Route 66 Gas Station project

Bob James · 4 Feb 2013, 06:54

One thing I've wondered about is what people do differently when modeling something with the intention of rendering it

One thing from my simple mind: Make sure all your normals face out (all the faces are white, not blue when set to monochrome)

chedda · 4 Feb 2013, 07:21

I can see a lot of love in the details of this model it will make an outstanding render. It already is a great image. There are no real shortcuts when it comes to the love and time involved that this shows.

hellnbak · 4 Feb 2013, 11:46

@bob james said:

@unknownuser said:

One thing I've wondered about is what people do differently when modeling something with the intention of rendering it

One thing from my simple mind: Make sure all your normals face out (all the faces are white, not blue when set to monochrome)

Thanks. I've always been careful about that (ever since I posted a thread asking why some of my faces were blue )

hellnbak · 4 Feb 2013, 11:50

@chedda said:

I can see a lot of love in the details of this model it will make an outstanding render. It already is a great image. There are no real shortcuts when it comes to the love and time involved that this shows.

Thanks Simon. Yeah, I do love the details.

Bryan K · 5 Feb 2013, 05:27

I LOVE old gas station designs.

I hope one day to model the great designs from the 50s through the 70s as a series, much like Tandema does for the classic English architecture.

Mostly the modernist 60s stations.

ely862me · 5 Feb 2013, 10:40

@hellnbak said:

Talk about somebody selling themself short --

Honestly when I look at your works I feel like a beginner !!

I think that if you trow that model into a normal render application without even working on the textures, the render will come out pretty well !!

hellnbak · 5 Feb 2013, 11:37

@ely862me said:

@hellnbak said:

Talk about somebody selling themself short --

Honestly when I look at your works I feel like a beginner !!

I think that if you trow that model into a normal render application without even working on the textures, the render will come out pretty well !!

I think you're being kind, but thanks.

I've started two other gas stations. There are so many across the country that just beg to be modeled. This kind of modeling does have advantages over modeling cars - with cars you can add only so many details, but with these models you can "accessorize" to your heart's content (as long as you don't go overboard) and give each one a unique character.

Gotta get back to this one though and convert it over to either a Sinclair or Phillips 66 station. Busy busy busy

Daniel · 5 Feb 2013, 13:41

Very nicely done, Steve. There were a lot of interesting gas stations designed and built as late as the 60s. Most designers today I think look down on them, but they all had more character, IMHO, than most of the bland cookie-cutter gas stations built today.

hellnbak · 7 Feb 2013, 21:17

@daniel said:

Very nicely done, Steve. There were a lot of interesting gas stations designed and built as late as the 60s. Most designers today I think look down on them, but they all had more character, IMHO, than most of the bland cookie-cutter gas stations built today.

Thanks Dan.

Yeah, back then they were service stations. Nowadays they're just gas dispensaries.

Remember that "ding ding" when you pulled in, and someone actually asking you what kind of gas you wanted, and would you like your windshield cleaned and oil and tires checked? And maybe a free water glass and some green stamps?

When I was growing up in a little one-stoplight town in central Ohio the Marathon station was the hangout for all us kids. Now it's a parking lot

Anyhow, still havent' decided on whether or not to do the interior of this station, but have been playing around with some stuff just in case. Here's one of them, the vintage Sun 900 diagnostics machine. Nowadays they are collector's items, and hard to find.

Jpac · 8 Feb 2013, 00:56

It's a great model with nice details everywhere you look. I have fond memories of going to the Standard Oil gas station in my town. It was a place to solve the world's (car's) problems.

jpalm32 · 8 Feb 2013, 01:23

I think I saw one of those on American Pickers or maybe it was that Restoration show.

Rich O Brien · 25 Mar 2013, 21:15

Added to Gallery

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hellnbak · 25 Mar 2013, 22:38

Thanks Rich!

solo · 25 Mar 2013, 22:53

Awesome mate, photo textures mapped perfectly, you must enlighten me on how you do your mapping, is it all SU or do you export out to map?

tadema · 25 Mar 2013, 23:15

Pete, legislation should be passed making it a criminal offence for failing to have that model rendered.
Steve, when you learn to render I'm off!
John