3DVIA®

The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, October 17th through Friday, October 23rd are highlighted here. Your band now has both a scary guitar, a snare drum and a really cool set of towers to play in, but will the Abstract Propeller and the Flummox Roller Coaster keep the repo men distracted long enough for you to move the Camaro and Sunbeam somewhere safe. You better hope that the Army truck is finished being lined-up on the jig so you’ve got some back up on the way…otherwise you may end up making friends with the smiley guy in the hearse.

In case your attention span is extremely limited, you can watch the following video in 33 seconds and see all of the included models before you forget what you were trying to remember to do. :)

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 – 039 – 040 – 041 – 042 – 043 – 044 – 045 – 046 – 047 – 048 – 049 – 050

The Top 10:

Scary stuff must have been on Shannon’s mind when he modeled ESP KH-2 Mummy using Google SketchUp. What is the sound made by all of us screaming virtually? [sandman14 is from the US]

Mind-boggling detail is Alfred’s specialty. His entire range of models makes you wish that you had the keys so that you could go off and make some real noise! MAN 5to milGL is no exception. Check out all of the tools and the engine and running gear. Phew! alfredix uses Pro/E for his modeling and then translates everything into STEP format for uploading to 3DVIA. [Alfred is from Germany]

No matter which way you look at it Abstract Propeller by epcinnova is gorgeous. The interplay of form, space and color make it a treat to explore! He uploaded in the 3DS format. [epcinnova is from Spain]

Outillage Assemblage De Support Habbilage is quite an impressive assembly jig modeled by by sgiosgio using CATIA V5. It would be exciting (and probably very loud) to see it in action!

2010 Camaro by tnewton76 isn’t completely done yet, but it strikes all the right chords in my motor brain. SolidWorks 2010Beta3 is his modeling tool.

VH by monsieurjeanclaudedus looks like a trio of observer decks connected in a novel way. It’s very sculptural and open! He uploaded it in 3DS format.

Marian keeps getting better and better with his designs and with using Google SketchUp. Sunbeam has excellent proportions and beautiful surfacing. Let’s go! Now, please! [Marian is from Romania]

Check out all of the detail in this Snare Stand model by Puss_in_boots, which he modeled using CATIA V5. It’s impressive – you could almost build one for yourself.

Halloween just got a lot scarier when toymaker uploaded  Hearse 2009, which he modeled using Google SketchUp. Just like the excellent modeler that he is, he also gave full credit to Dr_Love for his horse model and Jotham for his skeleton model. [toymaker is from the US]

I think ntwiesen has a little more work to do before anyone loses their lunch on this Flummox Roller Coaster , but it looks like it will be worth the wait! ntwiesen used CATIA V5. [ntwiesen is from the US]

Honorable Mentions:

I don’t think anyone can zoom in and start exploring Guerra by odst without laughing and having some fun! This once again proves that using 3DVIA Shape can let your inner craziness out!

Pelicano by epcinnova illustrates the power of transparency to illustrate sub-systems within a much more complex environment. He uploaded it in 3DS format. [epcinnova is from Spain]

There is plenty of detail in Maison St. Ismier: Proposition 1 by yultreuse , from the furniture to topography, all done using 3DVIA Shape.

Apple by trigram_VMX is a simple subject which the textures really bring to life. 3DVIA Shape was his creative tool of choice.  [trigram_VMX is from India]

I’m ready to visit perecat1 at his Vacation Home that he constructed with his imagination and 3DVIA Shape. [perecat1 is from Spain]

Just so everyone knows, the order that the Top 10 and Honorable Mentions 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 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.