Well this is a total mystery, I have checked dmlavans unmodded files with a file compare program and they are definitely GWX standard & the modded version also checks out, works on mine & others but not dmlavans!!

I'm open for any suggestions as to what othermods might interfere,

actually I do just wonder what files are in the
SilentHunterIII\data\Textures\TNormal\tex folder that are marked with "7c"? Could be some other skin causing this, though I doubt it.