I hear what your saying.
Getting the right balance between computer perfection and human error, coupled with your valid point about why spend time on something that is going to be armco kissing next week makes sense.
For this project the vehicle is being built by hand with the "data" - being the buck - created by computer and then CNC methods.
The client wants the car to be as perfect as possible, but containing the handbuilt variations - not fair to call them errors - that will invitably occur when building a body by hand. He will also be making changes here and there if he feels it will make the car look better. The buck is a very accurate guide.
Re the racer you mention looking horrible with the errors removed. Tricky one this, especially as I do not know the car. However using a Bugatti analogy being the Type 35 body. On the face of it a really simple shape, but in reality the debates between members as to what car has the correct tail are legion.
There are plans for the tail - well profiles and old wives tales really - but it is true to say that some look much better than others. Lord Raglan's car came up as looking particularly "well". Perhaps Bugwrench could expand on this point.
Back to the Ferrari, I can imagine the car being scanned - for example - and the data being given to a computer geek with a row of pens in his top pocket to be "corrected". He diligantly does this and can prove mathematically, that his model bears the "best" resemblance to the data he was originally given. I can then imagine someone looking at the shape created, thinking it looks rubbish but being too worried about originality to change the shape subtly - and I bet only subtly was required.
The second mistake was the coachbuilder not using his eye to tweak the shape to make it better.
I bet the car was a money no object rebuild, built with passion missing and the owner shouting "buy" and "sell" on a trading floor as he is on the phone discussing the detail of the resto. Just a guess though.
To conclude, I love symmetry and perfection but if the client wants the car to be assymetric or contain "errors" that make it look more natural to the period, then no problem.
Again relating to Bugatti, I remember being at the Trust and we were discussing the design I had recreated in 3D for the Type 35 gearbox cover. They happened to have one and it was bought over for examination. Well, it bore only a passing resemblance to what I had created with a very rough and ready appearance and only the faces necessary to be machined, machined.
However, I put my mind to solving this problem and there are in fact loads of methods some obvious and some not so obvious to making an item look "original". Sadly, every time I think of them, forgers faking Peninsula War letters by judicious use of tea and cooking them at gas mark 6 or whatever for a few hours comes to mind. Fine dividing line between being a smartarse and deception. Depends on the context and presentation.
Sorry for long post, but the previous thread deserved a decent -I hope - answer!
Stuart
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