3DVIA®

The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, March 21st through Friday, March 27th are highlighted here. This is the 21st 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 – 018 – 019 – 020

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:

What a great character with enough attitude for all of us. Great modeling, thoughtful added bits to help tell a story and vibrant colors really make FFF by langnickel a fun and engaging model. Blender 2.45 was used for its creation. [langnickel is from the US]

Amphora by JMarc13 illustrates the elegant beauty of classic shapes with subtle textures and colors using CATIA V5. [JMarc13 is from France]

Mike’s New House Ground Floor shows the furnishings being added to Mike’s new house, which was also shown as an Homorable Mention in 3DVIA Top 10 – 011. trigram_QWQ keeps adding to this model and making it better and better using 3DVIA Shape 2.1. Just recently trigram_QWQ changed his user name to abu_roadking, so be sure to check out his models there too. [trigram_QWQ/abu_roadking is from India]

Bird is a great humorous creation by virteam that gives me a smile every time I gaze into it’s giant eyes and stay alert to avoid it’s giant pointy beak. [virteam is from India]

Entertainment Center by lingling creates a beautiful environment for a futuristic home center, enjoying either electronic or natural interaction. [lingling is from Belgium]

LEGO MWU-UL-Raptor-A1 by sady2 demonstrates creating a great model by using LEGO Digital Designer and then 3DVIA Printscreen from the 3DVIA Labs. sady2’s model was inspired by a model of the same name created by alfredix, which was a Top 10 – 015 choice. [sady2 is from Romania]

3DVIA has become home to a bunch of great Sikorsky helicopter models by smike. Trigram_QWQ uses his version of the Sikorsky 92 to show how a a wonderful helicopter model with complex surfaces can also be created using 3DVIA Shape 2.1. His model Intersection of Surfaces/Solids is a must-visit model for some great tips on shape generation [trigram_QWQ/abu_roadking is from India]

For fans of the musical “Little Shop of Horrors”, Omind brings one of the main characters to life in 3D – a round of applause, please, for Audrey II. The top image is one of Omind’s rendering, which can be found on my3dvia.ning.com. [Omind is from the US]

This exquisitely detailed model of the Star Wars AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport) was created by isaacmiller1993 using DAZ Studio 2.3.

HOGZILLA by langnickel is great fun as we head into better weather (in many places) and think of hitting the road again. Bugs in the teeth would be treat on this wild machine! Blender 2.48 is langnickels 3D tool of choice. Ride on! [langnickel is from the US]

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

Honorable Mentions:

Retro 8 Track Stereo & Record Player was created by Omind. Check out his tutorial on how to do multi-texturing with only one texture. [Omind is from the US]

3 Axle Semi Trailer for 40ft Logistic Equipment is another amazingly detailed model by alfredix and was uploaded in the STEP format [alfredix is from Germany]

Fighter Ship by XQH_XXX was created using 3DVIA Shape 2.1. I don’t think that you’ll find a more eclectic collection of aircraft in one place. [XQH_XXX is from India]

Block Snowspeeder in LEGO blocks is really well-done by Plutonius. Check out the opening hatches and excellent graphics and color choices. Please note: Normally, a model that was created by someone other than the uploader would not be eligible to be in the Top 10. However, we were recently informed that Plutonius is the original modeler and he has agreed to have the model link go to mgbaron’s upload of his model where proper credit is given. Thank you Plutonius for being a gentleman throughout this situation!

Castle Cel Shade was created by Trickset using an OBJ generator. It appears to be a comparison of using a Cel-shade technique vs a simpler method. It caught my eye and helped me learn a little more about 3D shading methods.

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.