Find a copy of 3dsmax and use the built in tutorials. I think you can get a trial version somewhere, if you're intensive about it you can probably learn to do a better job than most here in 30 days.
3dsmax is probably the best way to go, if you're at university you might be able to get student access to it which is great. Modelling can be quite easy to learn if you have good software and obsessive compulsive disorder
I don't know how to model but I can more than likely put you in contact with people who do, so add me on steamfriends (although I'm sure you already did?). Trickster9012
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SDK_Docs Read this. Learn a modeling software. The Autodesk Mod tool is fine for you as well. http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?id=13571257&siteID=123112 It has support for exporting to source. You can model, rig, animate with it, just as good as any software you pay for. Watch some workflow videos, read tutorials, then practice.
Trickster, if you steal even more modelers from us then I'll personally come to your gay island and beat you up.