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Eli Bakal

Blender studies, from prompts to prototypes

September 2026

I'm exploring more uses for Blender to get more out of my 3D printer. Moving from digital ideas into physical objects and 3D spaces feels like a big step for DIY projects.

Minas Tirith

Blender view of a tiered Minas Tirith model with a projecting rock spur and citadel above the city.
Minas Tirith, revision 3.

A miniature Minas Tirith, built around the layered walls and the rock running through the city.

Overhead view of the Minas Tirith model showing the walls stepping around the mountain and central rock spur.
The city from above.

Download Minas Tirith, .blend + .stl (ZIP, 71.1 MB)

The room

Blender render of a white bed against an ivory headwall with curved wood sconces and bedside books.
The bedroom, rendered in Blender.

I rebuilt this room from four photos, including the furniture and lighting.

Blender overview of the reconstructed room showing the arrangement of the bed, furniture, and adjoining nook.
Another view of the room.

Amberback, the kaiju

Revision 1, first pass
First Amberback figure with a wide-open mouth, long hand claws, and smooth oval scales.
Revision 4, revised proportions
Revision 4 of Amberback with broader shoulders, shorter claws, individually shaped toes, and raised armor plates.

The first pass was rough. A shorter neck and broader shoulders helped it take shape.

Rear view of Amberback showing the dorsal horns, armor across the back, and long tail.
Revision 4, from behind.
Revision 8, whole figure
Revision 8 of the olive kaiju figure, showing its plated body and long tail on a display plinth.
Revision 9, face and jaw
Revision 9 close view of the kaiju face and thicker jaw connection beneath the cheek.

Then I worked on the eyes and jaw. It's a little better now, and still a work in progress.

Download Amberback, .blend (ZIP, 88.0 MB)

The cup-holder mount

The finished gray cup-holder mount on a wooden table, with a five-hole rectangular platform above two cylindrical inserts.
The finished print.

The idea is to turn the rear cup holders in my Tacoma into a base for a small platform. Here's the printed version.

Top of the printed rectangular platform, showing four corner holes and one center hole.
Printed top plate
The printed mount turned upside down, showing two flat-ended cylindrical inserts beneath the plate.
Printed underside
Earlier exploded Blender concept showing tapered inserts above an approximate model of the cup-holder opening.
Earlier concept
Blender preview of the five-hole platform and two round inserts used for the printed mount.
Blender model
A tape measure crosses the long span of the Tacoma rear cup-holder opening.
Long span
A tape measure crosses the short span of the Tacoma rear cup-holder opening.
Short span
A hand holds a drink can beside a yellow tape measure as a size reference.
Scale reference

Download the mount, .blend + platform and gauge .stl files (ZIP, 0.4 MB)