Thank you again for the ideas. Yes, now that I think about it, it only makes sense that PFX is occluded by geometry.
Right now I'm having some luck (albeit a hassle) to create a very long NURBS cylinder that is tapered. Then adding a long joint chain (like you would an animal's tail). Smooth binding them together. Creating a IK Spline handle. Then Having the control curve attach to and flow with my path curve. That way the geometry doesn't become so deformed. It's actually working pretty well. I just cringe thinking about the complexity of changing something when the client inevitably needs to :(
Chris Smith
http://www.sugarfilmproduction.com
