How to import models from Valve's Source games.

[Oizen]

I've recently figured out how to port models from Valve's source games (Half Life, Team Fortress 2, Counter strike ect.) and a good deal of Garry's Mod model you can find.

Here's an example of a model I took out of Portal:

If you want an in-game shot check this out

Required tools:
3dsmax 2011
The SMD importer plugin. The 2010 version works with 2011.
Steam
A source game. I recommend Tf2, since its free.
SourceSDK, you can download this with steam for free if you own one of Valve's major Source Games.
GFScape Only needed if you're ripping from a game yourself.
MDLdecompiler
VTFEDIT for extracting materials.

Your favorite Hex editor.

Only read this part if you're extracting a model yourself

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next we'll need the textures, which are usually in a similar path, only in the materials folder, again export all of the files with a similar name to your model.

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This next step may already be done, but its important you check anyway.

Open your .mdl file in a hex editor and make sure the character I highlighted below is a ",". (Tf2 models are 0 by default)

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Open the mdldecompiler and input your model, and an output path, The model decomplier must be located in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\*SteamUserName*\sourcesdk\bin\ep1\bin\ for it to work!

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Export your model, and open 3DSmax 2011, and import the ".smd" file the MDLDecompliler makes.

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Now for the textures,  Open the .vtf files with VTFedit, and go File > Export, and chose whatever image format you want. Occasionally, you have to fight with the settings on VTFedit to get the entire texture.

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Apply your texture in 3dsmax, export it as a .dae, and you're good to go.

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I'll do .bsp files (maps) some other time.

[BriefCasey795]

oh sweet! now we can have tf2 imports! :D

[Oizen]

oh sweet! now we can have tf2 imports! :D

Indeed. I've also been experimenting with importing tf2 maps aswell.

But they're significantly larger in file size, the most promising right now is Watchtower.

[BriefCasey795]

Yea we really need some tf2 stages to go with the tf2 hacks. 2fort looks like a cool place to brawl on. maybe you could brawl on the RED second floor and BLU second floor. Also, i hope someone can do a model import for heavy on ganondorf.

[JBG]

Here's a good question.

If you rip a model, is it already rigged?

[BriefCasey795]

Most items only have one bone so basically, yeah. I also have a good question: how do you apply the textures? 3ds max or brawlbox?