Wait... an update to my previous post (editing time expired, so I cannot edit it)

 

1. Nevermind, I figured the dials out.  They WERE the green scale dials, but their values quickly change (it took me only a slight nudge and they were at 100%) and 100% seems to be the max.  Setting all the scales to 100% fixes the problem though.  :D

Also, the green rods I mentioned before... well, I guess I dont want to mess with them afterall.  They change the way the bend looks.

 

The other two questions still stand though.