Texture and model issues

[HappyNoodleboy]

I am posting this here so maybe one of you guys can help me. I am using teh most up to date sdk GUISTUDIOMDL.exe and VTFEDIT.exe. Apart for that I have done the compile with the sudiomdl.exe and vtex.exe that come with EP2 and EP1. I get similar results with either solution.

Ok well hopefuly this won't be too bloated of an explaination.

So I am trying to import a custom model with a custom texture as a prop into Hammer version EP2.

I compile the model with GUIstudiomdle (i use it ebaucse it give me lots of options and also I can better see the issues with the compile.)

Now there a lot of different problems i have come across so i will list them and then list the way I found solutions to them.

When I compile the model using the studiomdl.exe I get no model and the cmd prompt blinks on then blinks off. *** UPDATE I found out that the Orangebox version will not create directories so you must create them by hand before you compile.

So now i have the model compiled. here is the QC file:

location:
F:\Games\Steam\steamapps\username here\sourcesdk_content\hl2\modelsrc\Noesis\Skull

$modelname Noesis\Skull\Skull.mdl
$cdmaterials "models\Skull"
$surfaceprop "rock"
$staticprop
$scale 1
$body studio "skull_reference.smd"
$sequence idle "skull_idle.smd" fps 1
$collisionmodel "skull_phys.smd"
{
$Mass 1
$concave
}

The model was then created in the following location:
F:\Games\Steam\steamapps\username here\sourcesdk_content\hl2\modelsrc\Noesis\Skull


Now I have to make a texture file. So i have a basic texture in the .tga format.

Location:
F:\Games\Steam\steamapps\username here\sourcesdk_content\hl2\materialsrc

I drag it onto the EP2 VTEX.EXE file or the VTFEDIT.exe and get the skull.vtf format that I need: Skull.vtf


Location:
F:\Games\Steam\steamapps\username here\half-life 2 episode one\episodic\materials\

Now in that same directory I make the following .VMT file:

"VertexLitGeneric"
{
"$basetexture" "Skull"
"$model" 1

}

Both files open inside the VTFEDIT program so I know they work.

So here is the problem.

When I double click on the .mdl file for the skull i get the first image in the attachments. The second image is the model tab of the model veiwer, which shows that the material is recongnized but i can't see anythign as you can see. Also note that any other models that work normaly no longer work... they have the same display.

**** UPDATE Since the new Update double clicking on the mdl no longer works. I get a
FATAL ERROR : Unable to load manifest file 'scripts/game_sounds_manifest.txt" ***

Now If I open the model veiwer from the Source SDK menu the model shows up but I get the ugly red and black checker board on my model, and it says there are no materials on it. The following attachments show this.

On a side note I can apply the texture on brushes inside hammer and they are veiwable in game. The last attachment shows the texture ingame on a wall of mine and the same texture is not showing up on the skull that I made????

If anyone can help it would be soo appreciated as its currently killing my progress in the level im designing.

Thank you so much and i apologize for such a long post. Im a relative noob at this.