Hello,
Any 3D software you like, and plug-ins or conversion softwares for .msh file in output format. Animator or Blender are free, for exemple.
For textures, Photoshop or Gimp (free) are good choices. I use DXTBitmap to convert files to .dds format.
VC++ to make a .dll, but it need programming skills.
Multistage and VesselBuilder are generic .dll with editables .ini or .cfg files in a simple text editor. Most user friendly than a dll compiler, but sometime not so easy as it look like (animations, events).
In any cases, motivation is required.
![;)](http://orbiter.dansteph.com/forum/Smileys/orbitersmiley/smilie3.gif)
Milouse