I know some of you ask where to get some free 3d software...
I use 3DS studio Max, however, i needed to create some content for Trainz ( which i am a beta tester for
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So they recomened Gmax, which was discontinued in 2006, but now that it is, Autodesk offer it for FREE
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Its basicly a light version of 3D max
http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax
unfotumnaty you cant export to .3ds without a plugin / converter , which im trying to find, im too tired to look right now