diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
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+## Core latex/pdflatex auxiliary files:
+*.aux
+*.lof
+*.log
+*.lot
+*.fls
+*.out
+*.toc
+*.fmt
+*.fot
+*.cb
+*.cb2
+
+## Intermediate documents:
+*.dvi
+*-converted-to.*
+# these rules might exclude image files for figures etc.
+# *.ps
+# *.eps
+# *.pdf
+
+## Generated if empty string is given at "Please type another file name for output:"
+.pdf
+
+## Bibliography auxiliary files (bibtex/biblatex/biber):
+*.bbl
+*.bcf
+*.blg
+*-blx.aux
+*-blx.bib
+*.run.xml
+
+## Build tool auxiliary files:
+*.fdb_latexmk
+*.synctex
+*.synctex(busy)
+*.synctex.gz
+*.synctex.gz(busy)
+*.pdfsync
+
+## Auxiliary and intermediate files from other packages:
+# algorithms
+*.alg
+*.loa
+
+# achemso
+acs-*.bib
+
+# amsthm
+*.thm
+
+# beamer
+*.nav
+*.pre
+*.snm
+*.vrb
+
+# changes
+*.soc
+
+# cprotect
+*.cpt
+
+# elsarticle (documentclass of Elsevier journals)
+*.spl
+
+# endnotes
+*.ent
+
+# fixme
+*.lox
+
+# feynmf/feynmp
+*.mf
+*.mp
+*.t[1-9]
+*.t[1-9][0-9]
+*.tfm
+
+#(r)(e)ledmac/(r)(e)ledpar
+*.end
+*.?end
+*.[1-9]
+*.[1-9][0-9]
+*.[1-9][0-9][0-9]
+*.[1-9]R
+*.[1-9][0-9]R
+*.[1-9][0-9][0-9]R
+*.eledsec[1-9]
+*.eledsec[1-9]R
+*.eledsec[1-9][0-9]
+*.eledsec[1-9][0-9]R
+*.eledsec[1-9][0-9][0-9]
+*.eledsec[1-9][0-9][0-9]R
+
+# glossaries
+*.acn
+*.acr
+*.glg
+*.glo
+*.gls
+*.glsdefs
+
+# gnuplottex
+*-gnuplottex-*
+
+# gregoriotex
+*.gaux
+*.gtex
+
+# hyperref
+*.brf
+
+# knitr
+*-concordance.tex
+# TODO Comment the next line if you want to keep your tikz graphics files
+*.tikz
+*-tikzDictionary
+
+# listings
+*.lol
+
+# makeidx
+*.idx
+*.ilg
+*.ind
+*.ist
+
+# minitoc
+*.maf
+*.mlf
+*.mlt
+*.mtc[0-9]*
+*.slf[0-9]*
+*.slt[0-9]*
+*.stc[0-9]*
+
+# minted
+_minted*
+*.pyg
+
+# morewrites
+*.mw
+
+# nomencl
+*.nlo
+
+# pax
+*.pax
+
+# pdfpcnotes
+*.pdfpc
+
+# sagetex
+*.sagetex.sage
+*.sagetex.py
+*.sagetex.scmd
+
+# scrwfile
+*.wrt
+
+# sympy
+*.sout
+*.sympy
+sympy-plots-for-*.tex/
+
+# pdfcomment
+*.upa
+*.upb
+
+# pythontex
+*.pytxcode
+pythontex-files-*/
+
+# thmtools
+*.loe
+
+# TikZ & PGF
+*.dpth
+*.md5
+*.auxlock
+
+# todonotes
+*.tdo
+
+# easy-todo
+*.lod
+
+# xindy
+*.xdy
+
+# xypic precompiled matrices
+*.xyc
+
+# endfloat
+*.ttt
+*.fff
+
+# Latexian
+TSWLatexianTemp*
+
+## Editors:
+# WinEdt
+*.bak
+*.sav
+
+# Texpad
+.texpadtmp
+
+# Kile
+*.backup
+
+# KBibTeX
+*~[0-9]*
+
+# auto folder when using emacs and auctex
+/auto/*
+
+# expex forward references with \gathertags
+*-tags.tex
diff --git a/report/makefile b/report/makefile
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..0de201d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/report/makefile
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+# simple latex compilation makefile - aslak stubsgaard
+
+# Source files
+sources = $(wildcard *.tex)
+out = $(sources:.tex=.pdf)
+
+# PdfLaTeX compilation options
+latexopt = -halt-on-error -file-line-error
+
+.PHONY: all
+all: $(out)
+
+%.pdf: %.tex %.bib
+	pdflatex $(latexopt) $<
+	biber $*
+	pdflatex $(latexopt) $<
+	pdflatex $(latexopt) $<
+	make clean
+
+.PHONY: clean
+clean:
+	rm --force *.log *.aux *.out *.bbl *.bcf *.blg *.xml
diff --git a/report/msredesign.bib b/report/msredesign.bib
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9719596
--- /dev/null
+++ b/report/msredesign.bib
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+@article{ornl-tm-3229,
+  author  = {r. j. kedl},
+  title   = {fluid dynamic studies of the molten-salt reactor experiment (msre) core},
+  journal = {oak ridge national laboratory},
+  year    = 1970,
+  volume  = {ORNL-TM-3229}
+}
+
+@article{ornl-tm-0378,
+  author  = {j. r. engel and p. n. haubenreich},
+  title   = {temperatures in the msre core during steady-state power operation},
+  journal = {oak ridge national laboratory},
+  year    = 1962,
+  volume  = {ORNL-TM-0378}
+}
+
+@article{ornl-tm-4174,
+  author  = {h. e. mccoy and b. mcnabb},
+  title   = {postirradiation examination of materials from the msre},
+  journal = {oak ridge national laboratory},
+  year    = 1972,
+  volume  = {ORNL-TM-4174}
+}
diff --git a/report/msredesign.pdf b/report/msredesign.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67b0c10
Binary files /dev/null and b/report/msredesign.pdf differ
diff --git a/report/msredesign.tex b/report/msredesign.tex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8e4792
--- /dev/null
+++ b/report/msredesign.tex
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+\documentclass{article}
+\usepackage[active,tightpage]{preview}
+\renewcommand{\PreviewBorder}{1in}
+
+\usepackage[english]{babel}
+\usepackage{libertine}
+\usepackage{libertinust1math}
+\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
+
+\usepackage{graphicx}
+\usepackage{caption}
+\usepackage[autostyle]{csquotes}
+\usepackage[style=authoryear,backend=biber]{biblatex}
+\addbibresource{msredesign.bib}
+\usepackage{hyperref}
+\hypersetup{
+    colorlinks=true,
+    linkcolor=black,
+    filecolor=black,
+    urlcolor=black,
+}
+\urlstyle{same}
+
+
+\title{msre design}
+\author{aslak stubsgaard}
+\date{}
+
+\usepackage{lipsum}
+\begin{document}
+\begin{preview}
+\maketitle
+
+\section{introduction}
+the design and dimensions of the molten salt reactor experiment is detailed in several ornl reports. this document aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the core design dimensions and materials, for the purpose of creating an accurate cad model of the reactor.
+care is taken to give proper references to where data comes from or how its extrapolated from the available information.
+
+\section{core design}
+the msre core design can be seen in figure 1 and figure 2, note that they differ slight, e.g. the vessel drain line and around the control rod.
+\begin{center}
+  \fbox{\includegraphics[page=5,width=0.8\textwidth,trim={2cm 6cm 3.5cm 4cm},clip]{./references/ORNL-TM-3229.pdf}}\\
+  figure 1: MSRE reactor vessel \parencite[figure 1]{ornl-tm-3229}.
+\end{center}
+\begin{center}
+  \fbox{\includegraphics[page=9,width=0.8\textwidth,trim={4cm 4cm 2.5cm 3cm},clip]{./references/ORNL-TM-0378.pdf}}\\
+  figure 2: cutaway drawing of IGRE core and core vessel \parencite[figure 1]{ornl-tm-0378}.
+\end{center}
+
+
+\subsection{control rod and sample assembly}
+the control rod and sample assembly is further detailed in figure 3.
+\begin{center}
+  \fbox{\includegraphics[page=10,width=0.8\textwidth,trim={3cm 9.5cm 3.5cm 8cm},clip]{./references/ORNL-TM-0378.pdf}}\\
+  figure 3: msre control rod arrangements and typical fuel channels \parencite[figure 2]{ornl-tm-0378}.
+\end{center}
+
+
+\section{graphite rods}
+the graphite moderator rod dimension, given in figure 4, are missing the angle of the spike, the dimensions of the pole, and disk at the bottom.
+\begin{center}
+  \centering
+  \fbox{\includegraphics[page=6,width=0.8\textwidth,trim={3.5cm 6cm 2.5cm 5cm},clip]{./references/ORNL-TM-3229.pdf}}\\
+  figure 4: typical graphite core block arrangement \parencite[figure 2]{ornl-tm-3229}.
+\end{center}
+
+the arangement of the graphite rods are detailed in figure 5
+\begin{center}
+  \centering
+  \fbox{
+  \includegraphics[page=10,width=0.42\textwidth,trim={1cm 3cm 0.25cm 4cm},clip]{./references/ORNL-TM-4174.pdf}
+  \hspace{-0.2cm}
+  \includegraphics[page=11,width=0.36\textwidth,trim={2cm 3.1cm 3cm 4cm},clip]{./references/ORNL-TM-4174.pdf}
+  }\\
+  figure 5: reactor core block assembly plan, drawing D-BB-B-40416 \parencite[page 10-11]{ornl-tm-4174}.
+\end{center}
+
+
+\printbibliography
+
+\end{preview}
+\end{document}