I'm not sure about the exporter you are using but It happens often when I import .3ds models that the models usualy DO have groups and materials assigned to them. Much of the time too the alpha will be set below 100 ( usualy at 0)

here is an example I'll show you

I downloaded a model of the spaceship from the Planet of the Apes movie (Charlton Heston version) that was in .3ds format

Imported it into MED.



Has many groups and materials already in it.



All the groups materials Alpha is set to 0 from the importing, so I would have to go through and manualy reset all the alpha values.


Your importer is probably doing the same thing, assigning an alpha value to each material/skin/group that is below 100