Fairly frequently, people ask about 3d graphics programmes.
Right now, you can still pick up clayscape for nothing. This is a monumentally brilliant but memory tiny program using Open GL that makes modelling organic and post-modern technical shapes something that anyone can do (and therefore should do).
Try (url="http://"http://www.clayscape.com")www.clayscape.com(/url) or (url="http://"http://www.jarfish.com")www.jarfish.com(/url). If none of those work, ask Sherlock for Clayscape.
Also, if you trog down to (url="http://"http://www.versiontracker.com")www.versiontracker.com(/url) you can pick up PatchDance. Patchdance is a very, very high end modeller for a very, very low end price (free if you accept some limitations). It's in beta at the moment, but that won't stop some serious modelling.
POV Ray is also up for grabs, though I haven't tried it, if you don't have a rendering programme with which to work over your Clayscape or Patchdance creations.
I'm still rendering in Bryce or StrataVision. You can pick up earlier versions of those for free with magazines from time to time.
Enjoy.
Martin
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M A R T I N T U R N E R