Update everyone ... am going with a steel pier approx 1000mm high. 180mm diam pipe 6mm thick welded to a 380mm diam 10mm thick base plate ... 4 x 6mm webbings ... 180mm top plate 10mm thick with 4 threaded holes for Losmandy MAL adapter.
Will raise the telescope footing out of the ground via 400mm diam formatube (as mark4darkskies approach
http://www.pbase.com/gailmarc/image/90025641) ... approx 500mm high
Any opinions welcome
Thank you