The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, January 16th through Friday, January 22nd are highlighted here. Fortunately we have plenty of help, from friendly to fierce, to help us discover who’s putting mushrooms in the coffee. Our crew of intrepid investigators has quite a range of rides to choose from too. A rickshaw will get us through the tight spots and the panzer will take care of the really tricky bits. The mystery will soon be solved! Meanwhile, I’ll be off at the race track turning hot laps. Good job crew!

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 – 051 – 052 – 053 – 054 (seven weeks in one) – 055 – 056

The Top 10:

Schtroumpf (the original name – or Smurf to others) seems to exemplify the spirit we try to foster here at 3DVIA.com – “The Smurfs’ community generally takes the form of a cooperative, sharing and kind environment based on the principle that each Smurf has something he or she is good at, and thus contributes it to Smurf society as he or she can.” supercigale has treated us to our very own Schtroumph to remind us all to be friendly and helpful! Schtroumph was uploaded in 3DS Format.

Street Concept 2 by Calin (l5o2k1s) is such a sweet little ride! I want at least three in different bright colors to go blasting around in! Calin uploaded this desirable hunk in 3DS Format. [Calin is from Romania]

It is so hard to model natural objects in a believable way, but Giant Mushroom by Daniele (Novalgina) is a wonderfully successful example! It’s both descriptive and beautiful at the same time. Daniele uploaded it in 3DS Format.

As always, Spaehpanzer 2 A1 Luchs by Alfred (Alfredix) has fabulous detail both inside and out! Just look underneath and let your jaw drop. Alfred models in Pro/E and then uploads the results using the STEP Format. [Alfred is from Germany]

Coffee Day Express Machine by anookr is a beauty and takes the texture tools from 3DVIA Shape to a whole new level. [anookr is from India]

Ducati 900SBK is meticulously modeled by disouj and shows just part of how he uses CATIA V5 to help his racing team gain each small advantage that they can. Check out his web site for even more great examples.

Somehow Roboghe by Rocco (Boghe) looks friendly and kind at the same time you know that “he” can mushify any part of you that he wants to. Rocco uploaded him in 3DS Format.

abhishek did a wonderful job using just about every tool in the 3DVIA Shape arsenal to create LNP Autorickshaw. In the incredibly tight and busy places where it lives, it looks like you would at least have a chance of getting where you want to go – and in some style too! [abhishek is from India]

Stan makes me smile and laugh! Thanks supercigale for uploading him in 3DS Format for our enjoyment.

Anders (Nypan) keeps adding bits and pieces and has been working hard to create Komplett Ram using SolidWorks 2010. I hope he keeps on adding to it! [Anders 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″:

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.