Thanks for all of the advice. I think I'm going to scale down my ambitions to a very basic level and then try to work my way up little by little. While I wasn't trying to model a person or anything of that complexity, maybe I need to slow down a bit before I start trying to run.

I'll keep hacking at it, I suppose.

I understand what you mean about sticking to one program and I'm trying to do just that. I can also understand about the need to have a feel for things. Like I said, I don't claim to be an artist but I figured I could get some halfway decent results if I had reference materials. I won't stop practicing but I'm getting a bit frustrated at my lack of progress.

Athlon XP 2000+ 512 DDR RAM GeForce 3 Ti 200 OCd to 230 Core, 520 Memory 19" Monitor Using Win2k (You really shouldn't be using anything else ;) )

I'm just a dumb n00b so I dont think I'll help much but I think you are not looking for a spline-object remake but an actual light object that bounces off reflective surfaces and is visible due to particles in the air. I think there is a tube-light plug-in from Digitical Carvers Guild that might just do the trick though I'm not sure cuz I've never used it :p. Anyways, good luck.

Cool!! Thanks

I'm not running from the Vertex Modeler and I have a good understanding of how to manipulate vertices, lines and polys but its the simpler things that get to me.

Like I stated, a simple lathe goes wrong everytime I try it. I tried using different shapes to lathe but it still messed up. And there are other little things as well that make me go nuts because I see the pictures here and all I wonder is how much hassle these people had to go through to get it done right.

I'm still gonna stick to Carrara and I'll be one of the first in line to buy Carrara 2 if it ever comes out even if it only promises to be a little more stable then the first. I just gotta learn some work-arounds I guess.

Also, its nice to see the support some of you guys give this product and thats one of the reasons why I'm sticking to it. Carrara seems to have a user-base made that is made up of very enthusiastic people.

I don't want to avoid the Vertex Modeler. Instead, I want to experiment more in it. I don't think a picture is necessary for my problems since its only a small bug out of many but I guess I just need to learn more ways of getting around the bugs.

Well, looks like it wont affect much after all. Thanks for the info guys. Oh yeah, and I backed out on the GeForce3. Its too pricey so I figured ill buy a GeForce2 Pro instead. I already paid for it, now it just has to arrive in the mail...