The problem could reside in:
- A:M 10.5 handling the import plug
- The .3ds-importer plug
- A different version support of the .3ds-format specification
- The way a .3ds-model is polygon'd as a start
Things you could try:
- Ask someone with a newer A:M to try the import of the specific .3ds-file.(Or upgrade yourself)
- Check if there's a change in the .3ds-import plug version for A:M (Or different kind of format importers)
- You could try re-saving the .3ds-model in another 3d-polygon program(try changing format-version) or re-save it in a different format like .obj or .lwo(I dunno if there's any importer for .obj or .lwo in version 10.5)
- You could split the .3ds-model up, try to import it in AM and find where 'the boggle' is...
A program closing in e.g. Windows, has todo with the program generating a general protection fault, this relates to a processor-exception or OS-exception(alot of times memory).
The importer-intelligence has trouble creating and connecting CPs, makin' splines, is my suspicion, 'following' the 'flow' of the spline(s).
A work-around for such models is maybe using the 'newer' feature Topology and re-create a leaner model for export.
Knowing how to spline, is maybe the best answer
You could take screencaptures for use in A:M to rotoscope and skip the topology-part. (You're model isn't a landscape, is it? )