If you want to start with freeware I'd throw in a vote for Anim8or to get started, then move on to Blender. Blender was the very first animation app I fooled with (Deluxe Paint Animation doesn't count :), but it's considerably more cryptic to a newbie. I really wish I had known about Anim8tor sooner. After learning the ropes in Anim8tor then Blender would have been much easier to digest. If you're only modeling and not animating then starting with Blender wouldn't be as difficult. For freeware modeling I can't really give an unbiased opinion cuz if Wings could talk I'd ask it to marry me )