Akira - Rooftop PV panels -page 23

[tomrommel1]

What kind of plastic do you use for building? looks great!

[OSHIROmodels]

What kind of plastic do you use for building? looks great!

Lasered acrylic.

So, into the next build (that of course isn’t finished yet). It’s an office block but I started to build it before the general layout/arrangement was decided so I’ll have to do a special board for it (more on the boards at a later date).

It’s relatively square in plan with the front three quarters as office space and the back as the lift, stores, stairs etc.




And of course, there’s lighting involved. Simple led strip lights on the ceiling, which might get covered over at a later date with a simple lasered ceiling plate.




As mentioned I think I’ll show the boards progress along with the subway station.

[OSHIROmodels]

So, next off is a start of the roof clutter that is synonymous with Japan (and the whole of Asia really). The bill boards are just printed from google images and the actual structure is mainly lasered supports with microstrip struts. The bill boards have been weathered a bit (but in reality they are kept fairly clean) to be in keeping with the dystopian look I'm going for.

The water tower, of which there are many on the roofs in Japan, is basically two plastic hemispheres stuck together with lasered supports underneath, sprayed light grey and weathered accordingly. Quite simple to do which is fortunate as I plan to make several more.

The white building has subsequently been painted as these photos were taken a couple of years ago.







Boards and subway will be in a while as I need to take some decent photos of them yet.

[Silent Invader]

All looks great (obviously  ) but do you know why they use those spherical water tanks? They’re very distinctive and I don’t recall seeing them anywhere else but the Far East. 

[Dr DeAth]

Lovely set of buildings.

[OSHIROmodels]

Thanks 

but do you know why they use those spherical water tanks?

No idea really. There are plenty of cylindrical ones but they do look older. I did a quick search last night and came up blanks 

[Andym]

Perfect clutter! That adds soooo much character to those buildings!

[Silent Invader]

Thanks 

No idea really. There are plenty of cylindrical ones but they do look older. I did a quick search last night and came up blanks 

I’ve often wondered. You’ve certainly captured the look though. 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Wow!

Excellent.

[YPU]

Oh man, that does add a lot to the whole feel! The spherical water tanks definetly feel more sci-fi than cylinders. All I can think of is that a sphere is a stronger pressure vessel?

[OSHIROmodels]

Cheers fellas 

All I can think of is that a sphere is a stronger pressure vessel?

Yeah, I thought that as well but it's only water and they're not that big. I would've thought a sphere is more costly to make than a cylinder 

Perhaps it's an earthquake thing. A cylinder has joints top and bottom and the force of an earthquake would act upon those joints whereas a sphere isn't subject to the forces as much given it's shape.

Whatever the reason, they look cool 

[Etranger]

They're spherical because they're Transformers... 

[Silent Invader]

I think earthquake resistance might be the answer

[uti long smile]

Marvellous!

[The_Beast]

I might have guessed reduced wind resistance, but marv-y just the same.

Excellent build, as always!

Doug