The best models uploaded to 3DVIA.com during the week of Saturday, 11/1 through Friday, 11/7 are highlighted here. This is the second weekly post with the purpose of bringing models to your attention that we all may have missed. The definition of “Best” will change as I find new things to help us all become better modelers and enjoy the site more.

Be sure to check out the first Top 10 – 001

Variety will be one of the most important factors. I’ll try to show models created using lots of different software products and I’ll include my comments on why I chose each model. Creativity, unusual subject matter and humor will also be big factors. We should all be having fun and feel free to model our passions!  

To be considered, models must be uploaded by the original modeler. Many times I find models that I think would 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 (like commercial models) are a welcome addition to the community, but the goal of the “Top 10″ is to encourage modelers and reward their special creativity.

There will be no reward given beyond 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.

“Fleet” is included as a great example of creating scenes in 3DVIA Shape using models already freely available on 3DVIA. sady found an appropriate group of models and combined them into a formidable armada.

New 3DVIA user yudhidayak is also fairly new using SolidWorks after a longer spell using Siemens NX.  This toy SUV is part of a family of toy vehicles that Yudhi is using to study the growth of rapid manufacturing. This model had been created in actual 3D using the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) as a prototyping process. I can easily see myself running it around on the floor with lots of appropriate noises.

This model from lingling is included for the pure art and joy of its playfulness! It was inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s sculpture Bicycle Wheel from 1913! It makes you stop, think and then laugh too.

Mac (machdoem) is a regular contributor to 3DVIA, a winner of the Luau 3DVIA Challenge and was also recognized for his sense of humor in the Top 3 Funniest Models on 3DVIA. This time his model is included for entirely different reasons. His “Tiny House” was created in SketchUp and is beautifully done with a strong understanding of volumes, colors and textures. It is a great example of the power of 3D to convey a huge amount of information about real objects that are a part of our lives.

Jrprigmore has only been a 3DVIA member for a short while and has already uploaded some impressive Shape models. His “kitchen” model really does a great job using textures and plenty of details. It looks like a whole lotta’ cookin’ could get done in this kitchen complete with a stone fireplace.

iainB85 made this EPIC Weapon using Maya and Photoshop for the current 3DVIA Challenge. I like it because it makes excellent use of textures and imagination.

Michael Petersen (smike) is up to 203 models (at last count) on 3DVIA and blew me away this week with this Liebherr LHM 400 Harbour Crane with Mobile Unit. Oh, he has also modeled all the other versions of the LHM 400 that Liebherr makes too! The smallest photo shows the whole rig. The other photos show the incredible level of detail that is present throughout this model. Michael was in the Top 10 last week too. Another great model!

Jackred has uploaded an excellent variety of models in both Maya and Blender. This particular model, called “weed” caught my eye because of the great abstraction. Even without color, it’s fun to zoom into it and rotate around.

BostonDave kept it clean with his original model “The Can in 3D”. And then, in the true spirit of 3DVIA, mvcomputers was inspired to add models of a plunger and a can of cleanser. A true community effort including several real-life elements and van Gogh’s The Starry Night in 3D art as well!

And, finally Omind deserves special recognition for outstanding humor and use of 3DVIA Shape to create his “Herd of Squirrels”. Take a look at his other models for more good laughs.

Come back again next week and see what great models we’ve all been cooking up this week on 3DVIA!