The east end is complete. Here are two photographs that give the cathedral a different feel. Each one is rendered in black and white and antique.
Sometimes getting the colour out of the way, really lets you see the architecture.
B&W
The east end is complete. Here are two photographs that give the cathedral a different feel. Each one is rendered in black and white and antique.
Sometimes getting the colour out of the way, really lets you see the architecture.
B&W
Antique
B&W
Excellent! :]
Cheers
Jan
Hi Jan. Thank you for your kind comments. Much appreciated.
When I looked at the last photo above your comment, I noticed that something was wrong with the octagonal choir stair tower on the left. It didn't look right at the top just under the roof. Upon inspection, I noted that one of the corners had been dented in. A gentle squeeze between thumb and forefinger popped it out.
I'm sure that many apprentices of the middle ages wished their errors in stone could be so quickly corrected when the master mason pointed them out!
The major work sites now are the north and south nave flying buttresses. The main parts above the piers require quite a bit of careful folding and gluing.
Here's the first one partially folded up.
Notice that the statue, standing in a niche embrasure, is printed flat on the paper.
At Reims, statuary was more prominantly displayed in niche towers.
Here is the buttress with its webbed support attached.
A bit of a setback here. The middle buttress section does not fit. These photographs showing a dry test fit will tell the story. The support is flush against the nave wall but the solid masonry section seen in the photo is too far back.
Did you run into this Ricardo? Looks like the support sections of all the other buttresses will have to be shortened. On this one, I'll lose the little tabs that fold back at their ends. That will reveal the printing of the part number where they were intended to attach to the wall. I will have to cut off the existing tabs, cut the sandwiched support open at the end and score and bend new tabs. (The sandwiched part is glued tight and will have to be carefully opened.)
Looks like a lot of refurbishing of parts is in order...
Edit: I think I have a simpler solution. Cut off the existing tabs of this first one and glue them to the nave wall on each side of where the webbing support will go - leaving a very narrow slot. This will cover up the white location strip and the part number printing. Then cut the support to the correct length and slide it into the slot. Should work.
Then with the rest of them, I can make length adjustments before gluing the support section to the back of the tower.
Here is a novelty shot of a Reims upper nave buttress standing beside its pier. The whole flying buttress is built in two major segments. Chartres buttresses will be much more modest in appearance and will have three sections.
Notice the stitch lines at the base of the piers. This is quite unusual for Instant Durable designing. These fold lines we now consider a detractor, were used on many fine early models. I will go back to this model and cover them up. (Opaque gouache watercolour does a nice job.)
Hi john,
The next masterpice from your "manufactur".
Always interesting for me to follow your reports.
Greetings from Vienna, Herbert
John, I no longer remember any problems (I built this model back in 2004) but you are most probably right. I enclose 2 pictures of my model. You can check the relative position of the parts with your model to see if I cheated somewhere...
Looking carefully at D4 (the right picture), I'm tempted so say yes - there seems to be some whitish small rectangles over the lower flying buttresses!
Hi Ricardo. Thanks for the photos. The middle buttresses are nicely in line.
On my model, I decided to cut off the extending rib at the top of the middle buttress and mount the buttress standing plumb on the aisle roof by itself. Then the spans were cut to fit between its vertical backside and the wall.
There are two lower buttress spans behind the southwest and northwest transept towers.
Hi Herbert. Thank you for your positive comments.
From snowy Peterborough,
Cheers...John
These middle sections remind me of the stone heads on the Easter Islands...
Perhaps a look up from the ground around 1200 as the buttresses progressed skyward.
Hi John,
just marvellous!! that includes the print, the impression of the model and, of course, your quality of building.
Greetings
Hans Gerd
Hi Hans.
Your positive comments are very much appreciated. Thank you.
This grand cathedral is nearing completion. The day of raising the two steeples is soon approaching.
The upper spans of the flying buttresses were tricky to size. After struggling with about half of them, I began making templates and using them as patterns to cut out the printed parts to the required new profiles.
The flying buttresses are now in place supporting the nave of the cathedral.
The buttresses on this cathedral provide some interesting sight lines...
Looking...
...closer.
It is done.
Chartres has found her voice.
Hello John,
another outstanding work ... like Jörg said, it's a pleasure to buildings growing.
Best regards
René
Another great build! Can't wait to see some more pictures of the completed model
Call me silly but I only realized today where some of the threads go, after disappearing from the 'normal' construction reports :rotwerd:
I've been missing a lot, like the last parts of your previous build (Postorná) and AlanG's StephansDom! The good thing is that they continue to be available for anyone to admire =)
Hi Jörg and René,
Thank you gentlemen. There is something very satisfying about completing these classic buildings. For me, it's the history they hold.
Ricardo,
Thanks. I agree with you. We are so fortunate to have a forum where we can share our passion and present our card model creations.
I ordered Le Puy this week. Thanks for making me aware of it through your wonderful build.
Cheers All...John
Chartre's construction on Romanesque foundations began in 1145.
In 1194, a horrific fire destroyed all but the west towers and most of the town.
Between 1194 and 1220, the cathedral was rebuilt at an incredible rate.
The tower on the left, Clocher Neuf, is 113 meters high; Clocher Vieux on the right is 103 meters tall.
Beautiful indeed! From the 3 big French cathedrals of L'Instant Durable, this one has the most varied architecture. As a kit, I'd like it to be a bit more ambitious, with recessed main windows and so on. 400 parts is not a lot for a model of this size...
Congratulations for another great build
What's next?
Thanks for the comments!
Well said Ricardo. This French publisher could be revisiting some of the publications and attending to some quality control that has been pointed out over time. Having said that, the products still continue to offer hours of enjoyable building.
Hagen, there are quite a few models in the queue. To avoid immediate card withdrawl, I'm into Maulbronn Abbey. I love the depth Tabernacki achieves with his detailed stonework and shadow. This is a nice little model. Then it's off to another church - Neogotyski ko?ció?. This is one of only four churches modelled by Modelik. Ricardo, you put me on to this one.
Take care guys...John
Edit: This forum did not like the characters describing this Polish church - those aren't question marks. I plead ignorance here. Let's try Church Szczecin.
Yes, "Church Szczecin" looks better than "church - Neogotyski ko?ció?"
I don't know if it sounds better because I'm completely unable to pronouce either :rotwerd:
John, prepare yourself for a lot of card cutting! I have many (unpublished) construction pictures of that model. If you find it fit, I could add some of them to your thread, as your work progresses
Thank you for your kindness Ludwig.
Your pictures are very much appreciated here.
John