What angle should I set the VTA on my VPI turntable?

lewm,
Rest the stylus on the platter at 0 grams. Lower the pivot point. I guarantee the pressure will increase. Raise the pivot point and it will loose contact with the platter. VTF is set with the scale at record level because setting above the record height (tail down) will give a false heavy reading up to .25 gm. on some scales.

Your model is flawed.

I've done the work, taken the measurements.  Nuh-uh is not a rebuttal.  Show me.

OP,

I mentioned my specific cartridge for a reason.

I know the Delos set-up is super sensitive, don't know about Kleos

Let me be sure I understand what you are saying, Lutke. You say to place the cartridge on the LP surface at zero VTF, first of all. Correct? Typically when VTF = 0, the cartridge is floating in space above the LP surface, and the tonearm is parallel to the LP surface, else the tonearm is not truly balanced. OK, so in order to get the stylus to come into contact with the LP, I am going to have to crank down the VTA adjuster/pivot point quite a bit from where it would be for normal use, i.e., to play a record. So now I have got that done.  VTF = 0, with the LP in contact with the stylus tip. Now you say to crank down the pivot point still further. Yes, that will increase VTF from zero, because the LP must exert a force on the stylus tip to push it and the tonearm upwards; now the tonearm sits at an angle, with the cartridge up and the counter-weight down. The "VTF" you are measuring is that force needed to perturb the tonearm from its natural position of parallel to the LP surface, when VTF =0. Anyway, any time you want to move a sofa, I am your man. You can be on the bottom as we go up some stairways.