Thanks for all the suggestions - I will give them a try in several different renders and re-post the best here to see what you think... Drawbridge has a good eye!!! The ship is indeed a cross betwen the Sulaco, SW Medical frigate - and 6 other craft.... I don't have a 3d modellling package - and boolean modelling just does my head in. I have followed Rochr's robot lesson a dozen time, and I'm just a drooling case at the end of it. Thanks again for taking the time to post garryts