3DS Import problems

Greets, All:
I've been having some trouble importing 3ds files into MED using the file->import->from 3ds option. Most of the models I'm importing have 15000 to 20000 vertices (alot, I know, but there aren't alot of the models in the map I use). When I use the mesh screen (the 4-window object viewer), everything looks fine. However, when I go to attach a skin using skin editor, only part of the model shows up in the skin editor view(often only a small part of the model). When I save as an mdl, only a small part of the model shows in WED as well.
Is this due to some kind of vertex/triangle limitation, or is it something else? Could it be improper normalizing in 3D Studios Max (I didn't create the models, my graphical artist did, but he's not very experienced with making 3d models)?
I am not a 3D artist, so I'm not very familiar with 3D Studios -- only what applies to programming and game design, I don't make any models myself.

Thank,
-- CM

You probably have a normal problem. When you look at the model in med, does some of the polies look dark blue? If you do not know what normals is, a normal is the direction a poly faces. A poly is only visible from one side. Try setting the show normal setting in med. the green line is the driection your poly is facing. You might need to flip them by selecting the polies and clicking flip normal button, on the top-right bar. As for the many vertexes, that is your original model, and your moddeler should scale down on the polys. Actually poly count is more important. Thats how we measure detail.

Hope it helps.

I'm glad you pointed out the show normals option in MED; I wasn't aware of it. Unfortunately, the normals all appear to be facing outward (lol selecting more than a small area makes the model look like a green pin coushin), so that can't be the issue.
Anyone have other suggestions? I'm pulling out my hair on this one!

-- CM

Hmm...Well, that's interesting. The whole model doesn't show up in skin view mode, but it does (actually, they do) show up in WED now. Not exactly sure what I did, but it obviously worked.

Thanks for the help

Try zooming out when in skin editor. maybe your model is 'inside' the camera.