I found another system that works apparently just as well. And it is open source and completely free.
It's called Blender
It also puts out files in a format that I can use. All I need to do now is learn how to use it. :D
Blender is ok I guess ...
but why you would want to have to go into a new system
when you could simply use a converter or existing program ...
to load in whatever format you already have ...
and convert/save it as 3DS?
or is it 3DX?
I've got Blender, Rhino, and even a pretty flash version of Maya ...
but I don't find much use for them ...
other then checking our Maya's particle system ...
which is pretty cool.
I prefer POVray as it allows me to directly control of the code ...
which is like a fine/vernier control to me.
doesn't save to 3DS tho ...
and there doesn't seem to be any .pov to 3ds coverters either.
I certainly have no desire to go that direction tho ...
seeing as I can convert from 3ds or almost any format to .pov so ...
I got all I need.
what have you been using as a modeler anyway?