The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, July 4th through Friday, July 10th are highlighted here. This is the 36th 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!

The refrigerator got married to the satellite the other day and the wedding was really quite an affair. Rarely have the society pages had such a great story. The newlyweds will be moving to Traverse City, Michigan (The Cherry Capital of the World) and are hoping to raise a large family of unknown devices. We wish them well!

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 – 031 – 032 – 033 – 034 - 035

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:

Datsh has created another set of fantastical worlds called Ex Periri… (as he notes: Latin: ex- periri, “to try out”) and combines excellent use of textures with his vivid imagination. The viewer can stay on the outer fringes of Datsh’s models or zoom right in and have a great time exploring the smaller worlds too. Datsh used 3DVIA Shape. [Datsh is from Sweden]

This absolutely gorgeous Mid-1940′s Stromberg Master 400 by sandman14 was modeled and textured using Google SketchUp. Take a careful look at the excellent variety of wood textures. [sandman14 is from the US]

smike goes really big bore with his Heavy Dora – German 800mm Railway Cannon model. As we’ve come to expect, the detailing and texturing are top notch. smike uses Google SketchUp. [smike is from Denmark]

I really like  Cool House by ruslan547 because of his design of the structures to work with the terrain and then adding the visual relief of the pools and windows. A variety of levels and volumes invite us to look beyond the norm and enjoy his playful design. ruslan547 used 3DVIA Shape.

This fine 2009 Falcon GT500 by JaViXP and Sketchosaurus is a the result of their collaboration using Google SketchUp. The interior is particularly well done.  [JaViXP is from Spain and Sketchosaurus is from New Zealand]

perecat1 continues to amaze me with his models, like Towers (my name, not his) and the depth of thought that goes into his creations.

This is just a part of a translation of his description: “In memory of the master architects (Gaudi and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona). A Jules Verne, the father of science fiction, who helped me in this project. Show a general idea about architecture, in the very near future. All buildings will be designed by a new generation of designers and arqutectos.” He is truly using 3DVIA Shape to create his artistic visions! [perecat1 is from Spain]

SAAB Draken was created by rimbold using CATIA V5. The surfacing is excellent and the result is a real pleasure to explore. [rimbold is from Austria]

Slvr was modeled by atomxii using CATIA V5 and shows great care in including the details that make the model so believable.

Sikorsky H-34 (S-58) Choctaw Helicopter is another master model by smike using Google SketchUp. Be sure to view his presentation of the Choctaw to really get the full measure of how nice this model is. Can you find smike’s message? Kilroy would be pleased. [smike is from Denmark]

L Reconcept by l5o2k1s is just one of a series of beautiful car concepts that he has created. The supercharger and side pipes made this the one that I had to show. I just love the hunkiness of the whole concept. [l502k1s is from Romania]

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:

Take a good look at Kids’ Racing by abu_roadking and you’ll see a whole panoply of the most fun vehicle models on 3DVIA. I can hear the kids making all the right sounds as they race around full tilt with lots and lots of crashes!

abu_roadking did a masterful job illustrating 3DVIA Shape’s ability to quickly create a 3D world that a moment ago was only in your own mind. [abu_roadking is from India]

nedsdustbin took Cliff’s video “Create Realistic Models Quickly from Pictures” to heart and made his own great model – Disney Lightning McQueen TV / DVD Combo using 3DVIA Shape. [nedsdustbin is from the UK]

Canon Powershot SX200 IS by abu_roadking is another well-done example of using fairly simple 3DVIA Shape geometry and applying excellent textures to quickly make a wonderful model. [abu_roadking is from India]

mynameisoscarjo is putting a lot of effort into this version of the Koenigsegg. We’re pleased that he is sharing Koenigsegg W.I.P. as it develops. Blender is his modeling tool. [mynameisoscarjo is from Sweden]

Dragon Breathing Fire by ilovegoodcheese was also created using Blender and does a great job with a classic theme. [ilovegoodcheese is from the US]

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.