Ok i'm using milkshape.

I have made the mesh in the in the texture coodinator editor (I just used a black 512x512.bmp) and applied the faces and what not so it looks like a normal mesh. My question is how do I save what I have in the texture co-odinator (with the different areas of the model now laid out flat) over the original .bmp so I can then later skin it?

If anyone understands what I mean and can help it would be much appreciated :)

dunno, when i did that in the past i just pushed print screen
went into paint and cropped the pic
then applied it
roffle

Print screen and resize to 512x512 or a lower multiple of eight.