hello
since few time i'm practicing material... as a MEP guy i think that's outstanding!! 
well, i'm trying to understand how some aprameter work in the material panel.... i did several tests on image fade and glossiness but i didn't noticed any difference between the 20-50-100% glossiness (or image fade) material I created
may be my rendering with materials didn't work efficently?
i tried to find some tutorials about material on internet (not video, text!) but i didn't find anything interesting
do you know where i can find interesting thread/posts/links dealing zbout this subject?
Phil