I tried to rendering my chest with BlockRendererDispatcher. But that doesn't work.

 

BlockModelShapes shape = Minecraft.getMinecraft().getBlockRendererDispatcher().getBlockModelShapes();

shape.registerBuiltInBlocks(new Block[] {DionaBlocks.diona_ancient_chest} );

 

I don't think I can help, although I question why you're using BlockRendererDispatcher and not something like what worked fro me (for a much simpler block):

 

renderItem.getItemModelMesher().register(Item.getItemFromBlock(brickBlock), 0, new ModelResourceLocation(Testmod01.MODID + ":" + ((BlockBrick)brickBlock).getName(), "brickBlock"));

    Minecraft.getMinecraft().getRenderItem().getItemModelMesher().register(Item.getItemFromBlock(brickBlock),0, new ModelResourceLocation(Testmod01.MODID+":"+ ((BlockBrick)brickBlock).getName(), "inventory"));

   

 

But can you share your custom chest code for me to study?  I'm trying to learn to make a shelf and do not know where to start.  PM, email, or post?

 

UPDATE: ok the code I pasted above totally doesn't work for the chest-like item I'm trying to create because I have extended the BlockContainer class instead of the Block class and I'm trying to figure that out now.