3DVIA®

The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, May 30th through Friday, June 5th are highlighted here. This is the 31st post with the purpose of bringing models to your attention that we all may have missed during the week. Be sure to read the comments on each model as you visit them and add your own thoughts and a rating too!

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

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:

All right, I admit that I didn’t even know what Gundam is until Prip uploaded his excellent model Gundam Textured. It is nicely detailed and textured with admirable restraint. The success of the Gundam franchise has even inspired “the first academic institute based on an animated TV series“.  [Prip is from Mexico]

The jointly-developed (BAE, EADS and Alieia Aeronautica) Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon is beautifully modeled by Mr_Planet using Google SketchUp. Aerodynamic surfaces and blends are quite difficult to manage, but Mr_Planet has pulled it off along with enough detail to hold it all together. Great job!

sandman14 (our Featured Artist at the moment) added this 1967 Mosrite Custom for Strawberry Alarm Clock just in time to be included in his feature article. It’s a beauty and quite different from most guitars that I’ve ever seen! Check out the article and see even more guitars by sandman14 who uses Google SketchUp for his modeling. [sandman14 is from the US]

Dang, I sure do learn a lot from the models uploaded here at 3DVIA! FN Minimi by hobbnob is another example. I did not know that it existed, much less that the armed forces of almost 40 nations around the world use or have used it for almost 35 years! hobbnob has done a very clean and detailed modeling job using Google SketchUp. [hobbnob is from the UK]

Stargate 3D by Datsh can keep you busy exploring, wandering and wondering for hours as you zoom and swoop through this part of his imaginary universe! The forms, colors and textures are just amazing. And, it was created using 3DVIA Shape 3.0. [Datsh is from Sweden]

Zenith 03 Proto 2008 was created by Ulthor using CATIA V5, which allows him to very quickly explore a multitude of shapes and their functional results before deciding on what to build. This is a huge improvement on what we used to do at Art Center College of Design, I still remember the smell of the clay ovens as we slaved over our designs!

sketchosaurus did a great job on this Cellphone concept using Google SketchUp. He also does a proper job of presenting the model well by showing it open, closed and including a bottom view. Every model tells a story and sketchosaurus has made it easy for his viewers to grasp and get the most out of his message! [sketchosaurus is from New Zealand]

smike continues his mastery of low poly and highly-textured models with his LCA – Landing Craft Assault using Google SketchUp. Great work smike! [smike is from Denmark]

This sleek Bugatti T50 was modeled by NaBiSs using CATIA V5. Check out the interior and admire the flowing body lines. A truly elegant vehicle! Scroll down a bit on this page to get a feel for the T50 in the history of Bugatti. [NaBiSs is from France]

govro used 127 textures on only 6,698 polugons to create this amazingly real Eglise Saint-Mathieu de Beloeil. It is a great example of economy or resources created using Google SketchUp. Go here for some views of the real thing.

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:

I visit Norma’s June Calendar by abu_roadking every day to find a new reason to be inspired for the day. abu_roadking used 3DVIA Shape 3.0. [abu_roadking is from India]

Highway Guitar by abu_roadking is excellent at adapting chopper elements into a guitar. From the fuel tank body to the skull and flames, it was all created using CATIA V5. [yep, abu_roadking is still from India]

Bombs by Wacov is an excellent example of the value of textures to really bring models to life. Wacov used Google SketchUp.

esteaban created 3D Plant Layout using 3DVIA Shape 3.0. Now the building team can quickly start to understand how the 2D plan translates into 3D reality – revealing problems and opportunities before the shovel hits the ground.

Toy Shotgun by sketchosaurus is just plain fun with bright colors and a ton of play value. sketchosaurus used Google SketchUp. [sketchosaurus is from New Zealand]

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.