Editing .MDL files?
I want to edit the Underground-Paintdropper to change the Color of the Gel on it, to use it as custom model under a new Name for my actual map-project that uses a new Geltype with a new color. So I used GCFScape to get the .mdl File. But I can't find any programm to edit this.
The only one I've found is called Jeds Half-Life Model viewer (or somtehing like that) that is Chrashing when I try to load the mdl :/
So, anyone know wich else programm I could use?
The skins are under Materials->Props_underground->underground_paintdropper.vtf
So, you need to copy the paintdropper model files (you did), and rename (did also).
Then you must decompile the .mdl of your own copy, where you can change the skin (Skotty's decompile Tutorial)
I think..
TheTobbell wrote:
The skins are under Materials->models->Props_underground->underground_paintdropper.vtf
Corrected that for you 
@Flo2912: the best way to go is to hex the model, not to decompile/recompile it. Check out this other thread, it should be useful for you.
And I'd suggest you to edit the file underground_paintdropper_nopaint.vtf because.... well... it has no paint >.< so you don't need to remove it before putting your new colour paint.
josepezdj wrote:
Corrected that for you
Ouh, Thanks 
josepezdj wrote:
And I'd suggest you to edit the file underground_paintdropper_nopaint.vtf because.... well... it has no paint >.< so you don't need to remove it before putting your new colour paint.
Hmm.. but for example, when he edits the skin with paint, he just needs to change the RGB of the paint, when he knows how to do that
(Unless he want to make a new paint "splash" form)
josepezdj wrote:
TheTobbell wrote:The skins are under Materials->models->Props_underground->underground_paintdropper.vtf
Corrected that for you
@Flo2912: the best way to go is to hex the model, not to decompile/recompile it. Check out this other thread, it should be useful for you.
And I'd suggest you to edit the file underground_paintdropper_nopaint.vtf because.... well... it has no paint >.< so you don't need to remove it before putting your new colour paint.
But then what will you use for water droppers? 
FelixGriffin wrote:
josepezdj wrote:TheTobbell wrote:
The skins are under Materials->models->Props_underground->underground_paintdropper.vtf
Corrected that for you
@Flo2912: the best way to go is to hex the model, not to decompile/recompile it. Check out this other thread, it should be useful for you.
And I'd suggest you to edit the file underground_paintdropper_nopaint.vtf because.... well... it has no paint >.< so you don't need to remove it before putting your new colour paint.
But then what will you use for water droppers?
You can make a copy of the model, like everyone does when they reskin models.
FelixGriffin wrote:
But then what will you use for water droppers?
You can give whatever name to the edited texture and still keep the "nopaint" one for the clean water dropper :p
TheTobbell wrote:
Hmm.. but for example, when he edits the skin with paint, he just needs to change the RGB of the paint, when he knows how to do that(Unless he want to make a new paint "splash" form)
Well, yeah... that will only depend on how each one wants to edit the texture or his ability with an image editor; I guess you could also use the white paint texture, select all the white splashes and edit its RGB curves... up to the OP's wish.
The model is shwown up as available File in the List, but its completly empty without any testure 
I'l edit them Later in this post, when I'm back at home^^
Flo2912 wrote:
The model is shwown up as available File in the List, but its completly empty without any testure
If you properly edited the bottom part of the model file already, the remaining reason why your textures could be not showing is that you didn't edit their VMT files: you need to place them into the correct folder (the one you hexed the model to make it point to) and then change the parameter $basetexture with the new folder too.
I'm sure it is something very obvious and I will feel stupid after you helped me, but I don't get it right now 
Flo2912 wrote:
OK, here are the Files^^I'm sure it is something very obvious and I will feel stupid after you helped me, but I don't get it right now
Flo, these are your mistakes:
-
You changed the model name adding "_Flo", but if you look into the model file with the hex editor, you kept the original name "underground_paintdropper.MDL" and only changed the folder where it was... This makes that the model can't find itself

-
It isn't a good idea to change the names of the rest of the model files either, I mean the .vvd, .phy, .vtx.... Take into account that even that hexed model will search for the original name ones into the new custom folder (you can't know this because it's coded and you can't read it, but it is this way).
-
You edited the bottom part of the model file changing the name of one of the textures:
-
from "underground_paintdropper_blue"
-
to "underground_paintdropper_Lila"
BUT inside your material file "underground_paintdropper_Lila.VMT" this is what you have:
VertexLitGeneric
{
$basetexture "models/pFlos_underground/underground_paintdropper_blue"
$bumpmap "models/pFlos_underground/underground_paintdropper_normal"
$normalmapalphaenvmapmask 1
$phong 1
$phongexponent 5
$envmaptint "[.3 .3 .3 ]"
$phongboost 2
$phongfresnelranges "[5 1 2]"
$envmap env_cubemap
}
.< you are making it look for "underground_paintdropper_blue" inside your custom folder materials/models/pFlos_underground/... and there isn't any file called like that in there, see? you need to change it for
VertexLitGeneric
{
$basetexture "models/pFlos_underground/underground_paintdropper_Lila"
$bumpmap "models/pFlos_underground/underground_paintdropper_normal"
$normalmapalphaenvmapmask 1
$phong 1
$phongexponent 5
$envmaptint "[.3 .3 .3 ]"
$phongboost 2
$phongfresnelranges "[5 1 2]"
$envmap env_cubemap
}
- And finally, I'd suggest you to incude ALL of the textures that the model reads... maybe you can't see the model textured in hammer because its skin is for example set to the very first one, the skin 0, and that could be "underground_paintdropper.VMT", not "underground_paintdropper_blue.VMT", understand?
