I'm still running into a few minor snafus as I try to figure out how to work normal mapping and NifSkope, http://oblivion.brashendeavors.net/bows/armpittear.jpg If I try pasting it directly to an upperbody chest, I get errors I don't know how to fix like "failed to map parent link NiNode|Bip01 L Thigh", and if I try to paste together body parts from other outfits that don't give that error, I end up with small tears.
I learn a little more each time so hopefully soon I'll get it all figured out. Thanks for the feedback though as it encourages me to keep at it.
To fix that error you need to copy/paste the missing branch from the other nif as well in the case you mention you would need to copy\paste the Ninode Bip01Lthigh (usually you will need the Bipo1Rthigh as well - it will be the next error after you get past that one !!) from the old .nif (just find that ninode and copy\paste the branch) to the new one - it needs to be able to attach the other piece that you are importing to the skeleton and you do not have that part on your new .nif yet so it can not attach it to it and thus the error !!
I would quess you are adding a lower body piece to one that did not have the lower body already !!
Edit : as for the armpit tear click on the arms and then go to the block details and adjust the translation (probably a slight adjustment on the x axis should move it to where it lines up properly !!) Just play with a few different numbers until you get it lined up properly !! - or perhaps move the upper body a bit - depending on if it seems to line up with the other pieces or not.