About the only thing that’s special this week is that we have a lot of blue! Of course, the models themselves are all special too! From exciting stampings to gorgeous water pumps, you’ll have fun exploring. You can learn some geology or metrology. Or you can go soaring on your skateboard or into the sky above. Be sure to visit Michael Petersen in his novel office or the new building going up. Then make a few precision parts and call it a day and head home to listen to some tunes! Phew! That was a busy day!

The ten best 3D models and one 3DVIA Experience uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the weeks of Saturday, May 21st through Friday, June 3rd, 2011 are highlighted here.

(Easy links to all 113 previous Top 10 posts are right after the current week’s models and   Experience .)

The Top 10:

Jacob (3010) has created this Grundfos CR MGE using CATIA V5. That is one handsome water pump! It is actually installed vertically, but I couldn’t resist showing off their logo and control panel. [Jacob lives in Denmark]

helenayeh did a fantastic job combining available models with her own imaginative modeling into a very inviting skate park. Juventude was modeled using 3DVIA Shape. I’m ready to roll (or actually, to fall down over and over again).

I just absolutely love this model created by tynnon using CATIA V5. Part1 is beautiful, functional and truly sculptural – all at the same time! Great work! [tynnon lives in China]

“The Implementation of 3D virtual models into geological learning” is the stated goal for this 4th year project at the Metz National School of Engineering in France. Anticlinal With Topology by Renaud (rjulien) is just one example of how they are using CATIA and 3DVIA Shape to create the geological models and then 3DVIA Composer to create interactive models to help meet their goal.

Their video explains the project in more depth in less than two minutes. They also have a Facebook page to help keep everyone informed. Oh yes, the models are just plain cool too! [rjulien lives in France]

Simple and elegant can be very appealing as farahats9 has demonstrated with Radio modeled using SolidWorks.

This is the heart of the beast! Michael (smike) has created a 20ft Container Office – Smikorsky Designs using Google SketchUp. I can easily imagine Michael working for weeks at a time modeling and adding textures to his amazing models. Be sure to check out his much more detailed presentation complete with a running commentary on the process. [Michael lives in Denmark]

Fau is a useful, functional model and a cool sculpture all in one! imjaramill made this beauty and uploaded it in OBJ format.

System Assy Ver2-1-for2D by m_terao looks like one sturdy behemoth that delivers highly precise products. The frames are massive and isolated for the best possible results. SolidWorks was used to design this handsome model.

Architurn – Un Duplex à Aménager was designed by architurn2 and modeled using Google SketchUp. It looks like a very relaxing and inviting living space. The architectural offices of Architurn are located in France, but they specialize in working over the internet.

I don’t know why, but large stamped parts are just plain fascinating to me! Cushion Pan by Tony (TonyRomero) is no exception. I applaud the deep knowledge and patience required to create a production worthy model like this! Tony used CATIA V5.

The experience of walking around a virtual Labo Metrologie was created by Mathieu (LEIBEL_Mathieu) using 3DVIA Studio. You can simply use your arrow keys to navigate around the room and get a good idea of the layout. A great use of 3D!

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 – 109 – Best of the Best 2010 – 110 – 111 – 112 – 113

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.