Making a mesh that works

[Video Tutorial] How to import models into Sins

The problem is that I have no idea how you got that model in the first place. I need somebody to explain how to make my model from scratch and eventually texture it and such. (In XSI)

i don't think anybody here is going to write a post explaining the entirety of every stage you need to export a skinned, hardpointed model (nor would such a post be very useful), if xsi's tutorials don't work there are about a gazillion tutorials on the web that walk you through making things from teacups to rifles to swords, and usually 'rectangular box' is one of the first steps 

I don't know anyone here did model work from scratch in XSI. It really doesn't matter what program you use so long as you can save it in a format you can import into XSI (usually .obj). Just google XSI modeling tutorials or videos if you don't want to use anything else, when making the base mesh it doesn't really matter what its for (though try to keep it as one mesh object).

I will say that texturing in XSI is not fun, and you need to make the texture first then hand map every polygon in the UV map to the proper spot on the texture sheet. I imagine their must be better programs to do that with.

Its much easier to UV map a model in 3dsmax, and to some extent in Lightwave than XSI. The most unforgiving aspect to importing a model into sins is the Tangents. Gofan is right. You do not need XSI to build, or UV map your model. As long as your modeler can export into format that XSI can import. However you WILL need XSI to "finish" your model, add the hardpoints, and get it ready for import into Sins.

There are tutorials out there. Find them. Nobody here is gonna write a wall of text to show you step by step how to build a model from scratch in ANY program. Not trying to be rude. Just fact. You need to find the modeling program you want to use, and take the time to learn it yourself. Like how every other modder here did. Trial, and error. The only way you are gonna learn is to just do it, and learn from your mistakes. Like how we all did.

me   All the models created by me were done in XSI. I learned XSI first because I knew it was crucial to getting models into Sins and frankly just don't want to learn anything else at this point.

I'm not recommending it as a the best modeling tool, just saying

Can be tough but it's possible. I textured the entire Hypercorp race using XSI with two texture sheets: one for ships and one for structures.

http://www.moddb.com/mods/sins-of-the-fallen/features/hypercorp-race

There are other tools. I also use a 3d paint program and know of atleast a couple others that use something similar.

There's also several free tools that I know Thoumsin has written about if you like data mining (not going to do it).

Made in XSI, painted and uv-mapped in my 3d paint program.

Didnt know you were into Space Battleship Yamato