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DoGA CGA L1 (free)/ L2 (shareware, $20) / L3 (shareware, $40 or $20 upgrade from L2)

DoGA CGA is a modelling and animation studio intended for beginners. It advances as a series of lessons; L2 builds on L1 and L3 builds on L2.

Pros: DoGA CGA is dirt simple to use but is capable of some very nice models, especially those involving mechanical details such as ships, fighters, tanks, and mecha. Each version of DoGA CGA is a free download. You only have to register L2 or L3 if you want to make AVI movies or render sequential bitmaps. The DoGA series uses a parts bin metaphor, so it is not a true modeller. Hundreds of additional parts can be downloaded to expand the library. Each lesson comes with several programs, a parts assembler, a motion editor, L2 adds a multi-jointed model builder, and L3 adds an action/pose editor. All versions of DoGA CGA can export VRML, DXF, DirectX X format. The DoGA series is great for people that can design, but are weak at low level polygon editors. The render engine in the parts assembler or the motion editor (for those that need more lighting and camera control) can make images at any size and is really good for SE IV ship sets.

Cons: DoGA uses an external key frame animation system. So, it does not export animation to X. Its animation format is plain text, but I don't know of any conversion tool (yet.) The early version of DoGA CGA have very limited colors, textures, and UV texture support. L3 breaks that barrier and allows you to import custom models, textures, and backgrounds. It also has a stand alone program to re-map texture coordinates. One big 'gotcha' with L3 is that the help files are not translated to English. So, you really need to try L2 before hand. Since DoGA works with primitives (parts) instead of meshes, it is not ideal for making .X models for real time games. Fortunately, there is a solution for that. Keep on reading...

Home page:
http://www.doga.co.jp/english

Being the DoGA fan that I am, I have made a nice (if home grown) translation of the DoGA L3 Part Assembler help file. And, I've posted a number of tutorials and support files (more textures, parts, backgrounds, etc.)
http://zircher.iwarp.com/doga/

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Metasequoia LE (free) [I use version 2.1, but 2.3b is now has an 'LE' version as well.]

At some point, you'll want to create your own parts for DoGA L2 or L3. When you become that DoGA power user, the best modelling program to learn is Metasequoia. It knows about the SUF files that DoGA uses and I happen to think that it is easier to use than Milkshape 3D.

Pros: A wide variety of tools in an easy to understand layout. Has support for a good number of formats including DirectX X files. Metasequoia LE is a fully functional polygon editor. This also means that if you want to make game models you can take models designed in DoGA CGA and tweak the vertices to create well behaved meshes for SE: Star Fury and probably SE V as well.

Cons: Metasequoia has no animation capabilities. Due to cultural/financial differences, you can not register the more advanced versions of Metasequoia.

Download:
http://www21.ocn.ne.jp/~mizno/main_e.html

Like Metasequoia? A friend of mine pointed out this cool animation tool for Metasequoia.

http://www.cyberdelia.net/english/tools/cyberdelia.html
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TAZ (your neighborhood unofficial English speaking DoGA guru)

Don't read Japanese? Neither do I, but here is a helpful tip for you Metasequoia LE users:

Go to here: http://babelfish.altavista.com/

In the 'Translate a Web page' section select Japanese to English and plug in this URL: http://www.fire-on-the-suns.com/meta/help

Gotta love the web.

I plan to add the MetaLE 2.3b help files to my FOTS site in the near future so you can use web translation for those help files as well.