Travel rig advice: AM3N with Redcat 61 and ASI 2600mc Air

William Optics Redcat 61 ZWO AM3N ZWO ASI2600MC AIR Portable Setup
4 replies•133 views
Walter Windish avatar
Walter Windish avatar

Hi all,

I am putting together a travel (air travel) rig with a Redcat 61, ASI 2600mc air, EAF, and AM3N. I think this mount is adequate, although I see many people using an AM5 for this class of telescope. It seems to me this rig is the perfect use case for the AM3N.

I also have another refractor I’d lie to use with the AM3 which weighs in at 12 pounds with just the scope and flattener. This would still be under the 17 pound non-counterweight max of the AM3 with the mc air camera. But my primary focus is airline travel.

Any advice?

Walt

Well Written
David DeShan avatar
David DeShan avatar

I have a similar, but somewhat larger rig:

  • RedCat 71 WIFD

  • Asi2600MC

  • AM5n

The AM3n would certainly be adequate, I went with the AM5n to future proof my purchase for later scopes. I now also have an Apertura 8”RC Carbon, which still works well on the AM5n.

My rig travels well. I’ve attached a photo.

David

📷 IMG_7448.jpegIMG_7448.jpeg

Quinn Groessl avatar
Quinn Groessl avatar

Looks good to me. I think a lot of people buy and recommend the AM5 since it’s not that much more expensive nor much larger for travel purposes, but it has quite a bit more capacity.

You should be just fine for what your planning. In the AM3N’s product page they market it holding an FF80 with what looks like a full mono DSO imaging train, and a C8 set up for planetary. Hell, they show it set up for visual use holding an FF107.

Helpful
Walter Windish avatar
Walter Windish avatar

David DeShan · Dec 16, 2025, 06:07 PM

I have a similar, but somewhat larger rig:

  • RedCat 71 WIFD

  • Asi2600MC

  • AM5n

The AM3n would certainly be adequate, I went with the AM5n to future proof my purchase for later scopes. I now also have an Apertura 8”RC Carbon, which still works well on the AM5n.

My rig travels well. I’ve attached a photo.

David

📷 IMG_7448.jpegIMG_7448.jpeg

Thanks David, nice setup. The more I hear, the more I’m set on the AM3N as my mount. Airlines are getting VERY strict and as it is I’ll be paying to check the mount and carry the scope and camera, which will also probably cost me.

Walter Windish avatar
Walter Windish avatar

Quinn Groessl · Dec 16, 2025, 06:10 PM

Looks good to me. I think a lot of people buy and recommend the AM5 since it’s not that much more expensive nor much larger for travel purposes, but it has quite a bit more capacity.

You should be just fine for what your planning. In the AM3N’s product page they market it holding an FF80 with what looks like a full mono DSO imaging train, and a C8 set up for planetary. Hell, they show it set up for visual use holding an FF107.

Thanks Quinn, Good point on their advertising. If the airlines weren’t getting so picky, I’d go for the AM5. Another consideration is Lithium batteries: Not only the weight in carryon, but up to 100 Watt hours are OK; up to 160 I will need to get prior approval. And forget a bigger battery. They’re even clamping down on mobility device batteries. The small Apertura battery just makes it under the 160 wh cutoff! Thanks again.

Helpful Respectful Supportive
Related discussions
Had it with ASI AIR !!!!!
Had it with ASI AIR !!!!!
Directly relevant - discusses ASI 2600mc Air camera issues and travel rig setup.
Aug 22, 2025
Relatively cheap mounts
What are some cheap mounts that are good quality and I can use for a setup that weighs 7-10 pounds.
Travel rig advice discusses AM3N mount with comparable weight equipment setup.
Oct 28, 2024
Skywatcher quattro 10" on Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro. Who's doing that?
I know that with a camera, guide scope, coma corrector, focuser, adapters, etc it's close to the 20 kilo / 44 pound weight capacity limit for visual, and above the 3/4 of the capacity that you're supposed to do for astrophotography. Yet I see...
Travel rig discusses weight capacity concerns with similar mount and camera setup.
Feb 21, 2024
Fornax LighTrack II setup advice
Hello all, I bought a Fornax LighTrack II used for about 370€. It's just the tracking arm so that gave me room to improvise how I would like to have my rig set up and I've come to this final configuration. However, I am very open to any suggestions. ...
Travel rig advice discusses mount selection; author exploring Fornax mount configuration.
Jan 10, 2026
Seeking advice on next steps in my astrophotography journey
I’d really appreciate your views on the next steps on my Astrophotography journey. Having been doing this amazing and absorbing hobby now for just under two years, I know that my journey has progressed from bafflement with how to use the equipment an...
Relevant for discussing next steps with travel rig setup and equipment choices.
Feb 5, 2026