diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/Model.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/Model.java
index 98a3346cc..4ad7fb71b 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/Model.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/Model.java
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import com.samskivert.util.ObserverList;
 
 import com.jme.math.Quaternion;
 import com.jme.math.Vector3f;
+import com.jme.renderer.CloneCreator;
 import com.jme.scene.Controller;
 import com.jme.scene.Spatial;
 
@@ -89,6 +90,25 @@ public class Model extends ModelNode
         /** The animation transforms (one transform per target per frame). */
         public transient Transform[][] transforms;
         
+        /**
+         * Rebinds this animation for a prototype instance.
+         *
+         * @param pnodes a mapping from prototype nodes to instance nodes
+         */
+        public Animation rebind (HashMap pnodes)
+        {
+            Animation anim = new Animation();
+            anim.frameRate = frameRate;
+            anim.repeatType = repeatType;
+            anim.transforms = transforms;
+            anim.transformTargets = new Spatial[transformTargets.length];
+            for (int ii = 0; ii < transformTargets.length; ii++) {
+                anim.transformTargets[ii] =
+                    (Spatial)pnodes.get(transformTargets[ii]);
+            }
+            return anim;
+        }
+        
         private void writeObject (ObjectOutputStream out)
             throws IOException
         {
@@ -234,7 +254,8 @@ public class Model extends ModelNode
     }
     
     /**
-     * Adds an animation to the model's library.
+     * Adds an animation to the model's library.  This should only be called by
+     * the model compiler.
      */
     public void addAnimation (String name, Animation anim)
     {
@@ -249,6 +270,9 @@ public class Model extends ModelNode
      */
     public String[] getAnimations ()
     {
+        if (_prototype != null) {
+            return _prototype.getAnimations();
+        }
         return (_anims == null) ? new String[0] :
             _anims.keySet().toArray(new String[_anims.size()]);
     }
@@ -261,17 +285,21 @@ public class Model extends ModelNode
         if (_anim != null) {
             stopAnimation();
         }
-        _anim = _anims.get(name);
-        if (_anim == null) {
-            Log.warning("Requested unknown animation [name=" +
-                name + "].");
+        Animation anim = _anims.get(name);
+        if (anim != null) {
+            startAnimation(name, anim);
             return;
         }
-        _animName = name;
-        _fidx = 0;
-        _nidx = 1;
-        _fdir = +1;
-        _elapsed = 0f;
+        if (_prototype != null) {
+            Animation panim = _prototype._anims.get(name);
+            if (panim != null) {
+                _anims.put(name, anim = panim.rebind(_pnodes));
+                startAnimation(name, anim);
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+        Log.warning("Requested unknown animation [name=" +
+            name + "].");
     }
     
     /**
@@ -353,6 +381,55 @@ public class Model extends ModelNode
         _props = (Properties)in.readObject();
         _anims = (HashMap<String, Animation>)in.readObject();
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates and returns a new instance of this model.
+     */    
+    public Model createInstance ()
+    {
+        if (_prototype != null) {
+            return _prototype.createInstance();
+        }
+        if (_ccreator == null) {
+            // allow adding and removing properties at any time
+            _ccreator = new CloneCreator(this) {
+                public void addProperty (String name) {
+                    props.put(name, Boolean.TRUE);
+                }
+                public void removeProperty (String name) {
+                    props.remove(name);
+                }
+            };
+            _ccreator.addProperty("vertices");
+            _ccreator.addProperty("colors");
+            _ccreator.addProperty("normals");
+            _ccreator.addProperty("texcoords");
+            _ccreator.addProperty("vboinfo");
+            _ccreator.addProperty("indices");
+            _ccreator.addProperty("obbtree");
+            _ccreator.addProperty("displaylistid");
+            _ccreator.addProperty("bound");
+        }
+        return (Model)_ccreator.createCopy();
+    }
+
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public Spatial putClone (Spatial store, CloneCreator properties)
+    {
+        Model mstore;
+        if (store == null) {
+            mstore = new Model(getName(), _props);
+        } else {
+            mstore = (Model)store;
+        }
+        super.putClone(mstore, properties);
+        mstore._prototype = this;
+        if (_anims != null) {
+            mstore._anims = new HashMap<String, Animation>();
+        }
+        mstore._pnodes = properties.originalToCopy;
+        return mstore;
+    }
     
     @Override // documentation inherited
     public void updateWorldData (float time)
@@ -364,6 +441,19 @@ public class Model extends ModelNode
         // update children
         super.updateWorldData(time);
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Starts the supplied animation.
+     */
+    protected void startAnimation (String name, Animation anim)
+    {
+        _anim = anim;
+        _animName = name;
+        _fidx = 0;
+        _nidx = 1;
+        _fdir = +1;
+        _elapsed = 0f;
+    }
     
     /**
      * Updates the model's state according to the current animation.
@@ -415,6 +505,18 @@ public class Model extends ModelNode
         }
     }
     
+    /** A reference to the prototype, or <code>null</code> if this is a
+     * prototype. */
+    protected Model _prototype;
+    
+    /** For prototype models, a customized clone creator used to generate
+     * instances. */
+    protected CloneCreator _ccreator;
+    
+    /** For instances, maps prototype nodes to their corresponding instance
+     * nodes. */
+    protected HashMap _pnodes;
+    
     /** The model properties. */
     protected Properties _props;
     
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelMesh.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelMesh.java
index 7d9a5f081..bf529ba7a 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelMesh.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelMesh.java
@@ -39,8 +39,12 @@ import com.jme.bounding.BoundingBox;
 import com.jme.bounding.BoundingSphere;
 import com.jme.math.Quaternion;
 import com.jme.math.Vector3f;
+import com.jme.renderer.CloneCreator;
 import com.jme.renderer.Renderer;
+import com.jme.scene.SharedMesh;
+import com.jme.scene.Spatial;
 import com.jme.scene.TriMesh;
+import com.jme.scene.VBOInfo;
 import com.jme.scene.state.AlphaState;
 import com.jme.scene.state.CullState;
 import com.jme.scene.state.TextureState;
@@ -155,6 +159,26 @@ public class ModelMesh extends TriMesh
         _textureBufferSize = (textures == null) ? 0 : textures.capacity();
     }
 
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public Spatial putClone (Spatial store, CloneCreator properties)
+    {
+        ModelMesh mstore;
+        if (store == null) {
+            mstore = new ModelMesh(getName());
+        } else {
+            mstore = (ModelMesh)store;
+        }
+        super.putClone(mstore, properties);
+        if (properties.isSet("displaylistid")) {
+            mstore.batch.setDisplayListID(getDisplayListID());
+        }
+        if (properties.isSet("bound")) {
+            mstore.setModelBound(getModelBound());
+        }
+        mstore._texture = _texture;
+        return mstore;
+    }
+    
     // documentation inherited from interface Externalizable
     public void writeExternal (ObjectOutput out)
         throws IOException
@@ -199,6 +223,20 @@ public class ModelMesh extends TriMesh
         // no-op
     }
     
+    // documentation inherited from interface ModelSpatial
+    public void lockStaticMeshes (
+        Renderer renderer, boolean useVBOs, boolean useDisplayLists)
+    {
+        if (useVBOs && renderer.supportsVBO()) {
+            VBOInfo vboinfo = new VBOInfo(true);
+            vboinfo.setVBOIndexEnabled(true);
+            setVBOInfo(vboinfo);
+            
+        } else if (useDisplayLists) {
+            lockMeshes(renderer);
+        }
+    }
+    
     // documentation inherited from interface ModelSpatial
     public void resolveTextures (TextureProvider tprov)
     {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelNode.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelNode.java
index 52f26ddd7..7aed912ed 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelNode.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelNode.java
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import com.jme.math.Matrix4f;
 import com.jme.math.Quaternion;
 import com.jme.math.Vector3f;
+import com.jme.renderer.CloneCreator;
+import com.jme.renderer.Renderer;
 import com.jme.scene.Node;
 import com.jme.scene.Spatial;
 
@@ -70,17 +72,6 @@ public class ModelNode extends Node
         return _modelTransform;
     }
     
-    // documentation inherited from interface ModelSpatial
-    public void setReferenceTransforms ()
-    {
-        updateWorldVectors();
-        for (Object child : getChildren()) {
-            if (child instanceof ModelSpatial) {
-                ((ModelSpatial)child).setReferenceTransforms();
-            }       
-        }
-    }
-    
     @Override // documentation inherited
     public void updateWorldVectors ()
     {
@@ -96,6 +87,19 @@ public class ModelNode extends Node
         }
     }
     
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public Spatial putClone (Spatial store, CloneCreator properties)
+    {
+        ModelNode mstore;
+        if (store == null) {
+            mstore = new ModelNode(getName());
+        } else {
+            mstore = (ModelNode)store;
+        }
+        super.putClone(mstore, properties);
+        return mstore;
+    }
+    
     // documentation inherited from interface Externalizable
     public void writeExternal (ObjectOutput out)
         throws IOException
@@ -121,6 +125,29 @@ public class ModelNode extends Node
         }
     }
     
+    // documentation inherited from interface ModelSpatial
+    public void setReferenceTransforms ()
+    {
+        updateWorldVectors();
+        for (Object child : getChildren()) {
+            if (child instanceof ModelSpatial) {
+                ((ModelSpatial)child).setReferenceTransforms();
+            }       
+        }
+    }
+    
+    // documentation inherited from interface ModelSpatial
+    public void lockStaticMeshes (
+        Renderer renderer, boolean useVBOs, boolean useDisplayLists)
+    {
+        for (Object child : getChildren()) {
+            if (child instanceof ModelSpatial) {
+                ((ModelSpatial)child).lockStaticMeshes(renderer, useVBOs,
+                    useDisplayLists);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    
     // documentation inherited from interface ModelSpatial
     public void resolveTextures (TextureProvider tprov)
     {
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelSpatial.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelSpatial.java
index 84c0365d3..d93c18357 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelSpatial.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/ModelSpatial.java
@@ -27,7 +27,11 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.nio.MappedByteBuffer;
 import java.nio.channels.FileChannel;
 
+import java.util.HashMap;
+
 import com.jme.math.Matrix4f;
+import com.jme.renderer.Renderer;
+import com.jme.scene.Spatial;
 
 /**
  * Contains method common to both {@link ModelNode}s and {@link ModelMesh}es.
@@ -39,6 +43,17 @@ public interface ModelSpatial
      */
     public void setReferenceTransforms ();
 
+    /**
+     * Recursively compiles any static meshes to vertex buffer objects (VBOs)
+     * or display lists.
+     *
+     * @param useVBOs if true, use VBOs if the graphics card supports them
+     * @param useDisplayLists if true and not using VBOs, compile static
+     * objects to display lists
+     */
+    public void lockStaticMeshes (
+        Renderer renderer, boolean useVBOs, boolean useDisplayLists);
+    
     /**
      * Recursively resolves texture references using the given provider.
      */
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/SkinMesh.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/SkinMesh.java
index 12619390e..8f648fa09 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/SkinMesh.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/SkinMesh.java
@@ -30,8 +30,14 @@ import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.nio.FloatBuffer;
 import java.nio.IntBuffer;
 
+import java.util.HashMap;
+
 import com.jme.math.Matrix4f;
 import com.jme.math.Vector3f;
+import com.jme.renderer.CloneCreator;
+import com.jme.renderer.Renderer;
+import com.jme.scene.Spatial;
+import com.jme.scene.VBOInfo;
 import com.jme.util.geom.BufferUtils;
 
 import com.threerings.jme.Log;
@@ -60,6 +66,24 @@ public class SkinMesh extends ModelMesh
         /** The inverses of the bones' mesh space reference transforms. */
         public transient Matrix4f[] invRefTransforms;
         
+        /**
+         * Rebinds this weight group for a prototype instance.
+         *
+         * @param pnodes a mapping from prototype nodes to instance nodes
+         */
+        public WeightGroup rebind (HashMap pnodes)
+        {
+            WeightGroup group = new WeightGroup();
+            group.indices = indices;
+            group.weights = weights;
+            group.invRefTransforms = invRefTransforms;
+            group.bones = new ModelNode[bones.length];
+            for (int ii = 0; ii < bones.length; ii++) {
+                group.bones[ii] = (ModelNode)pnodes.get(bones[ii]);
+            }
+            return group;
+        }
+        
         private static final long serialVersionUID = 1;
     }
     
@@ -107,6 +131,32 @@ public class SkinMesh extends ModelMesh
         setNormalBuffer(BufferUtils.clone(_onbuf = getNormalBuffer()));
     }
     
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public Spatial putClone (Spatial store, CloneCreator properties)
+    {
+        SkinMesh mstore;
+        if (store == null) {
+            mstore = new SkinMesh(getName());
+        } else {
+            mstore = (SkinMesh)store;
+        }
+        properties.removeProperty("vertices");
+        properties.removeProperty("normals");
+        properties.removeProperty("displaylistid");
+        super.putClone(mstore, properties);
+        properties.addProperty("vertices");
+        properties.addProperty("normals");
+        properties.addProperty("displaylistid");
+        mstore._weightGroups = new WeightGroup[_weightGroups.length];
+        for (int ii = 0; ii < _weightGroups.length; ii++) {
+            mstore._weightGroups[ii] =
+                _weightGroups[ii].rebind(properties.originalToCopy);
+        }
+        mstore._ovbuf = _ovbuf;
+        mstore._onbuf = _onbuf;
+        return mstore;
+    }
+    
     @Override // documentation inherited
     public void writeExternal (ObjectOutput out)
         throws IOException
@@ -138,6 +188,20 @@ public class SkinMesh extends ModelMesh
         }
     }
     
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public void lockStaticMeshes (
+        Renderer renderer, boolean useVBOs, boolean useDisplayLists)
+    {
+        // we can use VBOs for color, texture, and indices
+        if (useVBOs && renderer.supportsVBO()) {
+            VBOInfo vboinfo = new VBOInfo(false);
+            vboinfo.setVBOColorEnabled(true);
+            vboinfo.setVBOTextureEnabled(true);
+            vboinfo.setVBOIndexEnabled(true);
+            setVBOInfo(vboinfo);
+        }
+    }
+    
     @Override // documentation inherited
     public void updateWorldVectors ()
     {
@@ -197,9 +261,9 @@ public class SkinMesh extends ModelMesh
                     xform = _transforms[kk];
                     weight = weights[ww++];
                     _vertex.addLocal(
-                        xform.mult(_overtex, _tmp).mult(weight));
+                        xform.mult(_overtex, _tmp).multLocal(weight));
                     _normal.addLocal(
-                        xform.multAcross(_onormal, _tmp).mult(weight));
+                        xform.multAcross(_onormal, _tmp).multLocal(weight));
                 }
                 BufferUtils.setInBuffer(_vertex, vbuf, idx);
                 BufferUtils.setInBuffer(_normal, nbuf, idx);
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelDef.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelDef.java
index bfd6ce504..5d7867879 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelDef.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelDef.java
@@ -258,13 +258,20 @@ public class ModelDef
     /** A vertex influenced by a number of bones. */
     public static class SkinVertex extends Vertex
     {
-        /** The bones influencing the vertex. */
-        public ArrayList<BoneWeight> boneWeights = new ArrayList<BoneWeight>();
+        /** The bones influencing the vertex, mapped by name. */
+        public HashMap<String, BoneWeight> boneWeights =
+            new HashMap<String, BoneWeight>();
         
         public void addBoneWeight (BoneWeight weight)
         {
-            if (weight.weight > 0f) {
-                boneWeights.add(weight);
+            if (weight.weight == 0f) {
+                return;
+            }
+            BoneWeight bweight = boneWeights.get(weight.bone);
+            if (bweight != null) {
+                bweight.weight += weight.weight;
+            } else {
+                boneWeights.put(weight.bone, weight);
             }
         }
         
@@ -272,10 +279,13 @@ public class ModelDef
         public HashSet<ModelNode> getBones (HashMap<String, Spatial> nodes)
         {
             HashSet<ModelNode> bones = new HashSet<ModelNode>();
-            for (BoneWeight bweight : boneWeights) {
-                Spatial node = nodes.get(bweight.bone);
+            for (String bone : boneWeights.keySet()) {
+                Spatial node = nodes.get(bone);
                 if (node instanceof ModelNode) {
                     bones.add((ModelNode)node);
+                } else {
+                    Log.warning("Missing or invalid bone for bone weight " +
+                        "[bone=" + bone + "].");
                 }
             }
             return bones;
@@ -284,13 +294,8 @@ public class ModelDef
         /** Returns the weight of the given bone. */
         public float getWeight (ModelNode bone)
         {
-            String name = bone.getName();
-            for (BoneWeight bweight : boneWeights) {
-                if (bweight.bone.equals(name)) {
-                    return bweight.weight;
-                }
-            }
-            return 0f;
+            BoneWeight bweight = boneWeights.get(bone.getName());
+            return (bweight == null) ? 0f : bweight.weight;
         }
     }
     
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelViewer.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelViewer.java
index 7838c4bff..951045e29 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelViewer.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/tools/ModelViewer.java
@@ -360,6 +360,7 @@ public class ModelViewer extends JmeCanvasApp
             _ctx.getGeometry().detachChild(_model);
         }
         _ctx.getGeometry().attachChild(_model = model);
+        _model.lockStaticMeshes(_ctx.getRenderer(), true, true);
         
         // resolve the textures from the file's directory
         final File dir = file.getParentFile();