The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of  Saturday, July 25th through Friday, July 31st are highlighted here. Summer is here and the models are coming in red hot! This week seems to be filled with models that include people in them! Including people always help tell a good story that we can relate to.

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 – 038

The Top 10:

See What You Mean by XQH_XXX is best described by Parth himself: “It’s a very conceptual model & without reading this description you may not get the idea behind the creation of this model. As you know, DS is a major company providing various 3d modeling software tools for innovators/designers. DS Says “See What You Mean” to represent the fact that whatever you can imagine now you are getting a chance to make that happen in reality.”

Great story and great model too! 3DVIA Shape was used to create it. {XQH_XXX is from India]

R N L I – Mersey Class Lifeboat – Kingdom of Fife by BobHog, is a beautifully done model of a rescue craft that we may never see, but can appreciate here. His other models are definitely worth visiting too! [BobHog is from the UK]

Astro Guy by x2xhalox2x is a well done model that is humorously brought to life in his video. (Warning! The video has a very short use of strong language.) [x2xhalox2x is from the US]

3DVIA Complex by qui_123 is a nicely done building and environment created using 3DVIA Shape. [qui_123 is from India]

The Skycrane has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. smike’s Sikorsky S64E Skycrane Hulk is another of his exceptionally well-detailed models created using Google SketchUp. Go view his presentation of the model to get a much better understanding of the work involved than these images can provide. [smike is from Denmark]

We’ve all been in this situation – Shopping Woes!!! abu_roadking has illustrated a universal story based on human emotions that is really well done. 3DVIA Shape allowed Abu to concentrate on setting the scene to tell the story more quickly than having to create all of the models himself. It is an excellent use of available resources. [abu_roadking is from India]

alfredix has created a great scene with his Stuck in the Sand model. Be sure to read the description and comments. This is another great example of Alfred creating a story rather than just a model. He uses Pro/E for the models and STEP format to translate them and then upload them to 3DVIA. [alfredix is from Germany]

shodig38 has taught us all a thing or two about what 3DVIA Shape is capable of with his Formula 1 model. Excellent job! [shodig38 is from Indonesia]

I really like the story telling in Science Fiction Office by killzone. Every viewer can come up with their own version of what is going on in this mysterious scene created using 3DVIA Shape.

My Love V2 – Pearl Bracelet is a beautifully detailed piece of jewelry created by XQH_XXX using 3DVIA Shape [XQH_XXX is from India]

Honorable Mentions:

Colorful Car (my title) by shodig38 just makes me smile! Nicely done using 3DVIA Shape. [shodig38 is from Indonesia]

Getimti by getimti is a complex interior space created using CATIA V5.

Flame by nypmodel was created using 3DVIA Shape and has managed to elegantly capture the basic essence of fire in a beautiful way.

Take a close look at Cubierta Dato y San Prudencio by adkady (using Google SketchUp)
and you’ll see the innovative San Prudencio street coverings that help make them more friendly and inviting.

The details are great on this Train by atlanticavual.

Just so everyone knows; the order in which the Top 10 are displayed is based on the subject matter, the color and how I’m feeling. A model’s position does not indicate 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.