For absolute beginners, there's also a good bunch of video tutorials on the homepage of Silo 3D editor, nevercenter.com, showing both box modeling and edge modeling workflows.

Wings3D + 3D-Coat if I need to add more wrinkles and nurnies.

DivineRain : Nicely done. I'm usually not really fond of this cartoonish style, but these are definitely cute.

airflamesred : ouch... at least you're back on steady feet (ahem, sorry)... convincingly I'd say. (btw, I can't recognize the program you're working on?)

Otherwise, here's a small update, as the holidays are finally over I can manage some modeling time again...

Just starting here, fuselage, canopy, silhouette of the engine bloc ; still a lot to do.

An egg and muffins toaster, modelled in Wings3D, fast render done via Keyshot.

Wings3D is my favorite modeler, and freeware. Although for modeling clothes I'd aslo suggest, Hexagon, Silo, or even gsculpt which also have some retopology (quite useful for making clothes, and a pretty rare feature to find in a freeware).

Smooth and precise shapes Touchwood, good modeling. If I had to nitpick I'd say the mesh seems a unnecessary dense, polycount-wise, but in the end the (nice) result is all that matters.

I felt the same. Now I use 3D coat auto retopo to brush out the most boring part of UVing, then a touch of Wings3D to rearrange some uv maps, and voilà. I never tried uvlayout though.

 Interesting shape, 722. Looks like an hybrid of a cylon raider and a klingon bird of prey.

Between Carrara and Lightwave I'd add my voice to suggesting Lightwave.

Still, since the OP mentioned "modeling" and "animating", I'd rather suggest Softimage.
Less priccy than Maya or Cinema4D (with the modules, which you end up needing soon enough anyway), a pretty strong modeling toolset and  of the best for animation too. And with a gentle learning curve, imho. Besides, For learning 3D as well as offering a fluid and efficient workflow, Softimage's interface is definitely leaving those of Carrara and Lightwave in the dust. Just my opinion of course. :)

Thanks Zikeo. Well, there's the Base mub + two twisted rings and the handle, hence 4 components so far. This slightly facilitate modeling of course, but also the uv-mapping (a lot!) part of the process, and there's room for playing with variation on the theme, à la "kit modeling". Or allowing users to play make their own kit etc.

I'll upload a wireframe pic once I've done the cap.

Edit : sorry, add the diamond shapes to the count, for a total of 5 components here. :)

(Modeled in Wings3D)

I suggested having the triangle (slightly) more on the back of the hand (about two edge loop above, on your pics), not on the wrist itself, where it will not deform nicely when you'll animate/pose the model.

there's also some slight proportion issues there I think. The four fingers seem just a little bit short, compared to the palm and the thumb. Or maybe its just the thumb that appear slightly big, I'm not sure. Otherwise, good progress.