Private Function unpackNormal_8_8_8(ByVal packed As UInt32) As vect3
       
        Dim pkz, pky, pkx As Int32
        pkx = CLng(packed) And &HFF Xor 127
        pky = CLng(packed >> 8) And &HFF Xor 127
        pkz = CLng(packed >> 16) And &HFF Xor 127

        Dim x As Single = (pkx)
        Dim y As Single = (pky)
        Dim z As Single = (pkz)

        Dim p As New vect3
        If x > 127 Then
            x = -128 + (x - 128)
        End If
        If y > 127 Then
            y = -128 + (y - 128)
        End If
        If z > 127 Then
            z = -128 + (z - 128)
        End If
        p.x = CSng(x) / 127
        p.y = CSng(y) / 127
        p.z = CSng(z) / 127
        Dim len As Single = Sqrt((p.x ^ 2) + (p.y ^ 2) + (p.z ^ 2))

        'avoid division by 0
        If len = 0.0F Then len = 1.0F
        'len = 1.0
        'reduce to unit size
        p.x = -(p.x / len)
        p.y = -(p.y / len)
        p.z = -(p.z / len)       
        Return p
    End Function