At last!! Something that works.
Thank you Nems and Frazzle!!!!!!!

Code:

---

function create_objects()
{
var distTrace;
wait(1);
c_setminmax(me);
my.polygon = on;
vec_set(temp, my.x);
vec_sub(temp, vector(0,0,1000));
trace_mode= ignore_me | ignore_passable | use_box;
distTrace = c_trace(my.x,temp,trace_mode);
	if (distTrace> 0)
		{
  		 my.z -= distTrace;   
		}
}


string object2_mdl = <tepee_village.mdl>;


//example function
function place_object2()
{
   temp.x = 200; // place the object 200 quants in front of the creator
   temp.y = 0;
   temp.z = 200;
   vec_rotate (temp, player.pan);//be carefull to set "current_player" to your player name.
   vec_add (temp, player.x);
   ent_create(object2_mdl, temp.x, create_objects);
   while(!me){wait(1);}
   
   
   ang_add(normal,my.tilt);  //this doesn't work
   vec_to_angle(my.tilt,normal); //this doesn't work
}  

on_y = place_object2();
  

---

The function only placed the model on the surface if the surface was lower than the model. Changing temp.z to 200 cured that.

I tried with the last two lines to get the model to set flat on a hillside. No luck there.

This doesn't exactly fit my needs, but at least I know it can be done on terrain that is mdl and not hmp. I will find a way to adapt it.

The goat is happy...spared for the time being. And many thanx to all you fine gurus who contributed to this thread.