12V DC to 12V AC: choosing components

As this project is an been waiting to happen for some time now, I kind a have a good plan where to start. First of all I don't like transformers, they are too heavy, expensive and old. I like power semiconductors.

The best choice for a high power current (and voltage) manipulating would be insulated-gate bipolar transistor a.k.a. IGBT. This is however a bit too new component. My local radioshack doesn't have it in stock. Second best would be thyristor, an older version of IGBT, but there is the problem how to turn thyristor off...

I have chosen my principle power component to be... MOSFET. The four best things I have learned about mosfets are:

• easy to use
• cheap
  
• great for parallel usage (for higher currents)
  
• power mosfets exist (for even higher currents)

Combining all above together, we have a modular system which power we can increase just by adding more identical pieces together. Controlling this multi-component system shouldn't be a problem in these highly computerized times we're living.

Next week I should have a principle diagram for a on/off mosfet switch... I think I have already designed it. Now I just have to find it.