Very interesting results.  I'm glad that you were able to reproduce my times which (hopefully) proves I'm not crazy.

I also completely understand the need to not donate your computer to rendering for days on end.  The one way I have gotten around it is to set C to render only on one head and then the computer is useable during normal usage.  That's a big waste though since it will extend times painfully.

As you can see, the model I built is extraordinarily simple (It's a total hack job).  It's what happens when you need to build something in 90 minutes.  The lighting was the focus of the exercise, not the model and that's how it worked out.

I find it very strange that the render times increased so dramatically!  I am guessing it's actually the textures and not the meshes.

hopefully, you can get what you're after and realize your final product with something that is worthy of your Carrara user level!

I am looking forward to the final result!

Thanks for the comment on the ftl1 image.  Printed huge, the micro details I put into that image will show up.  It's an insane scene.

-Kix