Not long got a VAR 74 because it came up at the right price and long wanted to try one. It is different from the Park Tool (which I still love, and quite honestly is my go to) and operates more like the DT Swiss stand. I will try and fit the Islandix gauges on it at a later stage so I can compare a stand with moving parts and one that you centre yourself each time for micro adjustment.

Cleaned it up a little and made a wood clamp down stand. Really want to strip the chrome off the hub holders, chemical black and paint the notches white (I seem to see a black background better than a white one with watches so think that will better for me to see the notches easier).

The "modification" is two washers. Please excuse if this has been done before!
*Edit, I was overthink it before. Slide one side all in, put the hub in, snug the other up and measure (which the washers help with a positive edge), now divide by two and set. The hub is now sitting in the centre of the uprights. The radial/lateral gauge/ruler is held very securely by two circlips. Once you centre that, it should stay put.*