Information is beginning to emerge from several sources to assist with the project, some of which others who'd like to give it a try will find useful:
I am good here except I will have to remove 1/2 turn of the coil.
The length of the Cap Hat radials is the same from both of these sources, but there is a bit here that seems to indicate two different iterations of the Merlin. From other discussions/sources I am seeing a separation between the Hat and the Coil of only 1" 
I am good here, too. We know that tuning is apt to show small increments of differences in adjustment lengths from place-to-place.
My radials are two piece units and are 4 instead of three, If anything, the 4 should be better, but certainly not a disadvantage to the antenna's performance.
I am still looking forward to a measurement of the distance between the center of the mast and the radials at a distance down from the hub. I will check mine again and determine whether they are at exactly 45° degrees angle until more detailed info arrives. I think they will be tighter than that by looking at the pictures - closer to 25° -30°.
And last, but not least, there is the wife ingredient that keeps us from having all the radio time we'd like to have . . .
*added for clarity
