• The Exported textured Model (.smd)


• The collision Model (.smd)


• The Texture file

"VertexlitGeneric"
{
"$basetexture" "models/custom/tutorial/crate"
}

In order to compile a model, you need the required files above, and you need to create a QC file using notepad. There are various lines of code that you need to type into the qc, in order for your model to compile. Below are all the lines that we will be using, and a little description on each one of them.

$modelname "custom/tutorial/compiletut.mdl
This line is what tells Studiomdl what we want the model to be called, and where we want it to be placed when it is compiled. In this case, the model will be called compiletut.mdl and it will be placed in the models/custom/tutorial directory.

$scale 1.0
This line states the size of the model. You can resize it as much as you want just by editing this line, it saves a lot of time because you don't have to go resize the model in the modeling program. It can be left at the default scale for now.

$staticprop
This small line is what tells the compiler that we are trying to compile a prop_static, and that it doesn't expect any animations in the model. Basically, without this line, it will compile the model as prop_physics.

$body "Body" compiletut.smd
In this line, you state what the name of the reference model is called. So in this case, it is compiletut.smd. Some models might have it as compiletut_ref.smd but it doesn't really matter what it's called.

$surfaceprop "metal"
This line tells the compiler what kind of material the prop is supposed to be. In this case, it is set to metal, so when I go to test it out ingame, it will sound like I'm shooting a metal crate. You can change it to various other materials. For a full list of Material Properties, check out the Valve Wiki.

$cdmaterials "models/custom/tutorial"
This line tells the compiler where the vmt for the texture you created can be found. In this case, my textures are in the materials/models/custom/tutorial folder.

$collisionmodel "compiletut_phys.smd" {
$concave
}
This line is where you state the name of the collision model for your prop. The collision model is that invisible area where the player can't shoot or pass through. Once again, the collision model can be called whatever you desire, I just called mine compiletut_phys to prevent confusion.

$sequence idle "compiletut.smd" fps 15 ACT_IDLE 1
This is the last line in the QC, it is a frame of an animation. If it had no frames, there will be no model, so this creates a frame using the smd you provided as the frame.

If everything is typed into the QC, it should look something like this:

$modelname "custom/tutorial/compiletut.mdl"
$scale 1.0
$staticprop
$body "Body" compiletut.smd
$surfaceprop "metal"
$cdmaterials "models/custom/tutorial"
$collisionmodel "compiletut_phys.smd" {
$concave
}
$sequence idle "compiletut.smd" fps 15 ACT_IDLE 1

Now, save the QC by going to File>Save As. Give it a name with the extension as .qc, and in the "Save as Type:" Change it from Text Documents (*.txt) to All Files

Once you're done saving, move all your files, (except for materials) to the SourceSDK>bin>ep1>bin folder. I like to put things in that folder, because it is where the compiler is located, and it will be easier for the compiler to find the required files.

Now comes the compiling part. Select the QC file you created earlier, and Drag n Drop it onto StudioMDL. Once done so, a command prompt window should come up for a few seconds and then disappear. Once it disappears, it either means that your model has been compiled, or you something is wrong with it and it failed to compile. To confirm if it has been compiled or not, head over to the directory you stated before in the $modelname line of the QC. Mine was models/custom/tutorial.

If it worked, go ahead and try it ingame or in Model Viewer. This is what my final product looks like: