That's what I was thinking when I looked into the rims, that the rim's section will most likely be beefy enoung to maybe handle at least a two cross pattern. What still concerns me a bit is the fact that there are no eyelettes on the rims as I had discovered when I got them a couple of days ago. I was expecting some form of eyelette on the inside to reinforce it a bit, but I only see raw holes instead so I'm not even sure how the spoke nipples will sit in there without any sort of binding when the tension is put on them.
In terms of spoke pattern, I might just go with 2 cross up front (I don't think I'm light enough to be comfortable with tryng out a radial with these older designed rims and hubs.) and maybe two or three cross at back, with oval section spokes from DT or Wheelsmith (Hoshis "s" ended bladed spokes as a last resort) so I avoid having to slot the hubs. I'll drop by a couple of my LBSs today to see what they think too.
Thanks for the input!
I'll post up any new development on this "Tout French" (except for spokes) wheel build as it happens.

Chombi