EngineReplaceModel notes

Replacing models in the original GTA map

There are two ways to replace models in the original GTA map:

Method 1: Move camera away during replace process

    local modelId = 12853

    setCameraMatrix( 10000, 0, 0 ) -- Move camera far away

    col = engineLoadCOL( "garage.col" )
    txd = engineLoadTXD( "garage.txd" )
    dff = engineLoadDFF( "garage.dff", 0 )
     
    engineReplaceCOL( col, modelId )
    engineImportTXD( txd, modelId )
    engineReplaceModel( dff, modelId )

    setTimer( function()
                setCameraTarget( localPlayer ) -- Move camera back after a delay
             end
            ,50,1 )

Method 2: Create custom object and hide original

    local modelId = 12853
    local x,y,z = 661, -561, 17

    obj = createObject( modelId, x,y,z )
    removeWorldModel( modelId, 100, x,y,z ) -- Hide original

    col = engineLoadCOL( "garage.col" )
    txd = engineLoadTXD( "garage.txd" )
    dff = engineLoadDFF( "garage.dff", 0 )
     
    engineReplaceCOL( col, modelId )
    engineImportTXD( txd, modelId )
    engineReplaceModel( dff, modelId )

Additonal code if model has LOD:

(To determine the LOD model ID, use the editor resource, or refer to this this table)
If the model has a LOD version, that will need to be hidden:

    local modelIdLOD = 13245
    removeWorldModel ( modelIdLOD, 100, x,y,z ) -- Hide LOD

Optionally create a MTA LOD replacement so there is no hole in the map from a distance:

    -- This step is optional
    objLOD = createObject( modelIdLOD, x,y,z, 0, 0, 0, true )
    setLowLODElement(obj, objLOD)

And for extra points, add a custom dff for the MTA LOD replacement:

    -- This step is optional
    txdLOD = engineLoadTXD( "garageLOD.txd" )
    dffLOD = engineLoadDFF( "garageLOD.dff", 0 )
    engineImportTXD( txdLOD, modelIdLOD )
    engineReplaceModel( dffLOD, modelIdLOD )