I have set up specularity settings so that They are seen in OpenGL preview.  In other words, the metal parts of a gun I have modeled appears shiny even before rendering.  But a strange thing happens whenever it is parented to the hand.  The shiny metal parts suddenly go flat or have a matte finish.  In both instances, the final render is the same, but I was hoping to have this shine in OpenGL.  I have changed this and that in the PP2 file, but still end up with the same result.  In short, a prop parented to the universe appears shiny in OpenGL, but when parented to a body part, the same prop now appears flat without any specularity.  Is there a fix for this or is this just the way it is?

Doesn't seem to happen on my computer, at least with basic specularity (highlights).

What does your material setting look like?

it doesnt happen to me also.

why do you need specularity in preview mode?

Got delayed a bit.  And I hope I get this right.  Gun on left is prop parented to hand.  Gun on right is a figure parented to right thigh.  Both guns have identical material settings as shown.  Guns have been moved from original positions for illustration purposes.  Why have specularity in preview mode?  I just thought it would have some value when doing animation.

Oh, you're using a Sphere map.  When I try to duplicate this with a prop, I still get the
same appearance when parented or not.

Is the same map running to Translucence?  I can't quite see it from your picture.

Something else to think about, the default preview display style is "USEPARENT".  If the parent's preview display style is something other than "USEPARENT" then it will be applied to the model that you make a child of that actor.

Can you try the same thing but with the second gun in the same position but slightly offset from the first gun. I have found sometimess the light oposition and angle to camera is critical to highlights and reflections.

Both the parent (right hand) and the child (Gun) have the displayMode USEPARENT.  I've tried it in different positions as well.   Oh well, it's no biggie, just thought it strange and hoped there was an easy fix.  But thanks anyway.  I do appreciate your thoughts on it.

 But the "useparent" wont' have any effect un the unparented gun. It is then it's own parent so to speak.

So I think what PJZ is saying is that the parented gun takes the display mode of the hand.

Still odd that it happens to you and not to others. Can't check it myself as I'm rendering an animation, but it certainly IS odd.

After thinking about it some more, the only display mode I can see in use in the pics Kirwyn showed is "TEXTURESHADED" anyway, so I don't think it's that any more.  Must be just some quirk of Poser's OpenGL preview.