Jim, Sorry, I was not trying to make an engineering comment, just a "user observation". Of course the legs have to have a certain spread for stability, and there is a relationship between the spread of the legs and the length of the parallelogram, along with the height at which you expect to use it. I was only trying to point out a potential drawback to saving weight by making a short parallelogram. The final choice should be based on your expected uses and needs. If you are backpacking, or have limited space in your vehicle, then size is a top priority. If you are making it to use at public star parties, then you may decide that it is more important to make the design more "idiot resistant". If the binoculars at one end and the weight at the other end define an arc that is as big or bigger than the arc of the legs, it is visually easier to avoid stumbling over the legs. Jo At 01:11 PM 5/20/2002 -0700, you wrote:
hhhmmm, I would have expected that the longer arms (crutches) would require a wider spread of the legs to prevent tipping over. If the parallelogram arms are longer, are you saying the legs can be closer together? Seems like it would be the reverse, intuitively. Jim