Animation in GTK

[CyborgHead netscape net]

Hi
    I am writing a game and have to use GTK. THe game is similar to Robot Battle for Windows (www.RobotBattle.com) On screen there are up to 6 tanks, numerous bullets, mines and health kits. The graphics are very simple, looking from above. 
    I tried numerous ways to program the simple amimation needed to represent the battle between the robots. My first was was as follows

//Colour Background 
gdk_gc_set_foreground( plot_gc , color + 0 );        
gdk_draw_polygon( GTK_WIDGET(work_area)->window, plot_gc, fillin, map_vertices, 4);
//Color Tank
gdk_gc_set_foreground( plot_gc , color + 2 );
gdk_draw_polygon( GTK_WIDGET(work_area)->window, plot_gc, fillin, tank, 4);
//Color Gun
gdk_gc_set_foreground( plot_gc , color + 3 );
gdk_draw_polygon( GTK_WIDGET(work_area)->window, plot_gc, TRUE, gun, 4);
    
//Draw Wheels
gdk_gc_set_foreground( plot_gc , color + 1 );
gdk_draw_polygon( GTK_WIDGET(work_area)->window, plot_gc, TRUE, wheel1,4);
gdk_gc_set_foreground( plot_gc , color + 1 );
gdk_draw_polygon( GTK_WIDGET(work_area)->window, plot_gc, TRUE,wheel2,4);
gdk_colormap_free_colors( colormap, color, 4 );

This doesn't work, it flickers continully.
I then tried to place the onscreen image in a pixmap, but this is to slow. I think that pixmaps are only supposed to be used for static images, not realtime movement. The position if the tanks is updated many times a second by a idle function.

Does anyone know how to get smooth fast animation using GTK. It does not have to look great, just once you can see what is going on.

Thanks
Ciaran
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