making a usuable 4T, I need help!please

[Lou Cypher]

I don’t particularly think the front pad is faulty, there’s just more fitting in the whole arrangement than might be expected, and the rear pad is made small in order to shim, as opposed to large in order to machine down. On several occasions I have scrapped the supplied rear pad and machined a new one, larger from scratch as it was less work than building up the supplied item.
It’s the same story for their (Accumounts) k98 turret mounts... without serious rework they simply will not and cannot collinate... pretty surprising they keep churning them out like that but that’s how it is.

So, it's normal to get some arrangement to fit this pad. I'm a bit disappointed, because when I received the parts, I compared the size of the pads to the blueprints located in the library, and except that there was sometimes 0.02 inches of difference, I was confident enough to start to fit the mount. I followed strictly the Mr Laidler's article, and up to that step concerning the fitting of the rear pad, I had no problem. I'm waiting for some pics, please, Tbonesmith.

---------- Post added at 07:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:25 PM ----------

I say, when making a replica, do NOT go by the drawings. They are an ideal, the perfect theory and not 'done-it' practice. 1st and MOST important, collimate the telescope optical and mechanical axis. Mount the front pad and sweat it on. Then adjust the rear of this pad to swing the graticle to centre on the azimuth of the bore against the DAP. Lift or lower the rear pad* to suit suit what you have achieved so far. Point of grat SET TO 100 and tip on the DAP. When it's EXACT, sweat everything on using clamps. Test again. When it is perfect only THEN start drilling of doing anything that will take what you're doing past the point of no return.

That's it said very simply. There is a half decent amateur attempt by me at putting this into a readable semi technical thread somewhere too that one or two have followed simply enough. There are also true experts out there who's understanding of the optics, mechanics and optical/mechanical collimation is greater than mine. BUT whatever you (or anyone else attempting this) stick to one tried and tested idea

* If you have to make a rear pad to suit, it is quite a simple matter but Fulton make pads that are a good fit with some simple hand fitting

Your thread is very clear, no doubt, but I'm facing a situation that you don't speak about.