3DVIA®

It was suggested that since I’m doing two Top 10 posts a week in order to catch up on all the great models that you’ve uploaded, at least one of those should be the latest week. I agree! The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, April 25th through Friday, May 1st are highlighted here. 024 and 025 will still be done, they’ll just be out of order. That way you can all be as confused as I am.

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

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:

Bell 206B Mercy Air with cabin interior was modeled by smike using Google SketchUp and spotlights yet another important use of helicopters as ambulances. Smike goes to great lengths to do his research and get things right.

The picture in the lower right shows the doorway through which the patient gurney is passed into the helicopter and his textures beautifully recreate the equipment necessary for medical treatment during the flight. [smike is from Denmark]

ESP Shinigami guitar is another epic instrument by sandman14. It’s a great concept and is backed up with meticulous detail and textures, all done using Google SketchUp. [sandman14 is from the US]

A-10A Thunderbolt II was modeled by alfredix using Pro/ENGINEER and uploaded to 3DVIA.com using the STEP format. The Warthog is a personal favorite of mine and alfredix has done a fabulous job capturing it. Notice in the left picture of the middle pair how the nose wheel is offset is order to center the cannon. The entire aircraft is built around the capability of that weapon.

Fantastically, alfredix also shares with us how, step by step, he made the model. Click on the lower image to go to his Picasa Web Album where you can see exactly how it did it. BRAVO! [alfredix is from Germany]

George Cheney, Jingles Morgan & Maxwell is a great way to meet toymaker’s canine family members. George & Jingle “Twins” age 3 chihuahua, beagle mix. Max age 15 all beagle.” Toymaker did a great job using Google SketchUp. Woof! Woof Woof!! [toymaker is from the US]

LEGO Car is a really fun model created by isaacmiller1993 using DAZ Studio 2.3. With the F1 and Indy Car seasons well underway (along with lots of other great open-wheel series world-wide), it is fitting to celebrate here in 3D too!

Room Layout by yasin was created using 3DVIA Shape 2.1. It’s very easy to explore the compact and well done use of space and furniture to create a functional home. [yasin is from Japan]

Vulcan B.2 (MRR) by Lord_Flash is a major upgrade of his Vulcan which was included in the 3DVIA Top 10 – 012 as an Honorable Mention. You’ve got to get in close and check this one out from the drogue chute to the cockpit, it is top notch modeling! [Lord_Flash is from the UK]

Rearview Mirror Variants Study by Pieter_Degelin is enjoyable and instructive in many ways. The use of multiple study models is a constant part of any product development process and to see just one feature of a highly complex product isolated where we can study the subtle differences both in form and in how the colors work across the surfaces is just great! Pieter used CATIA V5 to create this group of variants. [Pieter_Degelin is from Belgium]

Padua, Basilica of Saint Anthony – Basilica di Sant-Antonio, Padova is a complex historical model completed by Arrigo_Silva using Google SketchUp and an amazing variety of beautiful textures. It is awe-inspiring to think that construction started in 1201 – more than 700 years ago! [Arrigo_Silva is from Italy]

3DVIA World Tour Bus – Halls of Fame on Wheels by smike was a huge undertaking on his part to spotlight many of the wonderful modelers (including himself, of course) here at 3DVIA.com. I encourage you to go inside and wander around. It is amazing how many models and modelers he represents in his mobile “Halls of Fame”.

Since that is smike himself as the Security Guard, make sure that you follow the directions regarding no spitting on the model pictures. It could get really ugly otherwise. Google SketchUp is smike’s modeling tool. [smike is from Denmark]

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:

Bluecow by CycleNutter just makes me laugh because it is so much fun. What a great model. I show it here using the Fresnel shader because using the other shaders causes the cow’s body to disappear. That’s funny too, but a shiny blue cow with big red lips is even better! [CycleNutter is from the UK]

Anti-Tank Wire-Guided Missile Launcher by sady2 is a good example of his increasing skills at creating more curvy modeling and the use of textures using 3DVIA Shape 3.0. [sady2 is from Romania]

Zoé’s motorbike was designed on paper by Zoé (6 years old) and her father, mastic, did the 3D modeling using CATIA V5. What a great joint project! I love the connection of 2D and 3D skills and the fact that mastic is showing his daughter the value of working in 3D at such an early age.  [Zoé and her father are from Spain]

Viadukt was modeled by lingling using 3DVIA Shape 3.0. I like it for it’s combination of natural terrain and man-made objects. The ability to move water from one place to another is a basic part of the foundation for civilization.  [lingling is from Belgium]

I included Saleen S7 by mynameisoscarjo, created using Blender V2.48, as a salute to his inclusion of a driver! No, it’s not perfect, but it shows initiative and the willingness to try something hard. Great job! [mynameisoscarjo is from Sweden]

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.