Good idea. I'll put it on the list.

It could be that the reference or physics mesh has too many vertices or faces for the particular game's model compiler you are using via Crowbar. Or maybe some other model limit has been reached that the compiler fails to check properly.

Check out this recent topic about the same error message.

I reviewed the compile log when I compiled with Source SDK 2013 MP and noticed it gave the same error for me. Sorry about missing that before.

I am not sure what is causing the problem. My only guess is that the model was originally compiled with a different game's model compiler that allows higher limits.

Compiling with Source Filmmaker's compiler successfully made the model files. I double-checked the compile log for any errors this time.

I downloaded, extracted, decompiled, and re-compiled the same model you used. It worked as expected for me.

Instead of using the obsolete Source SDK model compiler, I used the default compiler that Crowbar has for Garry's Mod: Source SDK 2013 Multiplayer.

After further research, it looks like the only workaround right now is to use the $includemodel trick that Funreal mentioned.

The trick is probably used by all modders who have replaced L4D2 viewmodels. The trick is explained in an old tutorial by arby26[l4d2.gamebanana.com] and is copied here for convenience:

If you want to make a custom weapon that re-uses the original weapon's animations, you can do that too. To do this, you make a copy of the original weapons mdl file, just the mdl file. Change its name by one character, the file name AND the name inside the mdl (with notepad++ or a similar text editor). I'm not sure if the single character thing is required though as I've seen other mods break this rule, as well as not renaming its name within the file, you're welcome to explore this. When you have this, delete all sequences and animations from the qc and use $includemodel "[that mdl file's path in your vpk]".

Very glad to hear that it worked. Thanks for posting so that others can be helped if they have same issue.

:D

Crowbar was not decompiling the last bodygroup mesh.

Seems to be fixed in version 0.29.

This seems to be fixed in version 0.29.

I checked "short2014_deadhead.mdl" and ""c_tw_eagle.mdl" in both version 0.24 and 0.29. There is no bug here. It is a misunderstanding of how $CDMaterials and the material names in the SMD files work. Recompiling without any changes to the decompiled files shows the models with textures in HLMV just fine.

Sometimes model mesh SMD files have the full path for materials and do not need the $CDMaterials line in the QC file. The "c_tw_eagle.mdl" is an example.

I know having full path for materials in SMD files is not how most modders would do it, but Crowbar writes what it finds. I am considering changing Crowbar to write out $CDMaterials and material lines in SMD files similarly to the way it did in some previous versions, but some bugs with that other way need fixing.