From Blockbench to Minecraft
You've designed a beautiful 3D model in Blockbench, exported the JSON, and now you want it in the game. But how do you actually make it appear when a player holds a specific item? Without mods, Minecraft allows resource packs to replace the visuals of an item if a specific condition is met.
The Resource Pack Structure
Your 3D model JSON goes into assets/minecraft/models/item/. But you must also override a vanilla item to point to your new model. This is where Custom Model Data comes in. It acts as a bridge between the item's code in-game and the 3D model in your resource pack.
Instead of writing the override code manually, you can use our Resource Pack Generator. You just upload your custom model and texture, assign it a CustomModelData ID, and the generator builds the correct folder structure and JSON overrides automatically.
Spawning the item
Once the resource pack is loaded, you need a command to give yourself the item. Open the Custom Item Builder, type the same CustomModelData ID you used in the generator, and copy the /give command. It's that simple!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any vanilla item as the base?
Yes, you can use a carrot on a stick, a piece of paper, or a diamond sword. Note that items that have durability (like swords) are better for custom weapons because they won't stack.
Do players need to download a mod to see the models?
No! CustomModelData is a completely vanilla feature introduced in Minecraft 1.14. Players only need to load the Resource Pack.