what is this?

level.powerups[item]

how did you defined it?

item = randomint(level.powerups.size);

im not really sure but doesnt "array.size" returns the length of the array not an string from it?

so without vars it would look like this

new_powerup setmodel(1);

weird also when do level.powerups returns an item?

new_powerup setmodel(level.powerups[0]);

new_powerup setmodel(level.powerups[1]);

But i don't think that is the issue. The script_model just won't change...

but anyways the result from level.powerups[0] would be a number. not an string which you need it to be the name of a modeltry just seting the model without all your extra stuff to see if its really the model not the code

Spoiler: click to open...

[close]

When I randomize something, I like to do it like this. Try this maybe?

powerup()
{
       model = random();
       new_powerup = spawn("script_model", level.pl[place].origin);
       new_powerup setmodel(model);
}

random()
{
rand = randomint(3);// 3 is how many things it will randomize, in this case there are 4 things it will randomize
model = undefined;

	if(rand == 0)
	{
         model = "model1";
        }
        if(rand == 1)
	{
         model = "model2";
        }
        if(rand == 2)
	{
         model = "model3";
        }
        if(rand == 3)
	{
         model = "model4";
        }
return model;
}