The Top 10 posts have been a bit sporadic lately as I’ve been dealing with continuing medical issues at home, so I’m making a concentrated effort to catch up on all of the really great models that you’ve been uploading. There will be more than one posting each week until I have caught up with you. Your great modeling efforts have not been forgotten!

The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, March 28th through Friday, April 3rd are highlighted here. This is the 22nd 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 – 021

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:

After spending endless hours, days and weeks in a 1957 Chevy station wagon rock-hunting in the California deserts and cris-scrossing the US with my family (I was one of the kids), this model just brings it all back it a giant flash! Motels2 by prolithic is such a great model in how it captures the essence of travel by car before the big chains took everything over. I love the cactus, the name and the oh-so-50′s and 60′s design. Fantastic job! [prolithic is from Australia]

Speaking of the 60′s – pinch me to make sure I’m not back in Haight-Ashbury! Glass Mahal, created by XQH_XXX using 3DVIA Shape 2.1, is a beautiful combination of colors and patterns added to an already magnificent architectural wonder.  [XQH_XXX is from India]

The Church, by cxg_Models, captured my attention due to the well done classical forms, proportions and the great use of color. There are details galore, including beautiful arches and exquisite stained glass windows. cxg_Models used 3DVIA Shape 2.1 to model this beauty.

Concept Bicycle (foldable) is a new take on a difficult design and production task – reliable and portable transportation. trigram_yxb has added his unique perspective using 3DVIA Shape 2.1. What impresses me is his concept and presentation using a simple free tool. With a little practice more people can take their ideas for an improved world to the next step. Very nice! [trigram_yxb is from India]

Short, chunky, hunky, simple and with all the right bits accentuated! This model, Car4 by langnickel, makes me want to find a long twisty road RIGHT NOW! Viewing the model using the Fresnel shader gives the shiny, wet look as seen in these images. langnickel uses Blender V2.48 and you can see his more detailed and rendered version of this car here. [langnickel is from the US]

My Skull by toymaker just cracks me up. Whether you think it is a cowboy or a pirate, the glasses just make it so much better. Toymaker use Google SketchUp. [toymaker is from the US]

One of the main values of 3D modeling is the ability to convey complex subjects so that people from many backgrounds can understand them. TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas Welding) [also known as GTAW - Gas Tungsten Arc Welding] is an essential part of making the things that we use and rely on every day. TIG, the model by mastic is a fabulous example of great story-telling using CATIA V5. He does a thorough job of demonstrating the key concepts involved in this type of welding. [mastic is from Spain]

Holiday Home by XQH_XXX includes a little bit of everything for your visitors – and you can have a lot of them! There’s even a helicopter to help make the traveling to and from that much easier. It’s a nicely done model using 3DVIA Shape 2.1. [XQH_XXX is from India]

Ositos (teddy bears) is another masterful model by mastic using CATIA V5. His fabulous imagination combined with sophisticated modeling has led to another fantasy that we can all enjoy! The forms are complicated and are complemented by the effective use of simple colors. Just great! [mastic is from Spain]

Nightmare Sea Creature, by Omind, takes fantastic imagination and excellent modeling in another direction – scary monsters! Using the Fresnel shader when viewing this model gives the look shown in these images. With the Double-sided directional shader the Nightmare Sea Creature becomes translucent and adds another level of scariness. I love the imagination, the forms and the patterns – a wonderful model! [Omind 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:

My Cubicle by XQH_XXX was created using 3DVIA Shape 2.1 and is definitely worth a vist to check out all the great details and vibrant colors. [XQH_XXX is from India]

First Car by alexyoung was also created using 3DVIA Shape 2.1, which was not an easy task! (3DVIA Shape 3.0 makes it a little easier.)

Sikorsky S-76C – private version – low poly by smike using Google SketchUp concentrates on getting the most out of the least using textures and as few polys as possible – great practice for understanding how to match your model with its intended use. [smike is from Denmark]

Washburn Dimebag Darrell Culprit Guitar is yet another great guitar created by sandman14 using Google SketchUp. He has created a virtual guitar Hall of Fame! [sandman14 is from the US]

Patamon, by maxofp2p, was created using Blender V2.41. I had to use Wikipedia to find out what a Patamon is (another good example of educating folks using 3D).  [maxofp2p is from Poland]

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.