re: aluminum

[William Elliott <CN=William.Elliott/OU=MKE/OU=CORP/O=MMS#064#MMS%lngw@wtgw.corp.mei.com>]

> Paper is soft. But depending on how you shape it and how the pressure is
> applied to the shape, it can be very strong, too. Ditto for toothpicks.

<<<The unlamented Trabant had a papier-mache body.>>>

Yeah, but none of those "spider bites".... :-)

Actually, I've found the Duraplast body to be very interesting.  There is
a _lot_ of organic material in the material.  Mine has some minor body
damage and thus smells like wet horsehair.

The workshop manual (in German) refers to body repair and it
looks like they use fiberglass.  I e-mailed a Corvair guy I know in 
Germany (trying to find what Bosch spark plug the Trabie uses) 
and he said the Trabie guys there use (paper) egg cartons in place of
fiberglass mat.

Whatever its true composition, it would not be very high on my list
of suitable material for car bodies.  

Oh, thanks for the "I also brake for Trabi's" German bumpersticker
from Steve.  It's been a big attention-getter already!

Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI
Oh, the Trabie's running much better with its new Bosch W5AC's...
I can almost feel all 27 horsepower!