Hard Case for LX200 10" OTA

[FredinBroome]

Hello Everyone,


I've recently purchased a pre loved Meade LX200 10" telescope. The cardboard box that houses the OTA and the packing are fine but not particularly weather proof nor easy to transport around.

Is there a specialised case that I can purchase in Aussie preferably? What have other owners of similar setups done to make transporting their heavy fragile OTA a safer and easier experience?


Cheers,
Fred

[TareqPhoto]

The price is so sweet .... LOL


https://www.astroshop.eu/carrying-cases/jmi-telescopes-transport-case-for-meade-lx200-10r/p,12126

[Outcast]

Hi Fred,

I have an LX90 8", not too dissimilar from your LX200 10" but, you would need to check the measurements.

My OTA on it's fork mount is in a Pelican 1650 case; I found one secondhand for a good price, just had to do a little refoaming to make it safe...

Pic for reference...

[brian nordstrom]

:) Nice scope , try Bunnings as they have cases in all sizes for fairly good prices , I use the craftright cases for my eyepieces and I know they make some large ones .

Brian.

[FredinBroome]

That's more than I paid for the entire telescope package hahaha. I'll pass

[FredinBroome]

Hey Brian, thanks for the heads up. I'll measure my OTA carton tomorrow and see if I can find one that gets close. Cheers

[Outcast]

Hey Fred,

Good luck at Bunnings; I wasn't able to find a case big enough by anyone other than Pelican.

However, there is an alternative I have seen; it involves one of the cargo cases, similarly lined with foam. (A mate of mine went this route).

If you don't mind not having the ability to wheel it, this will also work well. Those cargo cases/boxes are indeed available from Bunnings.

For me, I wanted the wheels, etc... I ended up with the case I have for less than $200 but, I was lucky.... the retail price on them is ridiculous..

Cheers

[TareqPhoto]

Yes i know, i will pass it too if it was me.

[FredinBroome]

Well done Carlton, that's exactly the sort of thing I want to achieve. Does the Pelican case come complete with foam ready to cut mate?

[Ukastronomer]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Stanley-Professional-Mobile-Tool-Chest-1-92-902-STA192902/19011033216?iid=233107542076

Many similar available many sizes, just add padding

You can spend hundreds on a dedicated scope cover, but when you attend Astro events most people use £5 tarpaulin or £15 toilet tents, cases are the same, I have yet to see anyone at a star party/event who parts with hundreds on a case when as good is available.

This transports my Edge HD Celestron, padded sides and pillow on top and under

[Outcast]

Brand new they come with very good quality pick & pluck foam but, they're around $700...

I picked mine up second hand, it had the foam in it but, it had already been used for whatever the chap had stored in it. I was going to get some foam (not pick & pluck) from Clark rubber & cut out the holes I needed using an electric carving knife. Probably would have cost me $100 or so if I went that route...

Genuine replacement foam from Pelican was about $200 plus so, my case was starting to look expensive again if I went that route...

In the end, I figured there was enough pick & pluck foam left in the case to do what I needed to do but, I had to figure out how I could glue bits together so that, bits didn't come out or move when putting the scope in our out.

After a bit of googling, I discovered that spray contact adhesive was the thing to use.. so, I assembled the remnants of the pick & pluck foam & carefully worked out how to maintain the largest bits complete & construct the padding for the scope...one I had each layer (there are two layers of pick & pluck) I carefully stuck blocks of foam together. The pic I attached is the one before I stuck it all together. This cost me about $30 in spray adhesive

I then left the case open for about a week or so to make sure the glue outgassed before being used to transport my scope..

It's worked out really well; personally, I wouldn't buy a new one at $700 but, if you can find a secondhand one with plenty of foam left in it, you can make it work for a fraction of the cost...

Just a case of checking Gumtree & FB marketplace, etc.. til one comes up locally.

I was almost about to get a cargo case & look at attaching wheels when this one popped up...

This is the key factor you need to be looking at for any case/box you are looking at; this is the Interior Dimensions (L x W x D) 28.5 x 17.37 x 10.5" (72.4 x 44.1 x 26.7 cm) for the 1650, I don't know the dimensions of the LX200 10" but, this one was perfect for my LX90 8".

[brian nordstrom]

Fred , I just did a quick google on LX200 10 inch dimensions and came up with this ,

Width across forks at widest is 480mm .
Hight from base to top of OTA is 820mm .

A quick look at Bunnings catalogue shows only one that will take your LX200 and it is this one the ,

Rhino plastic , waterproof case Item# 5810642.
It measures 1060 x 550 x 515 , should hold the LX200 nicely with a bit of foam and have room at the end for accessories .

Oh its $354 , not bad at all for a solid plastic case of this size and Bunnings will be able to get it in for you if not in the Broome store , good luck .

Brian.

[FredinBroome]

Good morning Brian, thanks mate for your effort. It gives me a good head start that's for sure. Some foam from Clarke Rubber and I should be able to cobble up a nice protective case. The roads in Broome can be quite bumpy so a good case will go far in protecting my investment.


Gheers,
Fred

[Outcast]

A rhino case is what my mate uses. Looking at the dimensions Brian provided, I don't think your scope would fit in the Pelican 1650...

Rhino case was the route I was going til the Pelican case popped up. Definitely an effective solution with the fit out of some foam..

[iborg]

Hi All


Anaconda also have some hard cases. I have one of these for my LX90.


There is a far amount of space around it.


https://www.anacondastores.com/camping-hiking/equipment/storage-repair/dune-4wd-desert-sand-150l-storage-box/BP90117659


There are also a few sizes.


Philip

[FredinBroome]

Hey Philip,


I'm afraid that case won't fit mine. The Rhino tool box is larger and cheaper so that one is a very likely candidate. Thanks for your help mate. Cheers, Fred

[iborg]

Hi


There is also a larger one 220L, with wheels!



Dimensions External: Length 107 cm x Depth 63 cm x Height 43 cm
Internal: Length 97 cm x Depth 55 cm x Height 43 cm


https://www.anacondastores.com/camping-hiking/equipment/storage-repair/dune-4wd-desert-sand-220l-wheeled-storage-box/BP90125720

[FredinBroome]

True but its $500. A bit too pricey for me I'm afraid. I saw too that its an instore product only so cuts me out. Bunnings sells many different trolleys for mobility. Cheers