I'm very amazed when I look around in the forum, and see the things some of you have maded... and I hope some time in the near furture I can do the same... but now when I'm strucling with this model, it sometimes feel like I'm lightyears behind you, and it may take some time before I can produce a rendering of it that makes it look more real... I'm very newbie regarding Maya and the 3d area... I feel the same way. It just takes time my friend. About the black shader, what if you added a light, or 2, of some sort, wouldnt that make it not so 'black'?