Very nice and clean - how I like models - great job

Paint question
 

As cars gets older the clear coat layer over the pigment layer becomes more translucent rather than transparent. Which one of the gazillion settings on the mia_car_paint_phen_x can simulate this? I experimented around with most of the settings but nothing is giving me the effect that I am looking for.

Angles, vectors and all that math stuff I forgot decades ago
 

Is there a way that i can calculate the angle between the surface of normal of a point being sampled and the light(s) illuminating it?

Try looking into the light info node. Also search the maya docs for "Use the Light Info utility". You can get the light direction for any point on a texture. Some simple trig might be necessary, but if you need help on that, just ask.

Edit: Actually thinking about it more, that wouldn't necessarily give you the surface normal, so what you could do is use the Sampler Info node, specifically the facing ratio, and just look through the light (use it as a camera).

Thanks stwert

Edit: It never crossed my mind to use the light as the camera. Sampler Info will work for that. This might just work. Create a dummy shader using the facing ratio and bake it out. Let me experiment with that train of thought.

Some tentative materials for the devil. I'm not quite sure about that "Iceberg white" though. I think the colour charts I found from Plymouth might be slightly off.

Thanks Gen for that little material swatch scene file.

A quick preview before the holidays.

sexy one - can´t wait to see more detailrenders

Thanks, I already have a couple of shots in mind. Busy drafting out the lighting setup for each.

Finally found a gap to spend some time on her.

Teaser shot :)

Looks good pixal.....

Thanks Ben. Busy finishing off the texturing of the interior.

Cars may be hard, but humans are harder to get right! Fortunately, you picked a model that doesn't require a driver!
Did you see this?

Yeah, I'm ready to see this beast! Great model and I'm glad you've taken your time on it. Will be worth the wait...

Thanks,

@xgabrielx, I did have a chance to watch the clip long tome ago when I was busy gathering reference images. Cars are easier but maybe the next project will be Arnie to put behind the wheel.