Gmod models invisible in SFM

[Pickle Juice]

so i already followed the tutorial and kinda works...i use it to port the imperial guards models into SFM and everything works fine! but in some models the models are inivisible, i use the Halo Reach marines and only the females appear on SFM the males are just invisible...so any way to fix this?

[Marco Skoll]

This (usually) means the files are installed in the wrong folder. As Source models are made up of (at least) three files*, the .MDL files have a hardcoded path for where to find other parts within their mod.

I'm not sure why this doesn't cause a problem in GMOD (possibly the developers have modified the engine), but SFM can't find models if they're in the wrong folder. You need to select (but not load) the model in the model browser, then check the console for a "Failed load of .VVD data" error, which will give a filepath for you where it's expecting to find the files, and you'll need to relocate the models there.

*For SFM, these are .mdl, .dx90.vtx and .vvd.
Other games may have .dx80.vtx or .sw.vtx files but SFM does not need (or even use) these.

[Pickle Juice]

i love that youre trying to help me man, i really do...but what you just said is just getting me more confused...

[Marco Skoll]

To simplify, Source models and textures need to be installed in very specific places. If they're not in the place they're supposed to be in, they won't work.

While GMod seems to be able to get away with having model files in the wrong place (I don't understand why), SFM can't, so this problem is quite common when porting from GMod.

If you attempt to load or spawn a model which is installed in the wrong place, the console in SFM (if you don't have a console, you need to add it via the "windows" menu) will show a "Failed load of .VVD data" error that will tell you where it was expecting to find the files.

To fix it, you need to move the model's .MDL, .DX90.VTX and .VVD files to the correct location within the root /models folder (the models folder of whichever "mod" they are installed in).

[Pickle Juice]

oh...my...god... i found out how to fix it...it was the most stupid reason ive ever seen... the path that showed me in the console says "Failed to load models/!
Binding uncached material "potterywheelpanelwireframe", artificially incrementing refcount
MDLCache: Failed load of .VVD data for ishi/halo_rebirth/player/marine/male/marine_g_john.mdl"

and i look around in the files and i saw...that the file "marine" was name "marines" so...i delete the s and then i refresh...and then all the meshes appear...jesus that was so dumb... i really apreciate the help mate! thanks

[Marco Skoll]

Yep, it can be an error as small as that* - SFM needs the files to be in exactly the right place, otherwise it can't the mesh data for the model.

*Another common cause is when a user mistakenly puts the models folder from a download so that it's inside the main models folder, leading to a path like -/models/models/filename.mdl, which also causes this problem.

[Pickle Juice]

yeah i saw that issue in one video, but now i have anohter issue this time the folders name are ok...but its saying this

Failed to load models/!
Binding uncached material "potterywheelpanelwireframe", artificially incrementing refcount
MDLCache: Failed load of .VVD data for models/ishi/halo_rebirth/weapons/unsc/v_br55.mdl

and i checked the names and all the files are perfect but is looking for the .mdl file and the file is right there...is literally the third file in the entire folder...so whats wrong?

[Marco Skoll]

Looks like the exact opposite of the problem I just mentioned!
When it says models/ishi/halo_rebirth/weapons/unsc/v_br55.mdl, that "models" in the path is not the root models folder (which is never mentioned in the filepath).

So this model actually expects to be at -models/models/ishi/halo_rebirth/weapons/unsc/v_br55.mdl

This can happen when the model-maker makes the mistake of putting the "models" in the filepath that the model is compiled with (but, like I say, it's not supposed to have that in the path).

[Pickle Juice]

mmm no, i just check, is not models/models is game/garrysmod/models/ishi/halo_rebirth_/weapons/unsc/v_br55.mdl

still dont know that is the problem...

[Marco Skoll]

That IS the problem.

If it mentions "models" at the start of the path in the console, then it means that someone compiled the model badly, and it expects to be at models/models.

[Pickle Juice]

so what should i do?

[Pickle Juice]

oh! ok so i just copy the "ishi" folder and i create a folder called "models" inside the "models" folder and i copy and paste the "ishi" folder iniside that folder and BAM! all models appear after a refresh...that seems to fix it! man...

[Marco Skoll]

You need to move the model's files (e.g. v_br55.mdl, v_br55.dx90.vtx, v_br55.vvd)* to
game/garrysmod/models/models/ishi/halo_rebirth_/weapons/unsc/

* But if you have any files called v_br55.dx80.vtx or v_br55.sw.vtx, you can safely delete them, SFM doesn't use them.

EDIT: Yes, that should have fixed it.
This whole thing is is one of the weird quirks of the Source engine. Even if you get used to it, it's still a pain in the bum.

[Pickle Juice]

yeah! ill keep that in mind!

its kinda dumb how easy the solutions are and how much damage can cause...but ah well...what can you do...?

yeah...but again...what can you do? thanks for staying all the way trough buddy i really apreciate your help mate!

[AftMatthew]

Oh wow, that actually worked.
This was a life saver, thank you so much!