Hi Brian,

you wrote:
> But the problem is of the very big file size, in any format, before
> getting anywhere close to a rendering situation.

What if you use a more simple non-twisted tube for each of these ropes?

I mean something that looks just like a smooth pipe or cylinder with no twisting or braiding in it at all.

Does that create a smaller file size?

If so, then that is one way to reduce file size - use a more simple object structure for your rope, and then give it the illusion of more detail by applying texture maps, bump maps, or displacement map type materials inside the rendering program rather than explicit modeling of all those details.

- Michael