Ace-Garageguy

There's a big hole in my sports-cars collection where Cobras need to be (except for several Daytona coupes), so I snagged a cheap 1/16 MPC 427. Badly water-damaged box, but 100% complete. The kit has some issues compared to a real car, but it's so big, they're relatively easily corrected. Also picked up a cheap 1/24 427 chassis for an orphan body that's been hanging around for some time.

Rear cockpit panel notched for shortened driveshaft, and pinion angle verified correct. There's also a piece of channel in place to receive the upper ends of the rear shocks. Final floor made up in .010" and .020" styrene. Fits like it was supposed to. And it's removable.

Added some reinforcements to the axle ends of the lift bars, and a temporary cross-tube to keep the forward ends parallel. The cross-tube let me place brackets on the chassis in the right place. The axle itself is still sitting in the alignment jigs I made several steps back. Bolt heads are model RR parts. Started making a card-stock floor mockup. Determined necessary clearance for the Hydro Stick gearbox. .Started working out tunnel dimensions and shifter clearance by comparing with a SWC '41 Willys gasser floor. The old Revell kit uses the same gearbox and stick. Checking seat clearance and gearshift position relative to it with card-stock mockups. Rear cockpit panel in place.

Nice job, nice story. That show was where I fell in love with those things too. One of the 5 stupidest things I ever did was sell mine.

If the cathedral is returned to its original appearance, replicating the look of wooden roof structure is unnecessary, and was not my point. The wooden roof structure was not visible from inside the building. The actual ceiling that is visible is made of masonry, arch-supported hemispheres...part of which collapsed when the spire fell on it. The old wooden roof structure is above the ceiling, as in most buildings, and is what keeps water off of the masonry work of the ceiling proper...which, being closely-fitted stone blocks would be difficult to seal otherwise. This part of the structure is not seen from inside the main part of the building, and could be replaced with structural steel with no aesthetic considerations on the inside.

Nice project. If there's anything you'd like to know about the real ones, I specialized in them for years, and would be glad to answer any questions.

Man...sorry to hear that. Good luck with whatever you have to do.

Though my specifics are different, my attitude is pretty much the same. Think old = act old = be old.

FanFreakin'Tastic.

Agreed. Though I'm not an architect, I do have a great deal of familiarity with materials and fabrication procedures from my own career. My father was an architectural engineer, and I've been around this stuff most of my life. I've done a fair bit of research this week as well. According to what I've read, about 45 acres of second-growth oak timber was required to frame the original roof structure. I would personally shy away from replacing the wood with wood, simply to avoid the possibility of what happened this week from ever happening again. Stainless steel structural elements, if used to replace the structure that burned, should easily last as long as the stone walls, especially if protected from rain. I've picked up pieces of stainless wreckage from WW II aircraft crash sites (75 years back) that show zero significant deterioration, even in very humid conditions. Normal structural steel would last equally well if kept dry, but much of today's crumbling infrastructure is dangerously deteriorated due to rust, though this is often ignored until, for instance, a bridge collapses. Any water ingress allowed by chinks in the roof sheathing could be disastrous in the long term, but proper inspection and maintenance would prevent problems for the covered roof structure of the cathedral. Obviously though, the inspection and maintenance of the old wooden structure was done well, as it lasted for 800 years...and everyone knows wet wood rots. Extruded composite structural elements also have an essentially infinite life so long as they're not exposed to UV radiation, and could be a viable alternative to steel. Composite materials also are typically stronger than an equivalent weight of steel, so the weight of a roof structure could be reduced. This may become an issue if it's found the stone walls have been weakened. Roof coverings pose another set of problems. Lead, as used on the building originally (which melted during the fire) should last 200 years or longer, but it's very heavy. Copper is lighter, more expensive, and also probably good for 200 years minimum. Here also, stainless is an option. Thin material produced for homes is normally warranted for 50 years, so a specially-fabbed thicker material should be easily good for 200 too. It can be treated to look just like the lead it would be replacing. Modern composite or plastic external roofing materials, though cool and hip and lightweight, possibly translucent and/or also having photoelectric capabilities, would have a much shorter service life. Replacement at (probably) 20-year intervals would be likely. Whoever is ultimately tasked with making these and other decisions needs to keep in mind the generally low standards of craftsmanship available today, and consider the very real need to design the assembly sequencing to be as idiot-proof as possible.

Very interesting idea, clean execution.

Great concept. Execution is working out very well.

In related news, a loony-toon was arrested after trying to enter St.Patrick's in NYC while carrying several gallons of gasoline and lighter fluid, and a veiled threat was made against Montreal's Notre Dame.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is far more than a "building". It's a cultural icon that's 800 years old, took 200 years to build, and is a symbol of Western Civilization and its contribution to human history, art, engineering, and architecture.

There's a clear and instantly recognizable allusion to current American politics, to anyone who's been paying attention anyway. But now I suppose I'll be put in time-out again for saying that. Of course, the whole subject is pretty dicey anyway. After all...the building in question IS a Christian church. Dangerously close to another verboten topic, no?

I've suggested structural steel on a couple of sites already, emulating the look of the original structure. I've also suggested lightweight composite roof sheathing, or better yet, translucent solar panels (which are available) that would supply the building's electrical needs, and could be illuminated from inside to produce a soft glow at night. Trying to slavishly replicate 800-year-old technology isn't the way to go this time.

Getting kinda close to politics there, aren't we?

Over the top cool. That's actual art.

I don't disagree with you that it will be rebuilt. Restoring it to pre-fire condition is another thing. There are far fewer craftsmen capable of working with old methods and materials today than there were after WW II, like those who restored the examples you cited. But I don't have a problem seeing the wooden roof structure replaced with steel, and the 250-ton lead roof sheathing replaced with a lightweight composite, either. It will still be Notre Dame. Thank God the exquisite stonework remains, complete with its flying buttresses, and will forever define the cathedral.

Me too, finally. I knew I knew it, but couldn't place it. Then I remembered which genre to look in. I always thought it was one of the most beautiful of the breed.

NOT RELEVANT TODAY (as anyone who tries to hire entry-level employees can attest to):

Lead is applied to a car body with an open flame, required to melt, flow, and adhere it to the steel substrate. I've been doing it for decades. Lead roofing is applied cold, in sheets, plates, or "shingle" form, much like copper or tin or aluminum flashing, or other more conventional roofing materials. Because lead is very malleable at room temperature, it's not necessary to heat it to get it to conform to its substrate when used as roofing, and it's attached with cold fasteners, overlapping much like shingles or tile roofing. A hot tar or pitch may be used to seal some junctions, but is completely unnecessary in today's world of engineered chemical sealants.

Thank you. Also much appreciated.

OMG !!! What about the football team? OMG !!! OMG !!!