How do you even start making models? How long does it take? I need some models for my map.
how long? well... obviously it depends on how much effort i want to spend on a model. i usually just modify something that blizzard has created. including the graphical modifications, it can take up to 2 hours for me. well i think i suck though.
to make mods, you must have the correct applications. you may want to start by having a MPQviewer to view and extract files from .mpq files in your warcraft III. then have yourself a skinner application to extract the .blp files, which are textures of the mods. afterwards find something to convert your .blp into .tga, then edit the .tga using ACDsee or such. that's the simplest of modifying existing mods. you can, for example, have a rainbow-coloured chimaera.
to create your very own mods, you may need an application to create and modify the mods' "bones", i.e. lined structures that determine a mod's joints and thus its movements. for example, you make "bones" then implant the skins.
i'm sure there are more advanced users here who can explain better than me. about the necessary applications, i got some from here, some from
infoceptor.com, but forgot the links, sorry.