Getting Half Life models into Anim8or...

[TheRetroZombie]

Is there any way I can get Half Life models such as player and weapon models into Anim8or?

[davdud101]

Wodner if it'd be legal... Maybe search around online, if you haven't yet (Although my best bet is that you have already).

[TheRetroZombie]

I'm pretty sure if it wasn't legal then there wouldn't be all these mods using the models. Anyways the half life models would be in MDL format which I would need to convert to .obj or .3d but my main problem is finding the files of the models.

[Raxx]

Virtually any 3d model is able to be converted in some program. I suggest you look into the modding communities for answers to your questions pertaining to the source files. They would probably have some hints on how to convert it to a format that can be worked with in Anim8or.

[cooldude234]

There are some software out there that can convert game models to the .obj format.
It wouldn't be illegal, that is unless you tried making money off of it.

I think milkshape can convert those model types, but last time I checked, that program sucked a lot arse.

[Maximilianibus]

To find the game files you could use GFS-Scape or whatever the name is.

[3Dgeek11]

Yes, but it's pretty complicated. You will (probably) need: XSI Modtool (It's free) and the Valve plugin (Google it) and possibly a Source model compiler/decompiler.
Or if you have 3DS Max it's a lot easier, but I'm guessing you don't.

Anyway, check this tutorial: http://www.gamebanana.com/source/tuts/7109

It's kind of outdated, though, so here's a good place to look for the models if you don't see them in your hl2/hl2/models folder.

steamapps/<username>/sourcesdk_content/hl2/modelsrc (If there is no sourcesdk folder, then go to Steam > Tools > Source SDK and install it, and maybe even run it to make it refresh all the files/whatever. Don't think you need to, though.)
I found a lot of SMD files in there. The only thing you'd really need to do with the SMDs is (so ignore the tutorial above if you can see these files) go to XSI Modtool and import them using the Valve plugin. Then export them to OBJs and then they're in Anim8or.

Let me know if you need more help.
I haven't tested this myself, so I don't know if it will work.

Also, if none of that is working for you and you can find the original mdl/bsp/etc files. Then check this program http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php?c=205&o=45
It will let you export to OBJ too.