flyby i checked your latest interpretation of the indexes against the interpretation my program used before i removed the code before the first release of 3ds2vxl because i didn't like the detail TS normals produced. they are extremely close to each other. i believe your research has confirmed that my first impressions were correct all along and now i can publish the info without anyone being able to insult and ridicule me. thankyou.
12 o'clock (front) = 0, 6,12,18,24,30
10 o'clock (front left) = 1, 7,13,19,25,31
8 o'clock (back left) = 2, 8,14,20,26,32
6 o'clock (back) = 3, 9,15,21,27,33
4 o'clock (back right) = 4,10,16,22,28,34
2 o'clock (front right)= 5,11,17,23,29,35
higher numbers mean normal points more upward and lower numbers mean it points more downward.
all of your indexes seem correct according to me
except
i would make bottom back right 10 or 4 instead of 16
i would make top back left 32 or 26 instead 21
also when you wrote left top top i think you meant top back left
and when you wrote right top top i think you meant top back right