This is absolutely too cute! :-)

Congrats, Paq!

-Will

PS - Don't forget trueSpace was released for free, and there's always Blender, or Anim8or.

Carrara or something like Bryce or Vue D'Espirit may be better though...

PPS - Here's a great book to whet his appetite for creating graphics:
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Sci-Fi-Art-Step-Step/dp/0060724331/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222786827&sr=1-1

This book covers creating scenery using Poser, Bryce, Photoshop and the other major 3D players - great read, above all else, inspiring pictures! ;-)