Traditionally, when painting most fsx airplanes, the Diffuse Alpha controls reflectivity, the spec controls specular reflection tint, and the spec alpha controls the size of the glint.

 

Now, with the PMDG aircraft, it appears the Diffuse Alpha doesn't really have anything to do with the reflectivity, which is new to me. I've never seen a paint set up like this.

 

Can somebody briefly give me a pointer on how to go about changing the reflectivity for the PMDG---Normally, we would just make the shiny parts a darker shade in the D. Alpha, but I really am not sure how to do this on the PMDG aircraft, as the D. Alpha seems to be assigned to "transparency." I'm not a new painter, but I am new to painting the PMDG 737 and I can't seem to find a good answer to this--just too many posts to wade through. Trying to figure out a way to make a natural metal and I'm not pleased with my results thus far because I have little control over the shineyness.

bump

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/351508-paint-help-chrome-in-ngx/

 

Check this out, may give you the answer you're looking for