diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelMesh.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelMesh.java
index 9432df14f..13836f120 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelMesh.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelMesh.java
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ import com.jme.scene.state.CullState;
 import com.jme.scene.state.TextureState;
 import com.jme.scene.state.ZBufferState;
 import com.jme.system.DisplaySystem;
+import com.jme.util.geom.BufferUtils;
 
 import com.threerings.jme.Log;
 
@@ -138,6 +139,22 @@ public class ModelMesh extends TriMesh
         }
     }
     
+    /**
+     * Adjusts the vertices and the transform of the mesh so that the mesh's
+     * position lies at the center of its bounding volume.
+     */
+    public void centerVertices ()
+    {
+        Vector3f offset = getLocalTranslation().subtract(
+            getModelBound().getCenter());
+        FloatBuffer vbuf = getVertexBuffer();
+        for (int ii = 0, nn = getVertexCount(); ii < nn; ii++) {
+            BufferUtils.addInBuffer(offset, vbuf, ii);
+        }
+        getLocalTranslation().subtractLocal(offset);
+        getModelBound().getCenter().zero();
+    }
+    
     @Override // documentation inherited
     public void reconstruct (
         FloatBuffer vertices, FloatBuffer normals, FloatBuffer colors,
@@ -164,7 +181,7 @@ public class ModelMesh extends TriMesh
         _colorBufferSize = (colors == null) ? 0 : colors.capacity();
         _textureBufferSize = (textures == null) ? 0 : textures.capacity();
     }
-
+    
     @Override // documentation inherited
     public Spatial putClone (Spatial store, CloneCreator properties)
     {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/SkinMesh.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/SkinMesh.java
index c54d5c344..70fb521a5 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/SkinMesh.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/SkinMesh.java
@@ -131,6 +131,15 @@ public class SkinMesh extends ModelMesh
         setNormalBuffer(BufferUtils.clone(_onbuf = getNormalBuffer()));
     }
     
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public void centerVertices ()
+    {
+        super.centerVertices();
+        _ovbuf.rewind();
+        getVertexBuffer().rewind();
+        _ovbuf.put(getVertexBuffer());
+    }
+    
     @Override // documentation inherited
     public Spatial putClone (Spatial store, CloneCreator properties)
     {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelDef.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelDef.java
index d660e8101..67ca5c887 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelDef.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelDef.java
@@ -176,6 +176,13 @@ public class ModelDef
                     offsetScale[2]);
             }
             
+            // make sure texture is just a filename
+            int sidx = (texture == null) ? -1 :
+                Math.max(texture.lastIndexOf('/'), texture.lastIndexOf('\\'));
+            if (sidx != -1) {
+                texture = texture.substring(sidx + 1);
+            }
+            
             // configure using properties
             _mesh.configure(solid, texture, transparent, props);
             
@@ -198,6 +205,9 @@ public class ModelDef
                 ibuf.put(indices.get(ii));
             }
             _mesh.reconstruct(vbbuf, nbbuf, null, tbbuf, ibbuf);
+            
+            // set the mesh's origin to the center of its bounding box
+            _mesh.centerVertices();
         }
         
         /** The mesh that contains the actual geometry. */