For those of you that don't know about Turbo Squid you are truly missing out on a good thing. Turbo Squid is an online consignment house of 3D models, textures and assorted media. I became a member in 2002. I was interested in 3D and trying to teach myself the art of modeling, texturing and animation. I used a free copy of Cinema 4D version 7 that I got free in an issue of 3D World. I found it quite a challenge to create complex models and texture them. I never got that proficient at it, but I did post a few of my better ones to Turbo Squid.
Every so often I get a check in the mail from Turbo Squid. They are usually for less than $20 but I get so stoked. It is like a long-lost uncle that sends you a card in the mail with a little birthday cash.
The TS community is huge now. The have grown many times larger than when I started. I think they are the backbone of the gaming world. It is far cheaper for a business to buy a model that can used in perpetuity for a small sum than to pay a modeler to build one. I think a lot of design firms start with TS models and then tweak them to get the one they need.
If you are making 3D models I encourage you to put them on Turbo Squid. You'll never know when a long-lost uncle will remember your birthday.
