Creating a Low-Poly Bus in Blender with Python and Displaying It on the Web

Blender is a powerful tool for 3D modeling—and with Python scripting, it becomes even more flexible. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to generate a low-poly bus model using the Blender Python API, and then display it in a web browser using model-viewer.

Whether you’re new to Blender scripting or want to display your 3D creations online, this beginner-friendly guide has you covered.

🚌 Step 1: Generate the Low-Poly Bus Using Python in Blender

We’ll use Blender’s scripting interface to create the low-poly bus model. Below is a simplified Python script that you can paste directly into Blender 4.3+.

You can find the full source code here:

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import bpy
import bmesh
from mathutils import Vector

def clear_scene():
    bpy.ops.object.select_all(action='SELECT')
    bpy.ops.object.delete(use_global=False)

def create_material(name, color):
    mat = bpy.data.materials.get(name)
    if not mat:
        mat = bpy.data.materials.new(name=name)
    mat.diffuse_color = (*color, 1)
    return mat

def create_low_poly_bus():
    clear_scene()

    orange = create_material("DoorOrange", (1.0, 0.5, 0.2))
    yellow = create_material("BusYellow", (1.0, 0.8, 0.0))
    black = create_material("WheelBlack", (0.05, 0.05, 0.05))
    glass = create_material("WindowGlass", (0.2, 0.5, 0.8))
    red = create_material("TailLight", (1.0, 0.1, 0.1))
    grey = create_material("Grille", (0.3, 0.3, 0.3))
    white = create_material("Headlight", (1.0, 1.0, 1.0))

    ### BUS BODY ###
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(size=2)
    body = bpy.context.active_object
    body.name = "Bus_Body"
    body.scale = (3.0, 1.0, 1.2)
    body.location = (0, 0, 1.2)
    body.data.materials.append(yellow)

    ### WINDOWS ###
    window_positions = [-2, -1, 0, 1, 2]
    for i, x in enumerate(window_positions, start=1):
        bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(size=1)
        win = bpy.context.active_object
        win.name = f"Bus_Window_{i}"
        win.scale = (0.5, 0.05, 0.5)
        win.location = (x, 1.05, 1.8)
        win.data.materials.append(glass)

    ### WHEELS ###
    wheel_positions = {
        "FL": (-2.2,  1.0),
        "FR": ( 2.2,  1.0),
        "RL": (-2.2, -1.0),
        "RR": ( 2.2, -1.0),
    }
    for key, (x, y) in wheel_positions.items():
        bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cylinder_add(radius=0.4, depth=0.3, vertices=12)
        wheel = bpy.context.active_object
        wheel.name = f"Bus_Wheel_{key}"
        wheel.rotation_euler = (1.5708, 0, 0)
        wheel.location = (x, y, 0.04)
        wheel.data.materials.append(black)

    ### FRONT WINDOW ###
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(size=1)
    front_win = bpy.context.active_object
    front_win.name = "Bus_Front_Window"
    front_win.scale = (0.9, 0.05, 0.6)
    front_win.location = (3.05, 0, 1.6)
    front_win.rotation_euler = (0, 0, 1.5708)  # Rotated 90° on Z axis
    front_win.data.materials.append(glass)

    ### ROOF LIGHTS ###
    for i, x in enumerate([-1.5, 0, 1.5], start=1):
        bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(size=0.3)
        light = bpy.context.active_object
        light.name = f"Bus_RoofLight_{i}"
        light.scale = (1, 0.3, 0.1)
        light.location = (x, 0, 2.5)
        light.data.materials.append(red)

    ### FRONT GRILLE ###
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(size=1)
    grille = bpy.context.active_object
    grille.name = "Bus_Grille"
    grille.scale = (0.6, 0.05, 0.3)
    grille.location = (3.05, 0, 0.8)
    grille.rotation_euler = (0, 0, 1.5708)  # Rotated 90° on Z axis
    grille.data.materials.append(grey)

    ### HEADLIGHTS ###
    for side, y_offset in [("L", 0.4), ("R", -0.4)]:
        bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(size=0.3)
        headlight = bpy.context.active_object
        headlight.name = f"Bus_Headlight_{side}"
        headlight.scale = (0.15, 0.05, 0.15)
        headlight.location = (3.05, y_offset, 1.1)
        headlight.data.materials.append(white)

    ### BACK DETAIL (Optional: Slight inset to rear)
    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(size=1)
    back_plate = bpy.context.active_object
    back_plate.name = "Bus_Back_Panel"
    back_plate.scale = (0.9, 0.05, 1.0)
    back_plate.location = (-3.05, 0, 1.2)
    back_plate.rotation_euler = (0, 0, 1.5708)  # rotate 90° on Z axis
    back_plate.data.materials.append(orange)

    bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(size=0.2)
    tail_light = bpy.context.active_object
    tail_light.name = "Bus_TailLight"
    tail_light.scale = (0.2, 0.05, 0.2)
    tail_light.location = (-3.05, 0.5, 1.0)
    tail_light.data.materials.append(red)

	# Create an empty object named "Bus"
	bpy.ops.object.empty_add(type='PLAIN_AXES')
	bus_root = bpy.context.active_object
	bus_root.name = "Bus"

	# List all your bus part names here
	bus_parts = [
		"Bus_Back_Panel",
		"Bus_Body",
		"Bus_Front_Window",
		"Bus_Grille",
		"Bus_Headlight_L",
		"Bus_Headlight_R",
		"Bus_RoofLight_1",
		"Bus_RoofLight_2",
		"Bus_RoofLight_3",
		"Bus_TailLight",
		"Bus_Wheel_FL",
		"Bus_Wheel_FR",
		"Bus_Wheel_RL",
		"Bus_Wheel_RR",
		"Bus_Window_1",
		"Bus_Window_2",
		"Bus_Window_3",
		"Bus_Window_4",
		"Bus_Window_5"
	]

   # Parent all parts to the "Bus" empty
   for part_name in bus_parts:
       obj = bpy.data.objects.get(part_name)
       if obj:
           obj.parent = bus_root
       else:
           print(f"Warning: {part_name} not found")

   # Deselect all, then select only the "Bus" empty
   bpy.ops.object.select_all(action='DESELECT')
   bus_root.select_set(True)
   bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = bus_root
   bpy.ops.object.parent_set(type='OBJECT')

   # Define export path (adjust as needed)
   export_path = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), "low_poly_bus.glb")

   # Export selected (the "Bus" empty and children) as GLB
   bpy.ops.export_scene.gltf(
       filepath=export_path,
       export_format='GLB',
       export_selected=True,
       export_apply=True
   )

# Run it
create_low_poly_bus()

Note: If you’re new to Python scripting in Blender, check out my book Learning Python.

⚙️ Running the Script via Command Line

To run the Python script outside Blender’s UI, open a terminal or command prompt and run:

Copyblender --background --python create_low_poly_bus.py

Make sure create_low_poly_bus.py is your saved script file, and that Blender is installed and in your system’s PATH.

🌐 Step 2: Export the Model to .glb Format

Once your low-poly bus is generated in Blender:

1. Go to File → Export → glTF 2.0 (.glb).
2. Check Include Selected Objects and Apply Modifiers.
3. Save your model as low_poly_bus.glb.

💻 Step 3: Display the Model in a Web Browser with model-viewer

Create an HTML file with the following content:

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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <title>Low Poly Bus Viewer</title>
    <script type="module" src="https://unpkg.com/@google/model-viewer/dist/model-viewer.min.js"></script>
    <style>
      model-viewer {
        width: 100%;
        height: 500px;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Low Poly Bus</h1>
    <model-viewer
      src="low_poly_bus.glb"
      alt="A low poly bus model"
      auto-rotate
      camera-controls
      ar
      shadow-intensity="1"
      background-color="#FFF">
    </model-viewer>
  </body>
</html>

Open the HTML file in your browser. Your 3D bus is now live on the web!

📷 Screenshots

Don’t forget to check out my screencast on generating 3D models with Blender Python API. In the video, I walk through the entire process, from coding the script to displaying the model in the browser.

🎬 Embedded Live Screencast

📚 Learn More and Go Further

Want to go deeper with Python and Blender scripting?

• 📖 Learning Python (Book) – Great for total beginners.
• 📖 Mastering Blender Python API (Book) – Perfect for Blender automation and advanced scripting.
• 🎓 Learning Python (Course) – Hands-on, beginner-friendly Python training.

💬 Need Help? Book a 1-on-1 Session

I offer personalized online Python tutoring, including Blender scripting sessions. You can reach me via my contact page:

👉 Book a session

🧠 Final Thoughts

With just a few lines of Python and a simple HTML viewer, you can automate 3D modeling in Blender and bring your creations to life online. Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!