I recall something on this subject, but I can't find it in the search;

I love it that we have snow versions of previously released models, but there's some stuff I need snow on (like the nice fences and fence posts).

Is it legal to modify the official models?

For official use I believe it is ok,as in you cant use it outside HL2/DOD, but for dod maps everything goes.

( I could be wrong though ) its happened once today already :p

oh and if you make any good ones please feel free to share ;) textures arent my strong point!

people reskin the weapon and player models, so i doubt reskinning a bench or wheelbarrow would be any different. everyone who owns the game and would be playing the map would obviously already have the model, so i wouldn't have thought releasing it with a new texture along with the map would be a problem.

if i remember correctly, anything officially released is fair game for reskinning and editing.

you can't edit custom material without permission though.

Thanks guys, those answers make sense to me...

However, being the nervous type: is there an Official Answer on this? I'd like to get an authoritative answer before I consult my Skinner.

*as authoritative as I can be*

Just do it. It's not like you'd be the first either