3DVIA®

The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, February 28th through Friday, March 6th are highlighted here. This is the 18th post with the purpose of bringing models to your attention that we all may have missed during the week.

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

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!

Be sure to check out the models that received Honorable Mentions too!

Our users live all over the world, so I include in my comments where each modeler is from. It’s great that language and distance are not barriers when we’re all sharing in 3D! (Modelers may choose not to share where they are from, so some countries of origin will remain a mystery.)

The Top 10:

Bee is a beautifully done model by toymaker. The anatomical detail is exceptionally well done, but my favorite parts are the delicate wings with their tracings of structural members. The textures are also very nicely done. Great job! Toymaker created his bee using Google SketchUp. [toymaker is from the US]

This Koenigsegg CCX was created by mynameisoscarjo using just 117 KB! That is amazing considering how nicely detailed it is and how complicated the surfaces are. Here’s a link to the official site for the CCX. I used the “Fresnel environment mapping shader” (available during 3D viewing by holding down the middle mouse button and moving over the ’star’ shaped tool anc cycling through the various shaders) to make the surface development and other details really pop! Fabulous job! [mynameisoscarjo is from Sweden]

Tinbot3 by Prolithic is a great funny and retro model for sci-fi fans and kids of all ages! It makes me smile, it’s simple and it’s very well done. [Prolithic is from Australia]

Cubicle Model2 is a wonderful model created by shadesh using 3DVIA Shape. What really caught my eye is that the model does a great job on many levels. The viewer immediately see the entire scene, including a structural pillar, ceiling section and floor tiles/carpet. Then; as the viewer zooms in and explores, there is always more to discover.

The details that let you know a real person modeled this environment are there, from the early Batmobile model and Eiffel Tower model to the books and pictures. If you visit the model itself, you’ll also see that shadesh has continued to add details after I did my “photo shoot” of his model. Great story telling and great modeling! [shadesh is from India]

Creating an entire vehicle is a serious challenge that mahendra48 has done a great job with. The design of his Enjinia XE may not be for everyone; but the modeling, done in CATIA V5, is quite well done. The details really make all the difference. [mahendra48 is from Indonesia]

10 Early 80’s Powell Peralta Decks by sandman14 is a great colorful compilation of decks that those in the know will appreciate. Check out user gsmith’s correct identification of all 10 decks in his reply to sandman14’s challenge. I’m impressed! Sandman14 used Google SketchUp to do his modeling. He’s also well-known here for his exquisite guitar models, so be sure to check out his set of models. Also check out the Powell Peralta web site to update your own skateboarding knowledge. [sandman14 is from the US]

Trumpet (c) was modeled using Dassault Systemes’ V6 by adz94 and is beautifully done. The forms and details are great. [adz94 is from France]

trigram_QWQ is another modeler who stepped up to the challenge of doing an entire vehicle – and he used 3DVIA Shape to do it! His Willys MB is an excellent example of making the most of the tools you have. Check out the details all over the place – it’s simple, but exceptional. For a little history on the Willys MB go here.  [trigram_QWQ is from India]

It may seem odd that I’ve included two churches here, but I’ve done it to illustrate two ways of handling difficult texture and modeling challenges. Older buildings often include far more detail than modern structures. Usually, they are also constructed of a combination of stone and wood, which offers even more challenges to creating a great model.

In the Church model above, romrom, using 3DVIA Shape, has created well-done geometry details for some tricky woodwork and stonework bits. He then expertly applied  appropriate textures and scaled them just right to really make his building sing. His geometry details make the modeling exceptional and his application of textures complete the excellent presentation. [romrom is from France]

Hfoucher has chosen a slightly different approach for the difficult task of re-creating a specific ancient church, the Eglise Saint Nicolas de Rubelles. He is also using 3DVIA Shape as his modeling tool, but is using photographs of the real church to build a level of believability that is impossible to achieve with standard textures.

The top image shows how effectively this works to include details as fine as the latest church announcements. The lower images show how hfoucher is gradually adding the image-derived textures to other parts of his model. The lower right picture, in particular, shows the huge difference between using “stock” textures and photographic textures in an historical setting.[hfoucher is from France]

Both romrom and hfoucher have done a great job with their models, by applying the appropriate techniques and tools. Well done!

Due to the continuous challenge of narrowing the number of great models uploaded each week down to just 10, I’ve included five Honorable Mentions to spotlight even more modelers!

Honorable Mentions:

Arenaevora2 by junoto is a nice clean model with enough detail to make it interesting as well. [junoto is from Portugal]

Airbornes jumping out of C-130J is a great new version of alfredix’s C-130J Hercules. Paratroopers in various degrees of deployment make it a great action scene! [alfredix is from Germany]

Viking-Power did a very nice job using 3DVIA Shape to create his Street with houses model. [Viking-Power is from Germany]

This is a great little car modeled by DPV1 using 3DVIA Shape! That’s not easy, but he did a great job. [DPV1 is from India]

House 1 is nice because it illustrates structures from an earlier century which we can explore. BIG_DI also used 3DVIA Shape.

Here’s a brief recap of what I look for when I select the “Top 10″ and “Honorable Mentions”:

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 must be uploaded by the original modeler – Many times I find models that I think will add to the community and will upload them with credit given to the modeler. These and other models that I can’t be reasonably sure who modeled them (for example – commercial models) are a welcome addition to the 3DVIA community, but the goal of the “Top 10″ is to encourage individual modelers and reward their special creativity.

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.

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.