Actually, with regard to the hard-coding one of the textures to the model, I noticed that Blitz didn't mind if I just renamed the texture (so the .b3d couldn't find it) - it loaded okay as a skinless mode. However, as reported before, when I edited the texture reference out of the model I got a small drop in file size. So, either method had no drawbacks - but editing the .b3d file reduced it by a fraction in size.
Still, it is a step forward for me to be making new characters out of pieces of the 2 skins. Luckily one of the character doesn't have gloves and the other one does - so you can swap their 'hands' about. I've even swapped their heads. You can swap their shoes, trousers, shirts too to make lots of subtle and not so subtle combinations of the two original characters.
Plus, I even changed the colour of their eyes too.
One thing I'd like to try is to change their hair color, but that is too difficult for me - no good as a digital artist - sniff.
Still, it is a step forward for me to be making new characters out of pieces of the 2 skins. Luckily one of the character doesn't have gloves and the other one does - so you can swap their 'hands' about. I've even swapped their heads. You can swap their shoes, trousers, shirts too to make lots of subtle and not so subtle combinations of the two original characters.
Plus, I even changed the colour of their eyes too.
One thing I'd like to try is to change their hair color, but that is too difficult for me - no good as a digital artist - sniff.