Under "File:Preferences" use the pull down menu to go to "3D View Colors" and set "Background" to the one that suits. Thanks for the comments! It's not and exact replica of the one that flew in the 'fifties, it's more of my idea of what a "next step" would have looked like. I'm woking on a more detailed engine at this point and will post a follow up. I haven't done any animation in Carrara yet, but it's on my list. mike