Animate dispearing geometery - 3DS Max 7

[abductedmind]

I am trying to create the effect of the membrane progressively disappearing from around a muscle cell. Look at the linked QuickTime video to see where I am headed with it. Currently I am using a Boolean to do the job, but the result is not good. You will see the flickering of faces - arbitrarily disappearing for 1 frame and coming back


http://www.kevint.us/animation_help_needed.zip

What I need is a technique that I can use withing max 7 to get the same effect, only without the flickering. If this is something that I should not be attempting, I would also appreciate that kind of advice as well.

Thanks!