Note: Sorry for the multiple threads on this topic but when one question gets answered 10 more appear.

So I am attempting to create a custom weapon mesh for use in Fallout: New Vegas. I have many questions I would like to ask but first I want to give a little bit of background information.

The only 3D Modeling program I am used to is Blender and the only version I am comfortable with is the most current, 2.63a, because I was taught the basics and school and am teaching myself the rest. Now my comfort with 2.63a is a problem because it is unable to directly import .nif files. In order to work around this, I would open the mesh in NifSkope and export it as a .obj file then import it into Blender.

However, I have read that supposedly the switch from .nif to .obj and back to .nif may force me to remove and add some aspects of the mesh. I have also heard that supposedly because the F:NV game engine uses .nif files, it is better to directly edit the meshes as a .nif. Thus comes my first question; Is this true or is my current tactic a viable and appropriate one?

On a more Blender associated note, I have another question. Is there anyway to get the vanilla weapon mesh in Blender along WITH its vanilla texture? Is there an option similar to NifSkope's "Resource Files" that quickly identifies and puts the texture onto the mesh? Or must I do that manually?

Lastly, I have a much broader range of questions to ask all of the modders out there. When YOU want to modify a weapon mesh, how do you go about doing it? Do you simply use Blender 2.49 and the associated NifTools to import and modify the mesh? Or do you do all the work in NifSkope? Basically I want to know what works best for you or what y'all prefer. If anyone reading this cares to do so, I would greatly appreciate a step-by-step procedure from an experienced modder so I can try and learn from them.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated by a modding noob who just needs a place to start.