If like me you're kind of a blender/source newbie, I found this series of basic tutorials hugely helpful. Especially for learning how to sync up placements and rotations between blender modeling and final source compiling.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZavzoXLqZCpMVk6HOZlEdCeBWy375tlO

Though my models and rigs are coming out as expected, I too am still struggling with adding animation sequences though. When I compile in amins, things tend to fly apart.

Joining will create one model, but that could still include a hiding vert point that is not directly connected to anything or an edge that may be connected at one end and not the other. Scanning carefully through the mesh at all angles and selecting/deselecting islands while switching modes between vert/edge/face modes has helped me find and solve this type issue.

Definitely focus on the areas of the mess that are missing in the final model.

You could also try going back to the separated models parts before the join and compile each part individually to narrow the hunt. The individual compiled model parts will look like junk of course in model viewer, but the compiler output from each might point out a problem area.

Also if you haven't already, double check that directions of mess normals are pointing the right direction.

I had a few odd errors similar to this that were related to orphaned verticies, edges or small faces left over in the model after some type of editing.

Thanks, parenting the collision mesh to base bone exports properly with 2.79/2.10.2. I've worked mainly with 2.71 and I have just been lucky that my collision mesh exported correctly without parenting.

Can you explain further? Why is a modifier needed where none currently exist in my project and 2.71 doesn't seem to require one to work correctly?

A picture in 3D viewer with the outliner included...

https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1505158060

Description... Blender 2.79 / Source Tools 2.10.2 - the smooth shaded collision model from layer 2 exports and compiles in the wrong orientation. However using the exact same file, Blender 2.71 / Source Tools 2.1.0 exports a model that compiles correctly.

https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1504561129

This link shows the difference in HLMV between the two model compiles.
Thanks for reading.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I was able to solve the bone position issue finally. I found my armature rig was at a different scale (56.0) than the reference mesh (1.0). While in object mode I was able to choose the armature, CTRL+A and "Apply the Scale" which returned the scale back to 1.0. I can now see each highlited bone in the correct locations after the complie. I still have an issue where the additional models are not alligned with the bones though. That is a separate issue probably solved by the correct qc entries.

Yes, multiple SMDs but I only posted one as example since the others where near identical. And yes you can compile with multiple models. I tried a body group as well which works too. But produces same bone position problem.

I suspect I'm not setting up something in blender to studiomdl's satisfaction, but at this point I don't know what.

My qc is very minimal while I learn and troubleshoot this. There are no definebones instructions, and I've excluded all animation actions at this time. Will I need to add my own definebones statements? That would be very difficult to get the correct measurements manually. I'd hoped their locations would be exported from blender.

QC....
$ModelName "nf/vehicles/air/falcon/emp_nf_falconjet_mobile.mdl"

$Body airframe "nf_falcon_airframe.smd"
$model fanstar "nf_falcon_fan_Starboard.smd"
$model fanport "nf_falcon_fan_Port.smd"
$model fantail "nf_falcon_fan_Tail.smd"
$model cannon "nf_falcon_cannon.smd"

$SurfaceProp "metal"

$Contents "solid"

$CDMaterials "nf\vehicles\air\falcon\"
$sequence idle "nf_falcon_airframe.smd" fps 1

$keyvalues { "prop_data" { "base" "Metal.Large" "health" "100" } }

And a typical sub model smd file (minus all the triangle data)

SMD exported from blender...
version 1
nodes
0 "base_bone" -1
1 "TailFan_bone" 0
2 "PortFan_bone" 0
3 "GunTurret_bone" 0
4 "StarboardFan_bone" 0
end
skeleton
time 0
0 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
1 -0.484572 -4.589298 0.473971 -1.571133 0.016496 0.016484
2 -0.137782 0.513171 3.614685 0.016491 -0.015916 1.570524
3 -0.130809 3.063153 0.001382 -0.006179 -0.001194 -0.349016
4 -0.267483 0.511181 -3.588485 0.016483 -0.000209 1.570783
end

I have an armature with multiple bones parented to multiple models and animated in blender. All seems well there. However when the model is exported to smd files and compiled, the highlighted bone placements don't match blender locations. Root yeah, but no others. I can do some qc/smd file tweaking with model offsets and move things around in the final model but can't seem to get bone placements aligned to blender placements so that "sub models" are correct.

Thanks for any advise.