Hey Craig,
The banjo neck is a normal length, about 19 inches, and from nut to bridge is about 27 inches. Tension is not an issue; they are, after all, nylon strings. I can't remember how I strung another nylon stringer I use to have, but that was about 30 years ago. Go figure.
Thanks for everybody's input, except that one about the sock.
Cheers,
Marty in Whitehorse.