PROJECTS
Steel takes to the sky
Fabcon Steel turns an architectural dream into reality at
Grand Prix Models in Johannesburg.
By Candace Sofianos King | Photos by Fabcon Steel
The curved shape was selected to represent an airplane wing.
A
rmed with a vision to transform
Boksburg-based hobby store
Grand Prix Models, avid hobbyist
Gary Gibson collaborated with steel
engineering solutions provider Fabcon
Steel to achieve his architectural dream.
25 tons of steel and 2 200 bolts later, and
Gibson’s original concept is finally
taking shape.
Specialising in radio-controlled (RC) cars,
drones and planes, Gibson has long had a
desire to expand the specialist hobby shop
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NOVEMBER 2018
CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS
into a general venue for RC enthusiasts by
adding another level for a restaurant and
function area. With the business starting off
as a bare piece of ground, on which Gibson
and his crew built the original building
themselves 15 years ago, his long-term
vision was to utilise the tarred rooftop area,
with the idea of making use of a curved
fabricated steel structure to extend
over the area.
The curved shape was selected to
represent a giant airplane wing, as the
building is in line with the flight path from
OR Tambo International Airport. To achieve
this, Gibson turned to Fabcon director
Andrew van Gool and factory manager
Andre Schultz.
“Andrew knew what I wanted, and also
that he would be able to create what I was
thinking. Whereas other people would have
said they would get back to me, Andrew has
the passion to make anything happen,” says
Gibson. Van Gool admits that translating
Gibson’s vision was a difficult task.
www.saroofing.co.za