Post your interesting eBay finds...

Gotta give Randy (Stuka) credit for finding this one:

Remember the Vortex 285 FPV racing quad that Chris and I were flying in the field across the street at SELEM last year? Well, they've dropped in price again.

You can get one for $159 now! (They used to sell for $449.) Here's the link: (https://www.ebay.com/itm/ImmersionRC...-/131566390440)

The reason they are selling so cheap is because Immersion RC came out with a new quad that replaces the 285. The new one is slightly smaller, uses a different flight controller, and has a couple extra features (including even more HUD modes). But it's well over $400! The 285 may be the older model, but it still flies great, and at this price it's a steal...

Just add your own radio and battery and you're ready to fly. (Well, you need a pair of FPV goggles too...)

Get them while they're still available. I bought a spare just to keep on the shelf!

Adam

PS: If you buy one of these, be sure to ditch the stock props. This bird flies *much* better with 3-bladed props. I run bull-nose 5045s on mine (3S, 2200 mAh flight battery) and it screams!

Anyone near Salisbury, NC that feels like gambling on a $75 Lexel 95?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232684405349

A couple of Laserscope KTPs here
These are located about 4 miles from me so I can help out with viewing / picking up if anyone is interested.

<plug>
I still have some of the boards I developed that plug into the PV and give you complete control over lamp current, q-switch rate and even pulse duration. If the PV passes it's self-test, it's safe to assume it's working and quick and easy to drop my board in, wire up the external UI (box with LCD and buttons) and run the laser w/o a smart card. I also have a bunch of the smart cards if you want to experiment with the unit in unmodified form.
</plug>

I think this looks pretty good, right?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kvant-Las...B/223101129812

They also have other bundle of lasers that just needs alignment, mostly.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cambridge-6...Er3s:rk:6:pf:0

I know the scanners are tiny and the wrong mirrors, but it may be worth the price to some for the driver alone...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232996211...m=232996211243
ALC909 and looks to very clean, the optical bench is still attached and it looks like there's an AOM lurking in there. Fairly priced, not going to buy it due to shipping to the UK from the US.

Damn - that is tempting... The laser itself looks to be in great shape. If I remember correctly, the 909 is the same as an HGM-8 medical unit. So figure 6 watts or so, all lines.

I'm sure this originally had a closed-loop chiller system attached, but you should be able to run it with once-through open loop cooling (just hook it up to a faucet and let it flush). If only it wasn't on the other side of the country from me! (Colorado is a bit too far to drive...)

Adam

Looks like an ALC909Z. Mine does around a watt on a SMPS.

Only 1 watt? Hmmm. I would have expected a lot more out of that tube. How's the pressure on your unit? Is it end-of-life?

I was sure that the 909 tubes were the same ones used in the HGM-8s, and those should be good for 5 to 6 watts, unless I'm mis-remembering things. (We need Steve Roberts in here!)

Adam