuth Adjuster!
Next thing required was a saddle-plate adapter to carry the tube rings of my Orion Optics (UK) 12" f/5.3 Newt. On the left you can see two plates being cut to shape from a piece of 3/4" aluminium plate, and on the right one of the plates having it's 4" dovetail cut. On one of the plates I machined an integral 1" dovetail to accept my own accessories - and which my tube rings were designed to fit. 
Here you can see the finished saddle-plate adapter and tube rings for my 12" Orion Optics Newtonian reflector attached to the G11. Fitted to the underside of the tube plate and at one end is the base for attaching my ETX guidescope. I'm not yet convinced it will work in this position but I shall try it.
A simple yet practical addition - a plastic bag cover for the Gemini control box! I discovered a 6"x9" polythene bag is exactly the right size to hold the unit, just slip it over and and cut some holes for only those connectors you use in the field. The cover helps keep frost and water out of the Gemini box. Cheapest mod ever I think!
My 12" Orion Optics Newtonian in action on a chilly (-6deg C) night at Gradbach in the high Pennines, UK. The G11 and Gemini worked flawlessly despite the cold!
A simple but useful accessory - a counterbalance weight stop collar. When travelling to my observing site this allows me to quickly set the correct position of the weights to balance the scope. Prior to this I used a black marker pen, but the marks kept rubbing off! It's machined from a length of 2" stainless steel bar and uses a brass slug to clamp onto the shaft. The collar is left on the shaft all the time, just the weights being removed for transport.
In addition to the stop collar this picture shows the one-piece safety screw for the end of the counterweight shaft. Much better than the original fiddly thumbscrew + cheap washer.
Beautiful new stainless steel weights. Machined from 6" bar stock, with recessed clampscrews which won't snag any cables. The clampscrews are also solid stainless steel but with a brass slug to prevent marring the shaft. I've made 2 sizes - those shown here are 2.75" long (about 35lb I think - haven't weighed them), I have made others 1.75" long. If you have a G11 I can sell you some.. :-)
New setup for astrophotography using a Genisis SDF and the ETX90 guidescope. Here I'm using a tandem bar with 4" Losmandy dovetail.
The ETX plus guidescope mount is described elsewhere, but it is much lighter than the SDF and so it is offset some way to the right to maintain balance.
On the left-hand side is an adapter plate having a female section of 4" dovetail and quick-release clamp (there is a second for the RH side but it is removed for mounting the ETX). The matching male dovetail plate is attached to the SDF's clamshell with 3 1/4"x20 SS screws, it's the work of seconds to attach it to the tandem bar.
A few pics taken in daylight. A short section of dovetail bar bolted to the middle of the tandem bar allows a second camera to be mounted for wide-field shots.
This photo of M31 (Losmandy G11 / Genesis SDF f/5.4 @ 45 minutes) was autoguided using the ETX in the configuration shown above. No evidence of mistracking (but the focus leaves something to be desired!). To the right are sections taken from the center and edge of the 35mm frame. The negative was scanned using an Epson 1240p flat-bed, only the colour balance and levels being adjusted.
The North America Nebula & Pelican Nebula. Three 30min photos stacked with Registar, Processed in Photoshop.