solar panel?

[rhydddu009]

Here's one for you...

The kmx tamper container shed at rhyd ddu has a solar panel on top. Anyone got any idea how on earth I model that? Help! Colin

[JulienW]

Not having seen the real thing at Rhyd Ddu it will make this answer a little difficult, but from what I have seen of solar panels (and I assume that you mean the electricity generating type) they are flat, dark grey/black/brown in colour (from the semi-conductors) and somewhat relfective as the electronics is protected by glass (or something similar).

As an initial suggestion, use some clear plastic sheet cut to size to reprisent the panels with the details of the semiconductors painted on the back of the sheet.  Any supports and framing could be made from microstrip and any cables from very fine wire.

The hot water type are a little more difficult as there are a number of types of these, ranging from low tech - essentially a domestic radiaor or copper pipes painted black - through to high tech glass and vacuum affairs.  Again, not imopssible to model with a little lateral thinking. ;)

[rhydddu009]

sorry, couldn't post a photo from my phone (cool that the forum is so easy to use on mobiles though!!! well done whoever thought of that).

photo should be below.

image shown below, anyone know of a 4mm scale solar panel you can buy? 

[garrywhiting]

Not aware of any commercial model available yet, and even if were, sod's law would make it the wrong dimensions! A suggestion though, A1 Models sell a considerable range of etched brass meshes and grills, I got two bags of a mixed selection at the York Exhibition last Easter. A suitable size mesh could be superglued to a piece of black plasticard. It might do as a short term solution until something better comes along.

[invercloy]

Make a platicard base for it, then use a sheet of 10 thou or similar and just stick on an image.  In 4mm they wouldn't be very thick....  Make sure you use a decent quality image, then it'll look even better when compressed.  Then clear sheet over the top.

I reckon that'd do it, anything else i can think of would just look horribly overscale.

[rhydddu009]

I'm feeling that...thanks

[DeadHorse]

Photographic transparency or maybe a printout using computer on transparent sheet?
Scaled to choice by trial & error?
Plasticard is likely to be overthick.
Just a thought.

[Darren Hedges]

How about this?

Get a decent square(ish) image of said solar panel or any other solar panel for that matter, scale to suit in a photo editing suite such as photoshop and then simply print out onto good quality gloss photo paper. It will all ready be shiny and moderately thick so no need for the transparent sheet or plasticard base.

Send me a half decent image and some dimensions I will even sacle it down ready for printing for you.

Just a thought.
Darren.

[rhydddu009]

thanks. I have completed this today and it works well. C

[DeadHorse]

.........I have completed this today and it works well....
A working model? Wow! This hobby has sure moved on in recent years.
Next thing you know there will be some sort of digital command system or even computer control  :laugh:

[kdruthless]

If you can get hold of a small solar cell (my best guess would be at the CAT in Machynnleth), then you should be able to use the panel to represent a larger one in 4mm scale. Just draw a few lines on it. If you wanted to be really ambitious, you could wire it up so it powered the lights in a nearby building ;D

I suppose this could be the 21st century, eco-friendly answer to 'the best thing to model coal is coal'.  :)