The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, March 6th through Friday, March 12th, 2010 are highlighted here.Vivid color and imagination rule the Top 10 models this week! From the fruit on the table to the fantastic architecture and sculptural forms, it is a feast for your eyes!

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 – 057 – 058 – 059 – 060 – Best of the Best 2009 – 061 – 062 – 063

The Top 10:

The fact that functional objects can also be sculpture is proven by A571-40236 by Dave (dave_summ). I’d love to see this made about 100x bigger and proudly gracing a city plaza for all to enjoy! Dave created it using CATIA V5. [Dave lives in Australia]

Translucent Torus is another fantastic visual treat created by Rodd (rhalstead) using Structure Synth. Go to the model, zoom and get lost in the overlapping colors and shapes – it’s amazing. [Rodd lives in the US]

This mean and capable AAVP-7A1-EAAK by Alfred (alfredix) will blow you away (pun intended) with details and accuracy. Be sure to visit his web album to see the amazing construction process and all the variants possible.

Alfred models everything in Pro/E and then translates them using the STEP format before uploading. [Alfred lives in Germany]

Just about any kid (or adult) would smile when they see Happy Meal by Parth (XQH_XXX). It took a lot of work and many separate models using 3DVIA Shape to create this yummy lunch. [Parth lives in India]

When you go to visit In Construction, by Perecat (perecat1), it won’t look the same as he continues construction on a regular basis using 3DVIA Shape. His imagination keeps growing too! You’ll always find something new and interesting in his models. [Perecat lives in Spain]

BMW M6 Tuned says it all. Sam (sketchosaurus) used Google SketchUp to create this hot driver. [Sam lives in New Zealand]

Abu (abu_roadking) created Valley… Mountain… using 3DVIA Shape. There’s only one problem – now I want to go stay in this great little house (inspired by the real NANOstudio S) and enjoy the scenery! [Abu lives in India]

Wheelchair by nvm123 was modeled using CATIA V5 and it looks like it could be manufactured fairly easily.

And now for something completely different! These images are from a very funny 3DVIA Scene – Honey I Shrunk the Kids & Me created by gsmith. Go exploring in a full sized house when you are the tiny one! Yes, those cockroaches do run around and the mousetraps work too!

3DVIA Scenes was just introduced (along with 3DVIA Studio) to the public as a free way to create environments where you can walk (and run) around whatever models you add to your Scene. You can choose your own avatar, choose an existing environment (or create your own) and then add your own models or choose from the models on 3DVIA. Once you’re done, you can walk around, invite your friends to chat and even embed your Scene in your own blog or web site.

Enjoy the Dinner is a very well-set table for eight guests created by abhishek using 3DVIA Shape. Whiskey, turkey and fruit should lead to some interesting conversations! [abhishek lives in India]

Yudhi (yudhidayak) has returned with a new, sportier version of the original multi-purpose platform – the Dragcula. It looks like it would be a blast to zoom around the room and make loud motor noises! SolidWorks 2010 was used to do the modeling. [Yudhi lives in the UK]

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.

From time to time I will make mistakes and not follow my own rules – I will review these mistakes on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes I will change the post and sometimes I won’t. I will be consistently inconsistent. I am human.

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.