Hammer Editor

I've been dabbling in the Hammer Editor recently, and have a question about brushes. Let's say I wanted to make a window frame like this:

http://www.buyingguidetips.com/impro...ames_intro.gif

Would it be inappropriate to make that entirely of brushes, and instead should I make a model in 3ds max to import as a prop, or is making something detailed like this with brushes acceptable? I guess what I really want to know is what should be made of props, and what should consist of brushes?

doing it with brushes would be easy since the window is mostly boxes, but you can do it in max if you really feel its necessary, either way i dont think it will effect anything

If your map isn't too large it won't make too much of a performance hit. Just make sure that you tie all the brushes used for detailing to a func_detail entity.

There is a limit on brushes, generally you use props for those.

Use props.

Make it a prop.