Here is (in my opinion) the worst part of the scope...the dreaded tube seam! I don't much care for it, so it will be welded\brazed shut and then sanded smooth. I have thought of a Hastings aluminum tube and they have several in the 9" diameter that I could use. I may send away for a sample one foot piece of each wall thickness to make sure it will work with the end rings.
Thats of course if the "body" work and hole filling go badly.