I have run across two interesting pieces of FREE modeling software (being the junkie that I am
) One is Shapeshop, which seems to have an interesting "sketching" approach to modeling. Exports out to .obj files, which can be converted with accutrans and other conversion programs. You can check it out at http://www.shapeshop3d.com
The other is really interesting. It's called Softimage XSI 6 ModTool. Made, of course, by Softimage, a very professional modeling progarm for high end 3D movie animations, etc. It saves out also to .obj files ( a fairly common 3D file convention) and also apparently to Collada. Could be interesting when used with a Collada to VRML/X3D converter (see this thread in Cyworx http://www.cyworx.com/viewtopic.php?t=156) You can chech it out at http://www.softimage.com/downloads/XSI_Mod_Tool/default.aspx
The first (Shapeshop) seems to be pretty simple and straight-forward and doesn't seem to take much power. The second, (Modtool) need ALOT of juice to run. I am running them on a Quad-core machine with alot of video power and 3 gig of ram, so I'm not sure how the second one would run on a weaker machine. Probably would be best to check the system requirements out carefully
)
As I said they both are free and that alone makes them worth taking a look at.
I have installed them both and will report more as I learn.