Welcome here vosprone. I hope you'll enjoy your stay.
A lot of software can be use to do that.
For blueprints, most people use 2D vectorial drawing software, like Illustrator (proprietary, commercial) or Inkscape (open-source, free) You can also use a 3D software, by building a 3D model only with body lines. Doing it this way make you sure all views match together.
For 3D model, most of the famous software are proprietary and commercial (and really expensive) : 3DSMax, Maya, RHINO, etc. Some are freeware, like ZModeler.
I use the most advanced free software I know : Blender (see
blender.org - Home) It's capable of almost anything the others do, perhaps with the exception of NURBS (some serious work is planned to come in a future release)
To produce renders, most of people use external renderers (by opposition to renders built-in the 3D software) The most famous are VRay, MentalRay. For Blender, there is some renderers you can use : YafRay, Indigo, SunFlow. I use YafRay.
The best advices I can give :
- Browse the site to find some artists whom you like their work. Read their threads, you'll often be able to read which software they're using.
- Compare the money you can put into a 3D software to their price. If it's too expensive, give a try to Blender
- Don't use illegally acquired software. Pay licenses fee if there is.