Reference model

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Reference.mdl

The Reference.mdl, conventionally named <modelname>_ref.mdl, contains a range of key information for an in game model:

  • The model's Origin, which is used to align its rendermesh, collisionmodel, gibs, etc to the Model Entity's position in the World.
  • The Mesh and UV map geometry that is actually rendered in game.
  • The skeletal geometry (bones)
  • The name of the VMT file to use as the default Skin.
  • The name of the MDL file to use as a collisionmodel.
  • The name of any animation MDL files used by this model.
  • The names of any sound WAV files used by this model.
  • etc

Reference.smd

The reference.smd, conventionally named <modelname>_ref.smd, contains some of the information that goes into the reference.mdl, but not all of it:

  • The default Origin
  • Render Mesh vertex geometry
  • UV map geometry and default Skin filename
  • Skeleton
  • etc