SWEET SIXTEEN
PAGE

The assembled scope is easily moved on the wheels which
can be left on
during observing or removed in seconds.
Sweet Sixteen Standard Construction Features:
* Baltic Birch Construction With Biscuit Reinforced Joints
* 5 Coat Polyurethane Finish
* Stainless Steel Fasteners
* Three Vane Heavy Duty Spider With Milled Hub And Double
End Attachment
* Feathertouch Focuser Rotated 20 Degrees Up For Easy
Viewing
* Upper Strut Tubes Located Directly Over Upper Truss
Anchors for Stability
* Exclusive Positive Upper And Lower Truss Anchors
* Half Inch Pivot Bolt With Machined Features
* JP Astrocraft 18 Point Mirror Cell with Pivoted Edge
Support
* Integral Wheeled Transport System For Ease of Movement
* Double Layer (1 1/8" ) Thick Rocker Bottom And Sides
* Matching Mirror Case Provided
The Sweet 16 is easy to move around, disassemble or
assemble.
Optics are the finest available using 1.5" United Lens
Pyrex blanks.
They are strain tested and the backs fine ground to ensure
flatness.
I have one Dick Wessling's Pines Optical primary, and one
Mike Lockwood Custom Optics primary.
The 62" eyepiece height means no ladder, and most viewing
can be done seated.
The Sweet Sixteen is a big scope in a small package. It is
about the size of a normal 14" scope.
The overall size is 22" wide x 24" long (including the
transport axle blocks but no axle or wheels).
It stands 28" high to the top of the side bearing tips,
36" high with the cage stacked on top.
Weight is approximately 106# without the wheels.
These two available instruments are not mass produced telescopes. They are
lovingly handcrafted and are intended for the viewer who appreciates fine
craftsmanship and exceptional optics.

Lower truss attachment on
the Sweet 16.
The pole inserts are slotted
to allow installation without removing the knobs.

The upper cage drops over the
pole ball ends and are precisely located in the ball sockets. Works really
slick!

An exploded view of the truss
pole assembly

You can set the
upper cage on the poles easily.
The spring loaded stud slides
down between the balls and aligns everything quite well. Very solid. The
spring makes loosening and tightening the clamp easy.

The scope comes with a
matching mirror case.
The telescope is designed to allow easy removal
of a truss pole to facilitate reaching in and removing the 21# primary for
travel or indoor storage.

Sixteen inch mirror cell with optional knurled
brass collimation knobs. Look carefully and note the aluminum channels
straddling the upper frame which are the levers for the 18 point cell.
The pivots at the support triangles are spherical bearings while the channel
rocks on a stainless shaft. This combination eliminates slop in the
flotation assembly to maintain accurate collimation as the scope is moved.
I also lap the nylon support pads after mounting to ensure proper support of
the mirror back.


A three vane spider is used to minimize
diffraction. A heavy milled hub and double vane tip attachment assure the
necessary rigidity...critical at F4. Vanes are 0.021" thick. A mildly
reworked Astrosystems secondary holder works perfectly allowing east access to
the adjustment thumbscrews.

Construction shot of the
prototype scope without the locking knob showing how the lower pole insert is
located.

The azimuth pivot is a 1/2"
stainless bolt.
A custom machined brass bushing
and tee nut are utilized.

Me and my Sweet Sixteen soakin'
up some rays at the 2008 Winter Star Party. Ahhh. (Photo Michael
Lockwood)
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