But someday i would really love to be able to achieve it... I've only just started this piece, and i'm looking for tips on how to improve the verisimilitude. Textures are all real basic, so i know they need work...i really want some suggestions on this one.

If it were me, I'd probably cheat and skip over to WOB and D/L Drac's "Top Render" scene and analyze it to see how he does it.

Yep... Lighting and textures are key... Drac's 'top render' is a good place to start - its essentially a light rig for simulated radiosity. There are others about: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~rodv/semidome/ ...and here's an explanation of how it works: http://www.afn.org/~afn07395/Radsimtut/radiosity.htm Garry