Best way to show duct components beyond insulation

[mdsonline]

I was wondering what the easiest way to make duct components (MVPatrs) the protrude from the duct, such as damper handles/actuators, sample ports, etc... show beyond the insulation.  I'm pretty good with MEP, but have just started using it again, after about 2yrs away.  Our client wants the model & plans to show with insulation (sometimes as much a 6" for the heat exhaust), but it obviously covers up the damper handles, for example, and you are unable to even tell it's there, & turning off the insulation so they show is cheesy & makes it look like something is wrong.

Should I modify the existing mvparts (& any good tutorial on that, out there btw...) or would I be better off creating an MVPart that I can anchor to the damper and/or duct that essentially makes it look like the part is extended beyond the insulation? 

I can't imagine I'm the first person to run across this, how is this problem solved by others?

[Keith.Brown · Accepted solution]

You should modify your existing mvparts in my opinion.  You dampers should have a parametric handle length so that they can be adjusted for any size of insulation.

Joshua Benoist has a nice tutorial at Autodesk University on how to create/modify mvparts.

[mdsonline]

The thank you VERY much - I should have thought about AU in the first place!  That is exactly what I was lookng for!!!