Hi AL,
Most of the weight, of course, is in the MOT's and these are separate from the main rig so the lifting load (!) is spread between them. They are mounted on a nearby window sill.
The only heavy part in the rig being the filament tx.
I used that variable HV cap to tune the primary and 1000pf seems about the right ballpark.
Recently knocked up a thick tin foil top hat for the sec, (to increase capacitance), to see if spark output was higher, but it didn't seem so.
I shall try a really big one soon.
The anodes are not running red at all, BTW.
I use BY255's in long strings for EHT rectification at present, but thanks for your kind offer, Al.
I take your point about using separate supplies to each valve. I hadn't thought of that. Silly me.
How's your project No6 coming on?