I've been using Anim8or for ages, for making custom objects for my Thief 2 levels, and I think it's a good program. It's not as powerful as 3dSMax, but for making trackside objects it's more than capable.
Anim8or can export in 3ds format, which makes it compatible with XPacks.
It is a bit lacking when it comes to texture mapping, but the current beta version has made a few strides in that area, and objects can be exported to another free program, LithUnrwap, where pretty much any texture mapping can be applied, and then the object can be imported back in Anim8or.
Anim8or:
http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html
LithUnwrap:
http://www.sharecg.com/v/5169/software-and-tools/LithUnwrap---Free-UV-Mapper-for-Windows
Anim8or can export in 3ds format, which makes it compatible with XPacks.
It is a bit lacking when it comes to texture mapping, but the current beta version has made a few strides in that area, and objects can be exported to another free program, LithUnrwap, where pretty much any texture mapping can be applied, and then the object can be imported back in Anim8or.
Anim8or:
http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html
LithUnwrap:
http://www.sharecg.com/v/5169/software-and-tools/LithUnwrap---Free-UV-Mapper-for-Windows