I would like to make some simple models.What is the easiest modelling program to learn for a total dummy like me? I find sometimes I need certain models that are not available! Cheers

Wings? free
Anim8or? old, easy and free with a good manual.

Next up would be Hexagon I think? Also with a manual.
I would look at Hexagon tutorials on youtube.

Next up would be Blender and family.
Good luck.

In addition to Vilter's suggestions, Blender is free and has some good tutorial videos.

I would suggest whatever you choose, you pick something that has a good selection of tutorial videos.  In fact, you might start by watching a few for the different free modelling software out there and use that to see what seems the best fit for you.  Manuals are great, and many now offer regularly updated wiki sites as well; but I've found that having a wide selection of videos that show both how to use the software's features as well as example projects to be invaluable in speeding up learning to do what I want.

Almost as individual as picking a mate. They all do pretty much the same thing but unlike say a text editor,  each one has enough of a different personality that what one person finds easy, another may not. Many people Love Wingz but I never found it's modeling method that intuitive. Another one to look at is Art of Illusion, which I like. Try as many as possible 'til you find ont that fits :-)

 http://www.artofillusion.org/

Wings3D is probably the easiest to use and the fastest to pick up. It's what I learned on. I was modeling in less than a week. It's a very slim program and only does box modeling and therefore has no extra stuff like splines to confuse you as you learn. You can graduate to something else later ;).

As for Blender - while it's just downright awesome since it's been updated to 2.5/2.6, it's still a full featured program that has/does everything. It can be ultra confusing for a beginning modeler for the simple fact that it contains and does so much. Some things are only accessible thru a keyboard shortcut (and Blender has a LOT of keyboard shortcuts). It might be too daunting for you if you're just starting out. I'd go with something that has a lot less stuff to confuse you. LOL.

Laurie

I agree with lmckenzie.  Which 3D modellers are "easy" is highly individual.  Personally, I found Wings completely impossible.  My favorite is Anim8or, which I found far easier than any of the others I tried (which included Wings, Shade, Hexagon, Rhino, Milkshape, and others).  

But that's just me, and your experience will undoubtedly be different.

Attached Link: 25 Free Modeling Applications

cheers,
dr geep
;=]

try as many as you can!! pick something simple, dog kennel/fence whatever but not too hard ;-)  make the same thing in all of the proggys. then dump the half of them you didnt like. Do it again with something a bit harder something with curves in(humpbacked bridge or curved arch doorway) check its uv mapping at this point, even the best made model looks bad if its maps are a mess. As above dump the ones you dont like! , pick one of the 2 ;-)

my opinions of the proggys above, anim8tor is dead easy and real basic a week or so in here will do only good, wings not used it for a long time was good then an better now from what I read would seem to have good uvmapping, hexagon is amazing really fast easy to learn ideal for poser but uvmapping is awefull an sculpting is pretty dire(an I'm NOT good at that) blender is an all round package, can do pretty much anything in it!! lots lots more then the above proggys and its a bit of a handfull

have fun an welcome to the madhouse of modeling

 If you are completely new to modeling I would suggest the painful task of learning Blender as you will not be handicapped by your pre-conditioned notions of how a modeler should be approached and you'll develop your skills within a program thats functionality will expand as your skills grow.

My personal favorite nuts and bolts modeler is Wings3D.

I use hex and found that fairly easy but some don't, I think it depends on the individual to some degree, I havent tried any other software.

I would suggest you go get hex over at daz even if you dont download and just keep it on your downloadable items, as its free at the moment, not sure if this is a permanent price or it will go back up as it used to be 149 dollars at one point.   I'd try a few of the freebies first to see how you feel with each one, it might be abit long winded but at least you can choose your preference.  :)

I have tried most of the modestly priced modelling programs and I always seem to come back to Anim8or. All of the programs have a fairly steep understanding curve but basically all accomplish very much the same for basic needs.

I found Anim8or to have the most intuitive interface of them all.

I am currently forcing myself to learn Blender now that the interface has been cleaned up.

So, Anim8or for simple

Blender for more complex modelling

Both are free.

I'm using Wings with the Manifold-Lab plugin so I can do Booleans.

Modelling in Wings is perhaps slower than in one of the high-powered apps, but the slowness encourages you to create a clean mesh.

I spent countless hours fixing models for Poser that were done in high-end modellers. Never had to fix a mesh I made in Wings.

Hi Everyone.Many thanks for your suggestions.I have been Posererin' and Vueing' for some years now but have never made models. I have admired the talents of modellers but I have always thought it beyond me! I am now about to give it a go! Cheers