3DVIA®

The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, July 18th through Friday, July 24th are highlighted here. No one actually reads this part, so it doesn’t really matter what I say as long as it is a couple sentences long. Done.

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 – 036 – 037

The Top 10:

2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG by Mr_Planet shows again what a great job can be done with surfacing using Google SketchUp. This is a great job of modeling and subtle use of textures to bring it to life.

Inside Out Museum (my name for his model) was  imagined and then created by perecat1 using 3DVIA Shape, turns the museum concept inside-out. The art is all on the outside where everyone can enjoy it! [perecat1 is from Spain]

CCCC by langnickel was created using Blender and just totally blows me away – I love it!! Look at that fuel system and drool over the details. [langnickel is from the US]

Neon Sign by toymaker is fantastic!! Toymaker has turned a “flaw” in the 3DVIA Player into a great “benefit”. Z fighting occurs in the player when the software is trying to decide which geometry to show as the model is revolved. Just open this model and let it revolve by itself and it flickers – just like a neon sign! Great job! Google SketchUp is toymaker’s tool of choice. [toymaker is from the US]

Once again I am reduced to searching for new superlatives for SBD-5 Dauntless Dive Bomber by smike. Go to his presentation and you’ll see that these images are just a tiny tease! smike is a master of  Google SketchUp. [smike is from Denmark]

You’ve got to go to the model Say Cheessseeee!!!! by abu_roadking to really appreciate this concept that involves the 3DVIA community itself. 3DVIA Shape was used to create this child’s dream scene. [abu_roadking is from India]

Purifyer Combat Scene by alfredix is exquisitely modeled using Pro/E for the models and STEP format for translation and upload to 3DVIA.

I’ll let him describe the what and why – “I decided to modify my Interceptor to a more robotic version with easier loading/unloading of ammunition. What you see is The Purifyer mounted on a Oshkosh Base Trailer with my HEMMT 8×8 Tractor. It is a little scene with ammo boxes standing around, ready for loading and some after use (empty)”. [alfredix is from Germany]

Let the Music Play V2 by XQH_XXX is beautifully modeled using 3DVIA Shape. Time to dance! [XQH_XXX is from India]

Korengal Army Support Base by hobbknob picks up the major concept idea that is being perfected by alfredix. Using Google SketchUp hobbnob has created a monster model containing “just under a million polies”,  “about 50 vehicles and 10 assorted buildings”. All that in only 10 days! [hobbknob is from the UK]

The Fury Guitar by sandman14 is an imaginative “Sands” design that requires careful use to avoid personal injury :). Shannon uses Google SketchUp. [sandman14 is from the US]

Honorable Mentions:

Die Another Day by abu_roadking was created using 3DVIA Shape and James Bond’s services were not required. [abu_roadking is from India]

Engine WIP by emag using Google SketchUp, is definitely one that that I’m keeping an eye on. [emag is from the US]

Kuma by jaybird is endearingly huggable and was modeled using CATIA V5. [jaybird is from Japan]

Amazing 8s by OYK_XXX has created a target of creative modeling using 3DVIA Shape for other Shape users (me too). [OYK_XXX is from India]

McLaren F1 w.i.p. by 123julgranskory impresses me with its excellent surface development created using Blender. [123julgranskory is from Sweden]

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!

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 modelour 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.