A bit off topic here now, but as for the chainmail above ...

A while back, while in search of "Mythril" (Mithryl? Mi.. how ever .. ), BB posted an experimental shader for a chainmail, with nice renders and an explanation of how to use it. Maybe it could be of use here, too:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?message_id=3908915&ebot_calc_page#message_3908915

It's a bit down in this thread.