cool model ..
About the shadow thing Mike is talking about, here's the solution if you are using stuff like CPS or PolyProxy:
Select your base object, go to the attribute editor, in the Render stats roll out deselect the Recieve shadows parameter... and render again, and you should see the wierd shadow no more
Carsten Lind
Senior 3D Artist,
Maya Software Manager & Maya Instructor
LEGO Systems A/S