if you are scratchbuilding models, Misfit Model 3D is the way to go, I use it and everyone thinks I'm a halfway decent 3d modeler
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UVW mapping is the only thing it doesn't do, I'm still paying off a friend for 3ds MAX (No idea how HE got it) and he hasn't been asking me for any more payments and since there's not a contract in writing... alright. next subject
I use MM3D to make the models,
and then I use 3DS to bake an AO map onto them.