I was just wondering if wether or not you could right click and swap the texture of the item, or if you have to create a totally different item and just replace it.

In what version? 1.8 It will be very complicated, 1.7.10 you can change the metadata or an NBT Tag onItemUse and then with the ItemStack sensitive getIcon method return one depending upon the NBT Tag.

Hi

 

This tutorial example might help

https://github.com/TheGreyGhost/MinecraftByExample/blob/master/src/main/java/minecraftbyexample/mbe11_item_variants/Notes.txt

Every time  you use the item, it changes its texture (it's a bottle that you gradually drink empty)

 

Alternatively you can also use ISmartItemModel.

 

-TGG

its for 1.7

In 1.7 just change the icon you return from Item.getIconFromDamage(), should work fine.

 

Alternatively - IItemRenderer is your friend.  You can render anything you want with that.

 

-TGG

ty