.Map :: MoHAA Mapping

I'm trying to find the answeres to two questions for myself. The first is just how to make those steel stairwells with the see-through grating. Is it a static object of some kind I'm just not seeing, or do I have to build the bars and the steps and use some texture I'm not finding with the gaps in it?
My other question is about textures for metal grates, windows, etc. From the little I think I've read I'd imagine that one would make a texture with invisible areas, maybe changing the alpha on window panes to get a semi-transparent effect, then saving it as a targa file, but I'm not sure. I'm sure most of you can give me some insight on this, and it would be much appreciated.

I'll do my Best

The first is just how to make those steel stairwells with the see-through grating. Is it a static object of some kind I'm just not seeing, or do I have to build the bars and the steps and use some texture I'm not finding with the gaps in it?

Well I've built these out of brushes before ive made surrounding brushes with some sort of metal texture (remember to apply caulk to the faces that cannot be seen) and then for the grate i'd use a texture like general_industrial -> deckgrate_set1 (but only the face thats walked on the rest would be nodraw)

For the other question I can't help as I havnt tried to make transparent textures before but I would imagine the Alpha Channel has something to do with it..

Hope it helps

It did.. .thanks. I just don't have as much time as I'd like to just try things, compile, and test their effects. Your direction helped tremendously.