Westlake Publishing Forums

 ...the big problem was I could not spell very well ( and still not very good at it )
Barney

Barney I think it was Mark Twain who said something like:
'Spelling a word the same way over and over shows a lack of imagination.'

I thought Samuel Clemons said that .... -- Russ

I thought Samuel Clemons said that .... -- Russ
Some say Clemons, some say Climes, It's all Coranges and Cabanas.

Here's the source of my inspiration for the sign.  I ran across this image while surfing around on the internet.  I liked it and thought it would be a good addition to my garage and gas station project.  I boosted the price on the battery to what was appropriate for 1938.



Stuart

You also should model the man. He looks like the ideal proprietor. -- Russ

Must have known a local printer - or got this bloke to do it - is there something illegal  about doing this "new plates while you wait "
So all is forgiven with your sign!
Barney
Lovely build just keep it coming

Quote from: finescalerr on May 15, 2026, 11:39:40 AMYou also should model the man. He looks like the ideal proprietor. --- Russ

He seems a little too sober for my purposes.  I'm kinda thinking Luke would he a happy friendly sort who would be anxious and ready to greet both the local farmer and the city resident driving out for a breath of fresh country air.  (Have you ever been in the orange groves when the blossoms are at their peak? The fragrence is worth the drive to enjoy.)  You know, the kind of guy who would spend a few minutes just chatting about the weather or the latest news event.


Stuart

You're judging a book by its cover. Still, to be precise, the dour countenance is unique and unforgettable. That's why I like it, not because of its suggestion of disapproval. -- Russ

Yes Russ you are correct.  I have no idea the personality or disposition of the fellow in the photo.  Perhaps just an inkling of a smile would have changed my perception.  Anyway. before I actually include a figure in my project I actually want to finish the project.

Stuart

Slightly off topic, but I saw this and thought of Stuart and Chuck.

This is in Omoto Valley Road, Kaiata, just outside Greymouth NZ. Easy to find on Google maps/streeview.

It popped up on Facebook, but streetview confirms it is a more or less contemporary image.

Given the oddly positioned parking meter, I suspect this is, at least partly, an eclectic collection rather than a genuine relic, but it looks nice all the same.

It may be 1:1 scale and naturally weathered but it looks less real than some models on this forum. Does anyone find that disturbing? -- Russ

Quote from: finescalerr on May 21, 2026, 12:17:48 PMIt may be 1:1 scale and naturally weathered but it looks less real than some models on this forum. Does anyone find that disturbing? -- Russ

That's exactly  what came to my mind, too!

Hi Stuart,

You wrote:

QuoteI need to learn your modeling and printing method so as to add some additional life to my gas station.  I've got the printer, just need to learn how to model the figure.

I took the liberty of giving ChatGPT the following task:
Create a 3D MODEL of the gas station attendant standing on the right in the picture for the print—according to our standards.

After 4 minutes and 44 seconds, the following explanation was provided:
I'm using image generation to develop a cut-out, resin-ready figure study of the gas station attendant based on our existing standards. In doing so, I'm incorporating the recognizable person, clothing, and posture from the photo—without the gas pump, pole, background, or base.
Since you explicitly refer to our existing standards, I also align the scale, surface texture, historical clothing, and requirements for a future 3D implementation with our established figure guidelines.
Read via library, image generation, and context capabilities
Determines standards for 3D figure studies
The person is depicted small in the photo; I therefore examine the posture, hands, cap, overalls, and shoe placement at a larger scale so that the figure is not only "similar" but also anatomically accurate. The characteristic casual posture is retained but stabilized as a freestanding figure without the post.
Cropped and saved as an image using ImageMagick
Specified for the first version: a model height of approximately 175 cm, or about 77.8 mm on a 1:22.5 scale. I'm using the older, gaunt man with a flat cap, a rolled-up work shirt, overalls, both hands in his pockets, and his left leg bent at the knee. Since the original foot is supported by the post, I'm placing it on the ground at an angle in front of the standing leg with the entire sole touching the ground—making it printable—while preserving the figure's overall casual expression. The character version is currently being rendered. Afterward, I carefully check the details that are critical for printing: the two hands in his pockets, the separation of his legs, the position of both boots, and whether the AI has truly omitted the posts and gas station debris entirely.
Here is the first print-ready version of the gas station attendant:

Produced according to our standards (my scale 1:22.5):
Scale 1:22.5, intended model height approximately 77.8 mm
Poles, gas station, and base completely removed
Characteristic posture, face, flat cap, work shirt, and overalls retained
Both hands firmly integrated into the pockets
Both boots printed on the ground
Smooth surfaces without fabric or leather microstructure
No logos, badges, or modern clothing details

Gas_Station_Attendant_V1 (fspg2)


This is a geometric 3D model study; it does not yet generate a closed STL mesh that is actually printable.

Then I wrote:
Just adjust the man's right leg in the initial image so that it is later supported by the already completed concrete base. His left leg is his supporting leg. Other than that, absolutely no changes or additions.

Gas_Station_Attendant_V2 (fspg2)

Since I work at a scale of 1:22.5, but you work at a scale of 1:12, I asked the following question:
This figure is to be printed later at a scale of 1:12 using a resin printer (at least 8K). What adjustments will need to be made?

After 3 minutes and 38 seconds, the following explanation was publishedded:

For the 1:12 scale, the basic figure—including posture and clothing—can remain the same. However, the resulting 3D mesh should be specifically recalibrated for 1:12 and not simply enlarged.
Scale Change
The magnification factor from 1:22.5 to 1:12 is:
22.5÷12=1.875
Feature                   1:22.5          1:12
Mesh scaling                100%          187.5%
Figure height assuming 175 cm          77.8 mm          145.8 mm
Previously assumed height of the right boot sole    approximately 9 mm    approximately 16.9 mm
Previous minimum finger thickness   0.8 mm    approximately 1.5 mm

The 16.9 mm for the raised boot is only a preliminary calculation. The existing concrete base is the determining factor.
Must be adjusted on the 3D model
Right boot and concrete base
Three measurements must be taken on the finished base:
Height of the base surface above the standing surface of the left foot
Slope of the base surface
Horizontal distance from the left standing foot to the contact point
The sole of the right boot is then given an invisible, flat contact surface that fits the base exactly. If the base has already been painted, I would allow for about 0.15–0.25 mm of assembly clearance; the small gap will be filled during gluing.
Secure Fastening
Since the left leg is the actual supporting leg, a concealed hole for a brass pin should be provided under the left boot:
Brass pin: 1.0–1.2 mm
Hole: about 0.15–0.20 mm larger
Depth in the boot and lower leg: approximately 12–18 mm#

A second, shorter anchor point through the right boot sole into the concrete base would be ideal. This would ensure that the figure is actually supported at two points and does not place a constant strain on just the left ankle.
Details must not simply scale up
When scaled up to 187.5 %, all elements that were originally reinforced for printing purposes would also become nearly twice as thick. Therefore, the following areas in particular must be readjusted:
Make seams and pocket edges flatter
Render shoelaces as a relief approximately 0.3–0.45 mm thick
Limit the brim of the cap to approximately 0.8–1.0 mm
Model buckles and overalls straps to be historically accurate but not clunky
Refine facial wrinkles, beard, and ears more cleanly
Continue to omit artificial skin pores, fabric textures, and other microstructures
Retain only a few large, natural clothing folds
Especially at a 1:12 scale, imprecise eyelids, ears, nostrils, shoe shapes, and illogical folds stand out much more noticeably.
Hands in pockets
The current solution is advantageous for printing. Hands, forearms, and pockets should be designed as a single, interconnected form. No deep pocket cavities and no fingers that disappear invisibly into them or appear to float freely.
Solid or hollow

With a figure height of about 146 mm, I would prefer to print this slender figure as a solid model. This prevents trapped liquid resin and provides extra strength to the left leg, which bears the most weight.
Only if the slicer indicates unusually high resin consumption should the head and torso be hollowed out with a wall thickness of about 2–2.5 mm. In that case, at least two easily accessible drain and vent holes are required. Manufacturer guidelines explicitly warn against closed cavities with trapped resin; Prusa recommends fully hollow cavities only if they have sufficient wall thickness and drain holes, while Formlabs specifies a minimum hole diameter of 0.75–2.5 mm, depending on the printing system. For an LCD model of this size, 3–5 mm would be more practical. Prusa: Hollowing, Formlabs: Design specifications
Requirements for 8K printing
"8K" alone does not describe the actual detail resolution. The pixel size is decisive: For example, a small Phrozen Mini 8K operates at 22 µm, while a larger Mighty 8K—despite sharing the same 8K designation—operates at 28 µm. For this 1:12-scale figure, both values are sufficient; an actual XY resolution of no more than about 28 µm is recommended. Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K, Phrozen Sonic Mighty 8K
As starting values:
Layer height: 0.03 mm
Set anti-aliasing to low to medium only, so that the face and seams are not smoothed out
Tilt the figure approximately 30–35° backward and also slightly to the side

Keep the face, chest, and front as free of supports as possible
Use sturdy supports under the left boot and on the back of the pants
Use finer supports under the raised right boot
After removing the supports, carefully sand the right boot's contact surface until it is perfectly flat
Be sure to recalibrate the exposure time for your specific printer and the ABS-like resin you're using
An angled orientation reduces large contiguous layer areas and distributes the supports more effectively; at the same time, support contacts should be kept away from the face and other visible surfaces. Prusa: Object orientation, Prusa: SLA supports
The most important next step is therefore to precisely measure the concrete base. Only once its actual height and slope are known can the right leg be definitively and precisely positioned for the 1:12 master model.

Stuart, please let me know the height of the concrete base, and then I can use Tripo3D to make a first attempt at creating the 3D print file.
If you could send me your email address via PM, I can then send you the STL file via WeTransfer.

Wow. -- Russ

What Russ said: WOW!