3ds Max is always nice. It has a price so I would go for the trial version (a period of 30 days) and try it out.
I used about 1-2 months just to learn the basics of using editable polygon techniques to shape out a bow from a standard primitive like the cylinder.
I used 14 days just to create my first successful bow after maybe 10 attempts.
Totally I have been using 3ds Max from 2004-2007 and still learn something new even today. So what do you need?
1. A 3D modelling tool like 3ds Max
2. A 2D tool for making textures such as Photoshop
3. Time (maybe a lot of it)
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4. Patience – yes, things take time, so does learning. It’s not done over the night
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5. Goals – what do you want to make? Don’t go for the biggest cruise ship in the world in the first round.
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6. Think simple – make simple stuff, like a house, stuff with rectangular/cubic shapes etc.
7. Do mistakes – do a lot of them. If it doesn’t go good in the first round then try again, again and again...
8. Never give up – maybe after 100 attempts you can start thinking about giving up…
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