The ten best 3D models and one 3DVIA Scene uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the weeks of Saturday, March 12th through Friday, March 25th, 2011 are highlighted here. Manufacturing gets plenty of attention this week with three fantastic examples. But that doesn’t mean that we won’t have the chance to relax, eat and enjoy! Take a cruise, visit your friends or get some lunch. You can even explore your Tron fantasies. Go check them out!

(Easy links to all 108 previous Top 10 posts are right after the current week’s models and Scene.)

The Top 10:

All right, I’ll admit it, I’m drooling over Plastic Tooling by Shawn (Shawn650316). What a great model. No detail has been spared. I’d love to be there when it’s doing its job and those parts are popping out into the bin! Shawn uploaded this beauty using 3DVIA Composer.

Just imagine trying to model Reb Pilot in a file size less than 200k! abdyla has accomplished that and included more details than I would expect. It was uploaded in 3DS format.

CATIA V5 was used by JeffYAN to create this nicely-detailed Cruise Ship. I’m definitely ready to get on board and do some relaxing.

TLMagazine used 3DVIA Scenes to create TLMagazine’s Showroom no9 Light. You can wander around to your heart’s desire and enjoy the beautiful models and visual presentations. Just when you think you’re done, you’ll find another whole section to explore. Great job! [TLMagazine is in Belgium]

Michael (smike) has created another incredible model, the Kamov KA-50-SH Russian Attack Helicopter – Production will pull you in to to see all the details and the excellent textures. To see even more, along with his comments, go visit his presentation! As always, Michael used Google SketchUp. [Michael lives in Denmark]

I’m hungry now that I’ve seen Max’s Forbestown by jc_advincula01! The design and landscaping make an inviting street presence. Now let’s go inside and get something to eat! It was modeled using Google SketchUp. [jc_advincula01 lives in the Philippines]

ISD Tailgate Inner Panel by Mickael (Mickael_WAY) really gets my motor running – look at the incredible attention to the detail of the design and imagine the huge equipment needed to make it!  Mickael used Dassault Systemes V6.

Leo by Kretino is nicely designed and well-modeled with lots of appropriate details. I especially like the oval windows. It just looks so comfortable! It was uploaded in 3DS format.

julian112897 has created My Very Own Tron Motor using 3DVIA Shape. Good clean modeling and even better colors. He should be ready to blast his way through any of the challenges in Tron.

Double Cabin by Victoria Vellisco and uploaded by becariosnavales makes me want to take a few days off, keep things simple and enjoy this wonderful little “cabin”. It was modeled using 3DVIA Shape. [becariosnavales lives in Spain]

If you go inside this amazing model, you may never find your way out again. The detail is extensive and must be a big help to all of the people involved in making it real! Assemblage Generale Min 2 by Cimtec shows complexity in an understandable way. It uploaded using 3DVIA Composer.

Just so everyone knows, the order that the Top 10 are displayed is based on color, type of model and how I’m feeling, not any particular ranking. I just rearrange them until I like the way it looks. It’s as simple as that!

Easy links to the previous Top 10 lists: 001 – 002 – 003 – 004 – 005 – 006 – 007 – 008 – 009 – 010 – 011 - 012 – 013 – 014 – 015 – 016 – 017 - 018 - 019 – 020 – 021 – 022 – 023 – 024 – 025 – 026 – 027 – 028 – 029 – 030 – 031 – 032 – 033 – 034 – 035 – 036 – 037 – 038 – 039 – 040 – 041 – 042 – 043 - 044 – 045 – 046 – 047 – 048 – 049 – 050 – 051 – 052 – 053 – 054 (seven weeks in one) – 055 – 056 – 057 – 058 – 059 – 060 – Best of the Best2009 – 061 – 062 - 063 - 064 – 065 – 066 – 067 – 068 – 069 – 070 – 071 – 072 – 073 – 074 – 075 – 076 – 077 – 078 – 079 – 080 – 081 – 082 – 083 – 084 – 085 – 086 – 087 – 088 – 089 – 090 – 091 – 092 – 093 – 094 – 095 – 096 – 097 – 098 – 099 – 100 – 101 – 102 – 103 – 104 – 105 – 106 – 107 – 108

Here’s a brief recap of what I look for when I select the Top 10:

Variety – One of the most important factors. I try to show models created using lots of different software products and showing lots of different ways of using 3D. I include brief comments on why I chose each model.

Creativity, unusual subject matter and humor – These are big factors. We should all be having fun and feel free to model our passions!

Models entered in the 3DVIA Challenge contests will not be considered – They’re already getting plenty of attention and I want to spotlight models we may have missed.

There is no reward given – Other than the satisfaction of being noticed, spotlighted and being brought to the attention of more modelers. In my personal experience, the pleasure of having my work appreciated is the ultimate reward anyway.

From time to time I will make mistakes and not follow my own rules – I will review these mistakes on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes I will change the post and sometimes I won’t. I will be consistently inconsistent. I am human.

Your comments are always welcomed and encouraged! Your responses will help the modelers and the 3DVIA community as a whole. Feel free to bring other models to my attention and let me know why they attracted you.

(PLEASE NOTE: In order to make it easier to explore, all photos are linked directly to the model’s page.)

One final note of caution: these are my choices (dswavely) and my choices alone. So, aim the tomatoes appropriately.