That would probably be the way to go. I'm big on keeping
dedicated-purpose tuners like this one would be out in yard right at
the end of the feedline instead of in the shack. Relays would work
fine and are easy to remotely control.
A
tuner like that would be a whole bunch easier to build and use and
would require much less mechanical claptrap than the original pair of
variable caps scheme requires.
Perhaps. An old electric screwdriver could be used to drive a pair of caps or
rollers, too. They're all over the place, discarded when the batteries go bad.
I don't see any particular point to using continuously variable coils
and/or caps when the same job can be done with their much more
reliable and simpler fixed value eqivalents in situations like this.
High parts counts and moving widgets in any combination is trouble
looking for a place to start.
73 de Jim, N2EY