I posted a pic in the Vue forum called "Too Close To Home".  It is a Star Trek pic with the Enterprise and a Klingon...I have a little phaser blast hitting the klingons wing.   I tried to make an explosion, but im not too happy with it.   I used several terrains mixed together with some glowing volcanic material and some other colors...  but what I think I need is some kind of exploding cloud or clouds.  I do not know how to put a cloud in the scene directly short of an alpha plane, but I dont know...im fishing in the dark here.  WHat would you experts suggest?