viz.COPY_SHARED_MATERIAL_HINT not working

[tokola]

Hi Jeff,

I've come across this very irritating issue of the viz.COPY_SHARED_MATERIAL_HINT command not working. I have a very simple model and have moved things around just in case, but the command fails to do what it's supposed to (create copies of the same material). Whenever I try to change alpha value of one node, the second one using the second material changes to. Weirdly enough, I've use this in other cases with no problem.

I couldn't attach the model (bigger than 1MB) but here's the simple code:

object = factory.add('models/blue_tanks.osgb')
object.hint(viz.COPY_SHARED_MATERIAL_HINT)
object.alpha(0, 'OilDrop1')

Update: I actually created this with the Inspector from a 3DS model. Running the code on the original model is fine. Eventually, the Inspector does something that renders this command useless. Additionally, it increases the size by 8-10 times more than the original file (attached)! It's kind of strange that WorldViz' own 3D software affects models in such a way. Is there a work around (instead of using 3DS again)?

Thanks!