Attached Link: http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/main_e.html

Last week I found a really nice freeware polygon modeler : METASEQUOIA LE R2. Some of you surely need a modeler (Myske, Alekssander ?) to create "organic" models. VUE's Bolean objects are not really adequate for this.

You can download METASEQUOIA LE R2.1 freeware at the following link :

http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/main_e.html

The file to download is very small (2 MB) and there is no installer, so if you don't like it just delete the files !

METASEQUOIA is the most powerful 3D freeware I have tested. There is everything in it : magnetic tool, mesh smoothing, extrude, etc...
There is also a simple material editor where you can load texture, bump and alpha maps. Texture mapping works differently than in VUE : instead of mapping "one" material on a objet, you "paint" materials on faces ! a really nice feature...

You can import OBJ, DFX, COB and LWO files and export in DXF, POV or COB. COB files are totally compatible with VUE4 : meshes and textures are imported correctly. For other file format (3DS or OBJ) you can use the small (2 MB) freeware converter "CROSSROADS" (http://home.europa.com/~keithr/Crossroads).

"Unfortunately" METASEQUOIA is a japanese software, there are no tutorials or help file in english. But as the interface is very logical it won't be long to master.

MIZNO LAB doesn't sell the "pro" version (VER2.2) of Metasequoia outside Japan. It's really sad as it's a complete modeling software for a very smal price (5000 yen / $ 35). Download and test it if you want, but you won't be able to save your work in other format than MQO.

I'm not related to MIZNO LAB and I'm really a beginner in 3D modeling, so you can trust me : this is a great software.

If you want I can give you a few tips or make a little tutorial to get you started (but not in the "VUE" forum).

As Steve would say :

ENJOY !

Eric