Creating a new 3D Model

Lexx

Lexx

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Can somebody tell me, how I create a new 3D model for Fallout 3? I want to make a new weapon but I have to say, that I have no clue where to start... with the nif file and stuff. Is there somewhere already a tutorial for extracting weapons from Fallout 3 and re-including them again?
 
Yes, I will tell you how. There is a good tutorial but I think it's leaving out one major detail. I'm at work at the moment and I will send you the link when I get home.

Do you already have the basic model completed and textured?

If so you will need the following

-Your 3D model complete with texture
-Photoshop DDS compiler
-Niftools for your 3D software
-Nifskope for compiling your model
-GECK

First Get all 4 of these tools and install them and make sure they work. Tell me once you have completed this and we will continue.
 
Ok, the model with texture is a already existing weapon. I just modified it a bit.

Niftools and Nifskope is installed.

For the dds compiler... is this possible with Gimp too?

GECK of course, yeh.
 
I'm not familiar with gimp, but the plugin is found on Nvidia's website. It may have support for gimp but i'm not sure. you could email me your texture and I can DDS it out.
 
I don't have a own texture at the moment. It is still a existing model that I have modified a bit, so nothing big. :) I want to test things out before I start creating big stuff.
 
You still need a texture. Both a standard color texture then the normal map, both created with the DDS tool.

If you don't have a texture, it will not work. Just make a simple texture and to assign in nifskope
 
Ok, so I have the model, the texture and the tools. I played a bit with Nifskope, but I am totally lost. Everything I tested out for now didn't worked. I also found some related stuff in the Bethesda forums but it didn't helped too.

My plan was to just export the flamer gun via Nifskope to *.obj format, copy mine over it, remove the original flamer gun and import this again with Nifskope.
So, everytime it says "texture none not found". Ok, I can understand this... he can not find texture "none" that also didn't exists. But my model itself has a texture.

Meh, Oblivion modding sucks. It is such a big deal just to import one modell... :/

/Edit: Woho, yeh. Sense of achievement. I can see the model in NifSkope now. But it is blank/white and if I test it ingame, the game crashs.
 
This is where it gets a little tricky,

You will need to use an existing model and replace the existing model with the new model.

I forgot to tell you that you need Fo3 BSA extractor to extract the weapon.

Get that and export the model that closely resembles yours.

EDIT: BTW. Your textures must be in DDS format in order for nifskop to read, let alone FO3. I'd hate to say it but it sounds like your project is going to be dead in the water until you can DDS your textures.
 
Yes, I already extracted all meshs, textures, etc. The model I need is the flamethrower. It has the exact size and so on.

The texture is already in dds format too. ;)
 
ok. Here we go again
first make sure you have the plugins and utilities

1. Photoshop DDS converter
2. Latest version of Nifskope.

My 3D animation tool is having problems with the latest version of niftools for exporting nifs.

In Photoshop
1. Save your texture as a .dds click save when the NVIDIA window appears.
2. Save texture as a normal map. Do the same, Save as .dds file. This time click the Normal Map settings button and Click the Convert Tangent Space box and save out with a _n at the end of your filename (not your extension).

You should have…
Texture.dds
Texture_n.dds

In your 3D modeling program
Finish your model by doing the following
1. Triangulate
2. Delete history
3. Export to each individual component to .OBJ if you cant export to .NIF

Open 2 Nifskope windows
1. in one window open a model that closely resembles your weapon.
2. in the other window, import your .obj
a. First prune triangles
b. Then Delete extra verticies
c. Then Stripify the object
d. Then do a Block> Copy
3. Go to the nifskope window with weapon you are going to replace.
4. Rightclick the part Block> Paste over.

Repeat these steps for each individual component.

Search through the tree for texture paths and locate both your texture.dds and your texture_n.dds

And you should be on your way.
 
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