Ok, so I'm not out to re-invent the wheel (cuz blender is the de facto free program for modeling and 3DS Max is the preferred commercial program for the same), but since the utility NIFScope allows us to import obj and 3ds files I made up a trial mesh in the free 3d program TrueSpace and puzzled thru setting it up as import 3ds file and into a NIF file in game. Truespace is now a free download, and the company who made it has been bought out by Microsoft (so there will be no official support for the program anymore)

pic of mesh in truespace (tower shield with indented and raised center):
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i413/silentthief/MW%20-%20NIF%20-%20TS/scrn.jpg

pic of shield when added in-game on test character:
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i413/silentthief/MW%20-%20NIF%20-%20TS/MGEScreenshot4.jpg

Thanks to the creators of NIFscope and the excellent tutorial on NIFscope by Linora.
I am learning how to use Blender and will be showing any artwork I make at house Fliggerty and on the bethesda forum as it is finished.

ST

Ha, nice.

*offtop* I remember in the book by Bill Fleming was a good lesson from Dam's Dobbs about the modeling in truespace ... *offtop*