Hiya guys and gals.

Im in need of some suggestions. Ive just upgraded my machine to Windows 7.

Unfortunately, that means I need to re-hash my entire Game Development Suite.

So what Im hunting for is a replacement for my modelling tool.
My history began with "3DS Max" and progressed to Lightwave.
I got them for free because I was permitted to use my employers
licencing agreements at the time.

But now, we've outsourced all our CAD-work, so I no longer can get those apps any more...

So Im looking for a FREE Lightwave-like modelling tool.

Ive just looked at Blender, but that looks to be a STEEP learning curve.
Its just so very different... Maybe for models, but not for buildings...

So Im now looking for something else. Something more MED-like.
You know, with the four view windows, etc.
But its gotta actually WORK, you know what I mean?

And its gotta be freeware...

Suggestions anyone? Thanks All!

I do blender tutoring for $10 usd/hr. You can see one if my students work if you youtube kravenwolf. I can get you semi familiar with the gui/ able to do some basic modeling in probably less than an hour. For sure less than two. It's much easier when some one shows you hands on because you can ask questions while your doing it step by step.

Belnedr is very easy once you get it !
And Last versions are lot more claer for some people with the left menus. I perfer olf versions like 2.49 !

Blender can have as many views as you want :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn-hQKImPjc

You can rig ,animate, paint ...
The Best : It's Free

Another good tool i baught for solid modeling is Silo !
It's cheap , fast and powerfull for any 3D modeling , it has great tools like Loop cut, loop select etc ...
You can try it and you shouldn't be disappointed
http://nevercenter.com/silo/

Google Sketchup is great also for building (only it's cylinders
have too much sides for real time !)
http://sketchup.google.com/intl/index.html/

There is also Wings 3D that is great, but i don't and can't work with key shortcuts only, i need Gizmo for working !

http://www.wings3d.com/

There may be some others cheap tools also, these are the ones i know well !

Im going to have a hack at Blender for a while...

(I discovered the secret of 'CTRL-ALT-Q' and now Im happier)

I can personally recommend two of the programs listed above. I have used both blender and wings3D and they are great (and free).

In fact when I am not going to do something too complicated or animated, I still use wings3D! It's much more powerfull then MED, and faster/easier to model with than blender.

Hey evil guy look, The only programm that did really progress in the last years is blender. Me myself i´ve never used it because of its interface but sum days ago i download it again,the version 2.6 and i have to say they are gods,yeah i say gods. Belive me, it is much easyer then max,lightwave(anyway) and way more professional in its way.

Me myself i just did sum introduction manual and i have to say, I understand everything, its so logic and the shortcuts and.... Really its amazing

belive me,i´ve never though i would reccomend blender but i have to. Its the best and the manual and tuts do really help.
so go for blender (my opinion)

I am currently working with Blender, and it looks like the way to go.

Its just so 'different' to lightwave that I have a steep learning curve.
After all, I was using lightwave for nearly 15 years...

But it looks like I will be sticking with Blender (2.61) because its got
everything Im USED to, and more, but Ive just got to get used to the new
NAMES of the functionality, and the 'odd' menu locations.

Yeah i feel you!! Me myself like i say am just somedays using it.
but its like womans say, the first kiss decide much and it looks like you liked those lips

And for people like us ( am also since long in modelling,prefer level-design),we know when something is good just from the introduction.
me myself i stay with blender,hell yeah,and for you,decide and do it, dont waste time, maybe we could do some lern project in the future

you'll notice that even though it feels odd with menu locations and specific shortcut keys that most of them have a logical efficiency to them once you figure them all out.

Since you are looking for a free modeler, why not head on over to DAZ (www.daz3d.com) and grab Hexagon 2.5? They're offering that for free now. It's got a lot of pretty advanced features and you can't beat the price.