In which case ... with the one model you got lucky and the image just mapped to the model in an interesting pattern.

But, you can't guarantee that you'll get a good result using any type of picture texture on a mesh unless it is parametrically mapped.

You can get acceptable results on primitives using cubic or cylindrical mapping where you can hide the seams or where the seamd don't matter so much, but meshes are whole different animals from Bryce primitives, and most of the time, you are taking pot luck unless you create a UV map for the mesh and work within the confines of that map.

Could be worse, could be raining.