What could be improved for you?

Well, mainly I think the modelling needs to be brought in line with some of the new sub-division modelling packages out there but then I believe that V9 is addressing that. I haven't tried the public beta yet as I can't afford any possible down time but it looks cool. I also think the rendering speed is slow compared to other packages but then I get around that with FPrime. I'd also like to see a button added that I can press to do the whole damn job while I sit out in the garden! Surely that's not too much to ask?

What spec machine(s) are you using it on at the moment?

I am currently using a Quad G5 Mac with 4.5Gig Ram and I love it. The very best thing is that I never have to switch on my PC these days and so never have to deal with Windows. That's a godsend.

Are there any plug-ins you wouldn't be without?

Yes. I couldn't do my job without FPrime from Worley and I wouldn't want to live without the other Worley plugins too. I use them all pretty much on a daily basis. A lot of the plugins I used to use are now integrated into Lightwave 8.5 and so I don't need to get them as extras. I do like Darktree for textures and also IFW textures.

In your opinion, should LightWave 3D stay separated or become integrated?

Definitely for me it should stay separate. If I had the renderer right there to play with while I was modelling I'd never get anything done. I'd keep building a bit then seeing what it looked like rendered and with different lighting etc. I much prefer to get the modelling done, then move on to rendering.

How did you come up with the idea for Bonkers Beasts?

I came up with the idea for the book when I used to make up silly poems for my son when he was 5 or 6. I would make them up on the spur of the moment to make him laugh. Most of them ended up being about animals and at some point he suggested that I draw them. I used to go around with a notebook and whenever I had an idea for a beast I would sketch it down and come up with a poem to go with it. The rhymes were the original catalyst for the beasts but after the first two or three I kind of came up with the animals first and then the rhyme.
The rest is history as they say!

How old is your son now?

My son is now nearly 13 and regards the book as way too young for him. I think he likes the animals though.