I use google sketchup for modelling. Make sure the faces turn out more yellow than grey otherwise you have to go through a laborous reverse vertex stage. Once you've sketched your model export to .obj. Import the .obj into Milkshape, animate (if needed), and then export to .dts.
Scripting is a much longer to learn process in my opinion so I'd just request scripts with awesome model pictures so people get off their asses and do something.
Mapping I know nothing of.
Poll