I do not have Hexagon or Amapi, so I can't compare. But to answer your original question, is Carrara a good modeler, I'd have to say yes it is. Though it is missing some features that other modelers have, it's still quite strong. I've been able to build mechanical objects with ease. Its combination of vertex modeler with spline modeler, along with the primitives and metaballs have allowed me to build pretty much anything I need to build.

I built the train in the attached still entirely in Carrara 3 and 4 Pro. I used UV mapping for all the textures using only Carrara's UV mapper (which has been improved greatly). The compositing of the guy and the creatures and the energy burst effect was done in AfterEffects.

Hope that's helpful.

• Dex
  www.pandemoniummovie.com