I use 3DSMax as well. I used to use Milkshape 3D (many, many years ago), and still use it on occasion because of its massive porting suite. As others have said, though, if you want a powerful modeling tool that is freeware, then I suggest look into Blender. I have heard that its learning curve is comparable to a brick wall, though, and from what little I have used it for, I concur. I find its interface to be fairly counter-intuitive, but I haven't spent more than 10 minutes in it, so yeah.

I was wondering what the programs are that every one else uses to model. My process so far has been: 3D coat Blender Milkshape 3D coat I intend to purchase as it's kinda cheap and allows me to work in a way I am comfortable with. Blender is free, but as for Milkshape, is it needed. All I have been using the trial for is linking materials to the models. Any help would be awesome on the matter.

many people go with blender. I use 3dsmax though.

I use 3ds Max primarily because I didn't really do any research before I got into 3d and I kind of got stuck with it. Blender is the best place to start. It's free. Supports many plugins and file formats. Very well documented and thus easier to learn. Don't waste your money on 3D-coat, even if it isn't much.

I Use: AC3D (Model and Map) > 3DSMAX + WW Plugin (Rigging and Export) > Studio MDL (Compile) = Model. Photoshop (Create Textures) > VTF EDIT (Compile) = Materials. I decided to give up with milkshape, blender & 3d coat, it started getting really confusing with the different UI's and controls. :S

Blender, ZBrush, Marvelous Designer.

"LordAardvark" said ...
As others have said, though, if you want a powerful modeling tool that is freeware, then I suggest look into Blender. I have heard that its learning curve is comparable to a brick wall, though, and from what little I have used it for, I concur. I find its interface to be fairly counter-intuitive, but I haven't spent more than 10 minutes in it, so yeah.

This is true, the interface can be quite daunting at first, but they've made great strides since the early days. 2.6 has a much improved interface over the older ones and the [url]=http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Doc:2.6/Manualdocumentation[/url] has also been updated. I really recommend spending a few weeks with it before you spend $100+ on a potentially unsupported software set.

Thanks for the feed back guys, I shall have to do some reading up and other bits and peices it seems. But atleast I now know I don't have to spend anything on Milkshape atleast. :D