Looking fr advice and how to on extracting original EQ model

[Jerrysn]

I'm pretty new at this-

What I want to do is export the original EQ models and skins (not worried about the landscape really) and eventually get the into .XSI format.

Now I've read EQinside is a bit buggy so I'm sure if I should go that route or not. But also think I may have be able to extract to .3DS and then figure out a way to get them to .XSI

I'm not sure about all this and that why I'm asking - also, I've been looking at buying a package like Maya for creating/editing such game models - there's just too much info and I don't wanto waste my money/time what are your reccomendations?

Thanks a bunch!
-Jerry