sorry for the delay, been laid up the last couple days
quick check of posts and emails and it's back to bed for rest of weekend, such is life

@Genny LOL throw me into overload re: tonemapping & linear lighting
didn't think about the repetitive texture, will give it a try

@Chavfister currently no normal map running, am really still at beginning of this project
will check into XNormal, see what it does, and see how it might help me on this

many thanks for the comments ya'll, will get back to this when I can sit again for any length of time.