The following example shows how to control aspect of a taylordiagram plot (see image here)

import vcs,MV2

data=MV2.array([[5,.81],[6,.8],[4,.85],[4.5,.83]])
print data.shape
x=vcs.init()
x.open()

td=x.createtaylordiagram()
td.referencevalue=5.
t=x.createtemplate(source="deftaylor")
#Sets the correlation major line
l=x.createline()
l.type='dash'
l.width=1
t.ytic2.x1=t.data.x1
t.ytic2.line=l
majorcor=vcs.mklabels([.1,.3,.6,.8,.9,.95,.99])
td.cticlabels1=majorcor
#Sets the correlation minor line
l=x.createline()
l.type='dot'
l.width=1
l.color=[252] # grey
t.ymintic2.x1=t.data.x1
t.ymintic2.line=l
minorcor=vcs.mklabels([.2,.4,.5,.7,.85,.91,.92,.93,.94,.96,.97,.98,.998])
td.cmtics1=minorcor
#Sets standard dev major tics
l=x.createline()
l.type='dash'
l.width=1
t.xtic2.line=l
t.xtic2.priority=1
mjrstd1=vcs.mklabels([0.5,1.5,2.5,3.5,4.5,5.5,6.5,7.5,8.5,9.5])
td.xticlabels1=mjrstd1
mjrstd2=vcs.mklabels([0.,1.,2.,3.,4.,5.,6.,7.,8.,9.])
td.yticlabels1=mjrstd2
#Sets the std minor line
l=x.createline()
l.type='dot'
l.width=1
l.color=[252] # grey
t.xmintic2.line=l
t.xmintic2.priority=1
mnrstd=vcs.mklabels(MV2.arange(0,10,.25))
td.xmtics1=mnrstd
td.ymtics1=mjrstd1
#Sets the reference
l=x.createline()
l.type='solid'
l.width=2
l.color=[242] # red
t.line2.line=l

# Sets the maximum for arc value
td.max=8.
# ok now plots the first half of data with these settings
x.plot(data[:2],t,td)

# now we want another reference value with another color
# we need to copy the template and graphic method
t2=x.createtemplate(source=t)
#Sets the reference
l=x.createline()
l.type='solid'
l.width=2
l.color=[244] # blue
t2.line2.line=l

td2=x.createtaylordiagram(source=td)
td2.referencevalue=4.

# ok now plots the first half of data with these
x.plot(data[2:],t2,td2)
raw_input()

And here is the result: