When I 3D model, I use Hexagon 3D ver 2.5 and Wings3D.... I slightly prefer Hexagon to Wings... I also have 3DCoat which I find amazing and somewhat simple to use but I'm not too keen or interested in it's Voxel toolset...

I also have Curv3D and it's an inexpensive and fun little 3D app.....

Here's a few more free programs to try...

Albatross 3D previously PPmodeler -> http://www.ppmodeler.com/

Sculptris - poor man's ZBrush? -> http://drpetter.se/project_sculpt.html

Art of Illusion -> http://www.artofillusion.org/

Google Sketchup free version -> http://sketchup.google.com/download/index2.html

I've not played much with Albatross ir Art of Illusion but I do use Sketchup... AND I've fallen in love with Sculptris... During idle time at work I've been killing time with this amazing app...

I use Vue Po Studio 8 for rendering and landscape generation but sometimes it's camera and navigation give me fits....

Cheers

Ken