diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/Translator.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/Translator.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..94f22fb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/model/Translator.java
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+//
+// $Id: Rotator.java 132 2007-01-31 22:05:46Z andrzej $
+//
+// Narya library - tools for developing networked games
+// Copyright (C) 2002-2005 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
+// http://www.threerings.net/code/narya/
+//
+// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+// under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
+// by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+// Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+// License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+// Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+
+package com.threerings.jme.model;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+
+import java.util.Properties;
+
+import com.jme.math.Quaternion;
+import com.jme.math.Vector3f;
+import com.jme.scene.Controller;
+import com.jme.scene.Spatial;
+import com.jme.util.export.JMEExporter;
+import com.jme.util.export.JMEImporter;
+import com.jme.util.export.InputCapsule;
+import com.jme.util.export.OutputCapsule;
+
+import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
+
+import com.threerings.jme.Log;
+import com.threerings.jme.util.JmeUtil;
+
+/**
+ * A procedural animation that moves a node along a straight line at a constant velocity (then
+ * either repeats or moves it in the other direction).
+ */
+public class Translator extends ModelController
+{
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public void configure (Properties props, Spatial target)
+    {
+        super.configure(props, target);
+        _from = JmeUtil.parseVector3f(props.getProperty("from", "0, 0, 0"));
+        _to = JmeUtil.parseVector3f(props.getProperty("to", "10, 0, 0"));
+        _duration = Float.parseFloat(props.getProperty("duration", "1"));
+        _repeatType = JmeUtil.parseRepeatType(props.getProperty("repeat_type"),
+            Controller.RT_WRAP);
+    }
+    
+    // documentation inherited
+    public void update (float time)
+    {
+        if (!isActive()) {
+            return;
+        }
+        _elapsed += (time / _duration);
+        float alpha;
+        if (_repeatType == Controller.RT_CLAMP) {
+            alpha = Math.min(_elapsed, 1f);
+        } else if (_repeatType == Controller.RT_WRAP) {
+            alpha = (_elapsed - (int)_elapsed);
+        } else { // _repeatType == Controller.RT_CYCLE
+            int ipart = (int)_elapsed;
+            float fpart = (_elapsed - ipart);
+            alpha = (ipart % 2 == 0) ? fpart : (1f - fpart);
+        }
+        _target.getLocalTranslation().interpolate(_from, _to, alpha);
+    }
+    
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public Controller putClone (
+        Controller store, Model.CloneCreator properties)
+    {
+        Translator tstore;
+        if (store == null) {
+            tstore = new Translator();
+        } else {
+            tstore = (Translator)store;
+        }
+        super.putClone(tstore, properties);
+        tstore._from = _from;
+        tstore._to = _to;
+        tstore._duration = _duration;
+        tstore._repeatType = _repeatType;
+        return tstore;
+    }
+    
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public void read (JMEImporter im)
+        throws IOException
+    {
+        super.read(im);
+        InputCapsule capsule = im.getCapsule(this);
+        _from = (Vector3f)capsule.readSavable("from", null);
+        _to = (Vector3f)capsule.readSavable("to", null);
+        _duration = capsule.readFloat("duration", 1f);
+        _repeatType = capsule.readInt("repeatType", Controller.RT_WRAP);
+    }
+    
+    @Override // documentation inherited
+    public void write (JMEExporter ex)
+        throws IOException
+    {
+        super.write(ex);
+        OutputCapsule capsule = ex.getCapsule(this);
+        capsule.write(_from, "from", null);
+        capsule.write(_to, "to", null);
+        capsule.write(_duration, "duration", 1f);
+        capsule.write(_repeatType, "repeatType", Controller.RT_WRAP);
+    }
+    
+    /** The beginning and end of the path. */
+    protected Vector3f _from, _to;
+    
+    /** The duration of the path. */
+    protected float _duration;
+    
+    /** What to do after reaching the destination. */
+    protected int _repeatType;
+    
+    /** The accumulated amount of time elapsed. */
+    protected transient float _elapsed;
+    
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1;
+}
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/util/JmeUtil.java b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/util/JmeUtil.java
index 51503f34..9dfdbc56 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/jme/util/JmeUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/jme/util/JmeUtil.java
@@ -88,25 +88,38 @@ public class JmeUtil
      */
     public static Vector3f parseAxis (String axis)
     {
-        if (axis == null) {
-            return null;
-        }
-        if (axis.equalsIgnoreCase("x")) {
+        if ("x".equalsIgnoreCase(axis)) {
             return Vector3f.UNIT_X;
-        } else if (axis.equalsIgnoreCase("y")) {
+        } else if ("y".equalsIgnoreCase(axis)) {
             return Vector3f.UNIT_Y;
-        } else if (axis.equalsIgnoreCase("z")) {
+        } else if ("z".equalsIgnoreCase(axis)) {
             return Vector3f.UNIT_Z;
-        }
-        float[] vals = StringUtil.parseFloatArray(axis);
-        if (vals != null && vals.length == 3) {
-            return new Vector3f(vals[0], vals[1], vals[2]).normalizeLocal();
         } else {
-            Log.warning("Invalid axis [axis=" + axis + "].");
-            return null;
+            Vector3f vector = parseVector3f(axis);
+            if (vector != null) {
+                vector.normalizeLocal();
+            }
+            return vector;
         }
     }
     
+    /**
+     * Attempts to parse a string containing three comma-delimited values and return a
+     * {@link Vector3f}.
+     */
+    public static Vector3f parseVector3f (String vector)
+    {
+        if (vector != null) {
+            float[] vals = StringUtil.parseFloatArray(vector);
+            if (vals != null && vals.length == 3) {
+                return new Vector3f(vals[0], vals[1], vals[2]);
+            } else {
+                Log.warning("Invalid vector [vector=" + vector + "].");
+            }
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+    
     /**
      * Attempts to parse a string describing one of the repeat types defined in {@link Controller}:
      * "clamp", "cycle", or "wrap".  Will return the specified default if the type is