Thanks for all the tips-got one more problem.  I'm trying to create a  grate type staircase for a spaceship (ship to surface).  I can (using the info above) create a black mesh.  However, I would like a colored one, can that be done?  What I have right now is a 2d rectangle black diagonal lines on a white background .jpg injected into the transparency channel>texture map. Looks great black.  Jan