Agree about Milkshape, it's worth the time investment, and what it produces is rock-solid and 100% compatible with Blitz (unlike 3DS). For statics and because of it's ease of use try Metasequioa, a great editor that's spoiled me for all the others:
http://www21.ocn.ne.jp/~mizno/main_e.html
http://www21.ocn.ne.jp/~mizno/main_e.html