Thanks Tig, very much appreciated!

Why would Google run to improve Sketchup? It already has very big number of users because of its ingenious interface. I don't think they'll try another product for other features SU doesn't have. At least not soon.SU doesn't have a competition. It is unique, one and only. It is like Volkswagen Beetle, @Last hardware . It was not made for "every year" new profit, like Windows. @Last software was good name for it. It doesn't need improvements besides its golden plugins. Not yet. The only thing that could happen is to move more features (old or new) to Pro version...

Also http://vyonyx.com/category/down/tex/ is great for textures, cut-out people/trees etc.

Thanks Gaieus, as usual on the money. Sketchup is so modestly sophisticated, the more I learn the more I realise I know NOTHING! Thanks Steved

If you divide up the ply's by planar hidden smoothed lines to smaller chunks the performance will increase. My understanding is that the core polygon engine has some inefficient algorithm for large ply's with many holes in them. cheers

Steve, when I opened your SKP file, I got exactly what you see below. I just opened the file and made a screen shot. I agree with Dedmin that your model should be closer to the origin. [image: IoL4_ZoomExtents.jpg] FWIW, you will probably want to fix the reversed faces. They show as blue in your model. [image: 0Qrs_ZoomExtentsfaces.jpg]