Hi, thanks for the replies.

sspikedudley: yes I think your right I should look at more lighting tutorials. I know the basic 3 point lighting set up, but probly need to work on the whole thing generally. It's interesting you say you use mostly 3 point lighting though, I will try messing around with some of those . Does anyone ever use the IBL node or the incandesence channel? I'm just wondering cos the manual mentions it, though you suggest the ambient so I guess you must have tried all those and found ambient the best.

minstrel: thanks I'm glad you like it so far it's good to know wether the overall effect is good or bad. 18MB wow sounds like a massive file. What HDR's would you recommend if i were to buy some?

turbodan: yes I agree with all those. The black windscreen is really to hide the empty inside until i can find some blueprints of the inside of this car lol If anyone knows where i could find those that would really help. I'm interested you mention the hood lines, cud you indicate which part? I assume you mean the edges are not properly smooth curves, I will take a good look at it. Though I'm wondering if this may be the effect of the stretchy HDR image.

cheers,

James