Final adjustment, the wire diameter ( 1 /32 in ) works out to 1.5 inches in 1/48 scale, which seems about right for a bar that needs to be grabbed and lifted.
The space between the side lift bar and the pilot ( after grinding with a Dremel disc to get the top bar 90 degrees to the front face ) ended up as .048 inches or 2.3 inches in 1/48 scale which doesn't seem too far off for a space to put a hand in and grab the bar.
The second bar and pilot was finished and adjusted to match the original. Next, priming, painting and installation.