Model/animation editing questions

[Major Cooke]

So here's what I'm trying to do...

First, I'd like to get Keristrasza exported, which I've done via WoWmodelviewer as a .3DS file.

Next, what I would like to achieve is to remove her front two arms and greatly enlargen the legs/feet (which I can do easily but I don't know what file format I should edit it in).

Then, I'd like to know how to re-implement the skeleton/animations and fit them to the original body and resized legs, plus slow down the animation by say... half of it's original value, so it keeps the smooth scale-with-speed motion (unlike the current generic ones which are forced to move at one set speed).

Last, I'd like to remove the front feet's footstep effect, and replace the hind feet's footstep effect with that of a regular giant stomp.

I have zero intentions on doing any sort of reskinning, or stuff like that. I'm just wanting to modify a model, in this case Keristrasza and go from there.

Which tutorials would be best at covering these aspects down, and is there any advice one can provide with them?

It'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks.