diff --git a/src/ATC/AIEntity.hxx b/src/ATC/AIEntity.hxx
index 1c8afdc9e..17c62b0c6 100644
--- a/src/ATC/AIEntity.hxx
+++ b/src/ATC/AIEntity.hxx
@@ -21,11 +21,14 @@
 #ifndef _FG_AIEntity_HXX
 #define _FG_AIEntity_HXX
 
-#include <Model/model.hxx>
 #include <plib/sg.h>
 #include <plib/ssg.h>
+
 #include <simgear/math/point3d.hxx>
 
+#include <Model/model.hxx>
+#include <Model/placement.hxx>
+
 
 /*****************************************************************
 *
diff --git a/src/ATC/AILocalTraffic.cxx b/src/ATC/AILocalTraffic.cxx
index e6667699b..7cf30c5f3 100644
--- a/src/ATC/AILocalTraffic.cxx
+++ b/src/ATC/AILocalTraffic.cxx
@@ -157,8 +157,11 @@ bool FGAILocalTraffic::Init(string ICAO, OperatingState initialState, PatternLeg
 	string planepath = "Aircraft/c172/Models/c172-dpm.ac";
 	SGPath path = globals->get_fg_root();
 	path.append(planepath);
-	aip.init( path.str(), planepath.c_str(), globals->get_props(),
-                  globals->get_sim_time_sec() );
+        ssgBranch *model = fgLoad3DModel( path.str(),
+                                          planepath.c_str(),
+                                          globals->get_props(),
+                                          globals->get_sim_time_sec() );
+	aip.init( model );
 	aip.setVisible(false);		// This will be set to true once a valid ground elevation has been determined
 	globals->get_scenery()->get_scene_graph()->addKid(aip.getSceneGraph());
 	
diff --git a/src/FDM/LaRCsim.cxx b/src/FDM/LaRCsim.cxx
index c4c0eb48f..fe404157e 100644
--- a/src/FDM/LaRCsim.cxx
+++ b/src/FDM/LaRCsim.cxx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 #include <Aircraft/aircraft.hxx>
 #include <Controls/controls.hxx>
-#include <Model/model.hxx>
+#include <Model/placement.hxx>
 #include <FDM/flight.hxx>
 #include <FDM/LaRCsim/ls_cockpit.h>
 #include <FDM/LaRCsim/ls_generic.h>
diff --git a/src/FDM/YASim/YASim.cxx b/src/FDM/YASim/YASim.cxx
index f1cbe429e..a57e5e42c 100644
--- a/src/FDM/YASim/YASim.cxx
+++ b/src/FDM/YASim/YASim.cxx
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
 #include <Model/acmodel.hxx>
-#include <Model/model.hxx>
+#include <Model/placement.hxx>
 
 #include "FGFDM.hpp"
 #include "Atmosphere.hpp"
diff --git a/src/FDM/flight.cxx b/src/FDM/flight.cxx
index 59bc6cbc0..f9ba04a61 100644
--- a/src/FDM/flight.cxx
+++ b/src/FDM/flight.cxx
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 #include <FDM/LaRCsim/ls_interface.h>
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
-#include <Model/model.hxx>
+#include <Model/placement.hxx>
 #include <Model/acmodel.hxx>
 
 #include "flight.hxx"
diff --git a/src/Main/viewer.cxx b/src/Main/viewer.cxx
index fd7b13312..16a035f9a 100644
--- a/src/Main/viewer.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/viewer.cxx
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 #include <simgear/math/vector.hxx>
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
 #include <Model/acmodel.hxx>
-#include <Model/model.hxx>
+#include <Model/placement.hxx>
 
 #include "viewer.hxx"
 
diff --git a/src/Model/Makefile.am b/src/Model/Makefile.am
index 12380e0f2..9397c0159 100644
--- a/src/Model/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Model/Makefile.am
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 noinst_LIBRARIES = libModel.a
 
 libModel_a_SOURCES = \
+        acmodel.cxx acmodel.hxx \
 	loader.cxx loader.hxx \
 	model.cxx model.hxx \
+	model_panel.cxx model_panel.hxx \
         modelmgr.cxx modelmgr.hxx \
-        acmodel.cxx acmodel.hxx \
-        panelnode.cxx panelnode.hxx
+        panelnode.cxx panelnode.hxx \
+	placement.cxx placement.hxx
 
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir) -I$(top_srcdir)/src
diff --git a/src/Model/acmodel.cxx b/src/Model/acmodel.cxx
index a39b76a3f..1155d824f 100644
--- a/src/Model/acmodel.cxx
+++ b/src/Model/acmodel.cxx
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@
 #include <Main/viewmgr.hxx>
 #include <Scenery/scenery.hxx>
 
+#include "model_panel.hxx"
+#include "placement.hxx"
+
 #include "acmodel.hxx"
-#include "model.hxx"
 
 
 
@@ -54,17 +56,19 @@ FGAircraftModel::init ()
   _aircraft = new FGModelPlacement;
   string path = fgGetString("/sim/model/path", "Models/Geometry/glider.ac");
   try {
-    _aircraft->init( globals->get_fg_root(),
-                     path,
-                     globals->get_props(),
-                     globals->get_sim_time_sec() );
+    ssgBranch *model = fgLoad3DModelPanel( globals->get_fg_root(),
+                                           path,
+                                           globals->get_props(),
+                                           globals->get_sim_time_sec() );
+    _aircraft->init( model );
   } catch (const sg_exception &ex) {
     SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT, "Failed to load aircraft from " << path);
     SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_ALERT, "(Falling back to glider.ac.)");
-    _aircraft->init( globals->get_fg_root(),
-                     "Models/Geometry/glider.ac",
-                     globals->get_props(),
-                     globals->get_sim_time_sec() );
+    ssgBranch *model = fgLoad3DModelPanel( globals->get_fg_root(),
+                                           "Models/Geometry/glider.ac",
+                                           globals->get_props(),
+                                           globals->get_sim_time_sec() );
+    _aircraft->init( model );
   }
   _scene->addKid(_aircraft->getSceneGraph());
   _selector->addKid(_aircraft->getSceneGraph());
diff --git a/src/Model/model.cxx b/src/Model/model.cxx
index d2859c26e..cbc8ac89a 100644
--- a/src/Model/model.cxx
+++ b/src/Model/model.cxx
@@ -7,28 +7,26 @@
 #  include <config.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <simgear/compiler.h>
+
 #include <string.h>             // for strcmp()
 
+#include <vector>
+
 #include <plib/sg.h>
 #include <plib/ssg.h>
 #include <plib/ul.h>
 
-#include <simgear/compiler.h>
-#include <simgear/debug/logstream.hxx>
-#include <simgear/math/interpolater.hxx>
-#include <simgear/math/point3d.hxx>
-#include <simgear/math/sg_geodesy.hxx>
 #include <simgear/misc/exception.hxx>
 #include <simgear/misc/sg_path.hxx>
-#include <simgear/props/condition.hxx>
+#include <simgear/props/props.hxx>
 #include <simgear/props/props_io.hxx>
 #include <simgear/scene/model/animation.hxx>
-#include <simgear/scene/model/location.hxx>
-
-#include "panelnode.hxx"
 
 #include "model.hxx"
 
+SG_USING_STD(vector);
+
 
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -84,9 +82,9 @@ splice_branch (ssgBranch * branch, ssgEntity * child)
 /**
  * Make an offset matrix from rotations and position offset.
  */
-static void
-make_offsets_matrix (sgMat4 * result, double h_rot, double p_rot, double r_rot,
-                     double x_off, double y_off, double z_off)
+void
+fgMakeOffsetsMatrix( sgMat4 * result, double h_rot, double p_rot, double r_rot,
+                     double x_off, double y_off, double z_off )
 {
   sgMat4 rot_matrix;
   sgMat4 pos_matrix;
@@ -96,13 +94,13 @@ make_offsets_matrix (sgMat4 * result, double h_rot, double p_rot, double r_rot,
 }
 
 
-static void
-make_animation (ssgBranch * model,
-                const char * name,
-                vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> &name_nodes,
-                SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
-                SGPropertyNode_ptr node,
-                double sim_time_sec )
+void
+fgMakeAnimation( ssgBranch * model,
+                 const char * name,
+                 vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> &name_nodes,
+                 SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
+                 SGPropertyNode_ptr node,
+                 double sim_time_sec )
 {
   Animation * animation = 0;
   const char * type = node->getStringValue("type", "none");
@@ -165,6 +163,7 @@ make_animation (ssgBranch * model,
 }
 
 
+
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Global functions.
@@ -214,7 +213,7 @@ fgLoad3DModel( const string &fg_root, const string &path,
   ssgTransform * alignmainmodel = new ssgTransform;
   alignmainmodel->addKid(model);
   sgMat4 res_matrix;
-  make_offsets_matrix(&res_matrix,
+  fgMakeOffsetsMatrix(&res_matrix,
                       props.getFloatValue("/offsets/heading-deg", 0.0),
                       props.getFloatValue("/offsets/roll-deg", 0.0),
                       props.getFloatValue("/offsets/pitch-deg", 0.0),
@@ -223,16 +222,7 @@ fgLoad3DModel( const string &fg_root, const string &path,
                       props.getFloatValue("/offsets/z-m", 0.0));
   alignmainmodel->setTransform(res_matrix);
 
-                                // Load panels
   unsigned int i;
-  vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> panel_nodes = props.getChildren("panel");
-  for (i = 0; i < panel_nodes.size(); i++) {
-    SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_DEBUG, "Loading a panel");
-    FGPanelNode * panel = new FGPanelNode(panel_nodes[i]);
-    if (panel_nodes[i]->hasValue("name"))
-        panel->setName((char *)panel_nodes[i]->getStringValue("name"));
-    model->addKid(panel);
-  }
 
                                 // Load animations
   vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> animation_nodes = props.getChildren("animation");
@@ -240,8 +230,8 @@ fgLoad3DModel( const string &fg_root, const string &path,
     const char * name = animation_nodes[i]->getStringValue("name", 0);
     vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> name_nodes =
       animation_nodes[i]->getChildren("object-name");
-    make_animation( model, name, name_nodes, prop_root, animation_nodes[i],
-                    sim_time_sec);
+    fgMakeAnimation( model, name, name_nodes, prop_root, animation_nodes[i],
+                     sim_time_sec);
   }
 
                                 // Load sub-models
@@ -250,7 +240,7 @@ fgLoad3DModel( const string &fg_root, const string &path,
     SGPropertyNode_ptr node = model_nodes[i];
     ssgTransform * align = new ssgTransform;
     sgMat4 res_matrix;
-    make_offsets_matrix(&res_matrix,
+    fgMakeOffsetsMatrix(&res_matrix,
                         node->getFloatValue("offsets/heading-deg", 0.0),
                         node->getFloatValue("offsets/roll-deg", 0.0),
                         node->getFloatValue("offsets/pitch-deg", 0.0),
@@ -269,124 +259,4 @@ fgLoad3DModel( const string &fg_root, const string &path,
 }
 
 
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// Implementation of FGModelPlacement.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-
-FGModelPlacement::FGModelPlacement ()
-  : _lon_deg(0),
-    _lat_deg(0),
-    _elev_ft(0),
-    _roll_deg(0),
-    _pitch_deg(0),
-    _heading_deg(0),
-    _selector(new ssgSelector),
-    _position(new ssgTransform),
-    _location(new FGLocation)
-{
-}
-
-FGModelPlacement::~FGModelPlacement ()
-{
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::init( const string &fg_root,
-                        const string &path,
-                        SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
-                        double sim_time_sec )
-{
-  ssgBranch * model = fgLoad3DModel( fg_root, path, prop_root, sim_time_sec );
-  if (model != 0)
-      _position->addKid(model);
-  _selector->addKid(_position);
-  _selector->clrTraversalMaskBits(SSGTRAV_HOT);
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::update( const Point3D scenery_center )
-{
-  _location->setPosition( _lon_deg, _lat_deg, _elev_ft );
-  _location->setOrientation( _roll_deg, _pitch_deg, _heading_deg );
-
-  sgCopyMat4( POS, _location->getTransformMatrix(scenery_center) );
-
-  sgVec3 trans;
-  sgCopyVec3(trans, _location->get_view_pos());
-
-  for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
-    float tmp = POS[i][3];
-    for( int j=0; j<3; j++ ) {
-      POS[i][j] += (tmp * trans[j]);
-    }
-  }
-  _position->setTransform(POS);
-}
-
-bool
-FGModelPlacement::getVisible () const
-{
-  return (_selector->getSelect() != 0);
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setVisible (bool visible)
-{
-  _selector->select(visible);
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setLongitudeDeg (double lon_deg)
-{
-  _lon_deg = lon_deg;
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setLatitudeDeg (double lat_deg)
-{
-  _lat_deg = lat_deg;
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setElevationFt (double elev_ft)
-{
-  _elev_ft = elev_ft;
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setPosition (double lon_deg, double lat_deg, double elev_ft)
-{
-  _lon_deg = lon_deg;
-  _lat_deg = lat_deg;
-  _elev_ft = elev_ft;
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setRollDeg (double roll_deg)
-{
-  _roll_deg = roll_deg;
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setPitchDeg (double pitch_deg)
-{
-  _pitch_deg = pitch_deg;
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setHeadingDeg (double heading_deg)
-{
-  _heading_deg = heading_deg;
-}
-
-void
-FGModelPlacement::setOrientation (double roll_deg, double pitch_deg,
-                                  double heading_deg)
-{
-  _roll_deg = roll_deg;
-  _pitch_deg = pitch_deg;
-  _heading_deg = heading_deg;
-}
-
 // end of model.cxx
diff --git a/src/Model/model.hxx b/src/Model/model.hxx
index 22d55cf0b..4102460db 100644
--- a/src/Model/model.hxx
+++ b/src/Model/model.hxx
@@ -17,23 +17,9 @@ SG_USING_STD(vector);
 #include <plib/sg.h>
 #include <plib/ssg.h>
 
-#include <simgear/math/point3d.hxx>
 #include <simgear/props/props.hxx>
 
 
-// Don't pull in the headers, since we don't need them here.
-class ssgBranch;
-class ssgCutout;
-class ssgEntity;
-class ssgRangeSelector;
-class ssgSelector;
-class ssgTransform;
-
-class SGInterpTable;
-class FGCondition;
-class FGLocation;
-
-
 // Has anyone done anything *really* stupid, like making min and max macros?
 #ifdef min
 #undef min
@@ -44,7 +30,10 @@ class FGLocation;
 
 
 /**
- * Load a 3D model with or without XML wrapper.
+ * Load a 3D model with or without XML wrapper.  Note, this version
+ * Does not know about or load the panel/cockpit information.  Use the
+ * "model_panel.hxx" version if you want to load an aircraft
+ * (i.e. ownship) with a panel.
  *
  * If the path ends in ".xml", then it will be used as a property-
  * list wrapper to add animations to the model.
@@ -56,80 +45,23 @@ ssgBranch * fgLoad3DModel( const string& fg_root, const string &path,
                            SGPropertyNode *prop_root, double sim_time_sec );
 
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// Model placement.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+/**
+ * Make an offset matrix from rotations and position offset.
+ */
+void
+fgMakeOffsetsMatrix( sgMat4 * result, double h_rot, double p_rot, double r_rot,
+                     double x_off, double y_off, double z_off );
 
 /**
- * A wrapper for a model with a definite placement.
+ * Make the animation
  */
-class FGModelPlacement
-{
-public:
+void
+fgMakeAnimation( ssgBranch * model,
+                 const char * name,
+                 vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> &name_nodes,
+                 SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
+                 SGPropertyNode_ptr node,
+                 double sim_time_sec );
 
-  FGModelPlacement ();
-  virtual ~FGModelPlacement ();
-
-  virtual void init( const string &fg_root,
-                     const string &path,
-                     SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
-                     double sim_time_sec );
-  virtual void update( const Point3D scenery_center );
-
-  virtual ssgEntity * getSceneGraph () { return (ssgEntity *)_selector; }
-
-  virtual FGLocation * getFGLocation () { return _location; }
-
-  virtual bool getVisible () const;
-  virtual void setVisible (bool visible);
-
-  virtual double getLongitudeDeg () const { return _lon_deg; }
-  virtual double getLatitudeDeg () const { return _lat_deg; }
-  virtual double getElevationFt () const { return _elev_ft; }
-
-  virtual void setLongitudeDeg (double lon_deg);
-  virtual void setLatitudeDeg (double lat_deg);
-  virtual void setElevationFt (double elev_ft);
-  virtual void setPosition (double lon_deg, double lat_deg, double elev_ft);
-
-  virtual double getRollDeg () const { return _roll_deg; }
-  virtual double getPitchDeg () const { return _pitch_deg; }
-  virtual double getHeadingDeg () const { return _heading_deg; }
-
-  virtual void setRollDeg (double roll_deg);
-  virtual void setPitchDeg (double pitch_deg);
-  virtual void setHeadingDeg (double heading_deg);
-  virtual void setOrientation (double roll_deg, double pitch_deg,
-                               double heading_deg);
-  
-  // Addition by Diarmuid Tyson for Multiplayer Support
-  // Allows multiplayer to get players position transform
-  virtual const sgVec4 *get_POS() { return POS; }
-
-private:
-
-                                // Geodetic position
-  double _lon_deg;
-  double _lat_deg;
-  double _elev_ft;
-
-                                // Orientation
-  double _roll_deg;
-  double _pitch_deg;
-  double _heading_deg;
-
-  ssgSelector * _selector;
-  ssgTransform * _position;
-
-                                // Location
-  FGLocation * _location;
-
-
-  // Addition by Diarmuid Tyson for Multiplayer Support
-  // Moved from update method
-  // POS for transformation Matrix
-  sgMat4 POS;
-
-};
 
 #endif // __MODEL_HXX
diff --git a/src/Model/model_panel.cxx b/src/Model/model_panel.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3e09b6fff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Model/model_panel.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+// model.cxx - manage a 3D aircraft model.
+// Written by David Megginson, started 2002.
+//
+// This file is in the Public Domain, and comes with no warranty.
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#  include <config.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <simgear/compiler.h>
+
+#include <string.h>             // for strcmp()
+
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <plib/sg.h>
+#include <plib/ssg.h>
+#include <plib/ul.h>
+
+#include <simgear/misc/exception.hxx>
+#include <simgear/misc/sg_path.hxx>
+#include <simgear/props/props.hxx>
+#include <simgear/props/props_io.hxx>
+#include <simgear/scene/model/animation.hxx>
+
+#include "panelnode.hxx"
+
+#include "model.hxx"
+#include "model_panel.hxx"
+
+SG_USING_STD(vector);
+
+
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Global functions.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+// FIXME: should attempt to share more of the code with
+// fgLoad3DModel() since these routines are almost identical with the
+// exception of the panel node section.
+
+ssgBranch *
+fgLoad3DModelPanel( const string &fg_root, const string &path,
+                    SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
+                    double sim_time_sec )
+{
+  ssgBranch * model = 0;
+  SGPropertyNode props;
+
+                                // Load the 3D aircraft object itself
+  SGPath xmlpath;
+  SGPath modelpath = path;
+  if ( ulIsAbsolutePathName( path.c_str() ) ) {
+    xmlpath = modelpath;
+  }
+  else {
+    xmlpath = fg_root;
+    xmlpath.append(modelpath.str());
+  }
+
+                                // Check for an XML wrapper
+  if (xmlpath.str().substr(xmlpath.str().size() - 4, 4) == ".xml") {
+    readProperties(xmlpath.str(), &props);
+    if (props.hasValue("/path")) {
+      modelpath = modelpath.dir();
+      modelpath.append(props.getStringValue("/path"));
+    } else {
+      if (model == 0)
+        model = new ssgBranch;
+    }
+  }
+
+                                // Assume that textures are in
+                                // the same location as the XML file.
+  if (model == 0) {
+    ssgTexturePath((char *)xmlpath.dir().c_str());
+    model = (ssgBranch *)ssgLoad((char *)modelpath.c_str());
+    if (model == 0)
+      throw sg_exception("Failed to load 3D model");
+  }
+
+                                // Set up the alignment node
+  ssgTransform * alignmainmodel = new ssgTransform;
+  alignmainmodel->addKid(model);
+  sgMat4 res_matrix;
+  fgMakeOffsetsMatrix(&res_matrix,
+                      props.getFloatValue("/offsets/heading-deg", 0.0),
+                      props.getFloatValue("/offsets/roll-deg", 0.0),
+                      props.getFloatValue("/offsets/pitch-deg", 0.0),
+                      props.getFloatValue("/offsets/x-m", 0.0),
+                      props.getFloatValue("/offsets/y-m", 0.0),
+                      props.getFloatValue("/offsets/z-m", 0.0));
+  alignmainmodel->setTransform(res_matrix);
+
+  unsigned int i;
+
+                                // Load panels
+  vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> panel_nodes = props.getChildren("panel");
+  for (i = 0; i < panel_nodes.size(); i++) {
+    SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_DEBUG, "Loading a panel");
+    FGPanelNode * panel = new FGPanelNode(panel_nodes[i]);
+    if (panel_nodes[i]->hasValue("name"))
+        panel->setName((char *)panel_nodes[i]->getStringValue("name"));
+    model->addKid(panel);
+  }
+
+                                // Load animations
+  vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> animation_nodes = props.getChildren("animation");
+  for (i = 0; i < animation_nodes.size(); i++) {
+    const char * name = animation_nodes[i]->getStringValue("name", 0);
+    vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> name_nodes =
+      animation_nodes[i]->getChildren("object-name");
+    fgMakeAnimation( model, name, name_nodes, prop_root, animation_nodes[i],
+                     sim_time_sec);
+  }
+
+                                // Load sub-models
+  vector<SGPropertyNode_ptr> model_nodes = props.getChildren("model");
+  for (i = 0; i < model_nodes.size(); i++) {
+    SGPropertyNode_ptr node = model_nodes[i];
+    ssgTransform * align = new ssgTransform;
+    sgMat4 res_matrix;
+    fgMakeOffsetsMatrix(&res_matrix,
+                        node->getFloatValue("offsets/heading-deg", 0.0),
+                        node->getFloatValue("offsets/roll-deg", 0.0),
+                        node->getFloatValue("offsets/pitch-deg", 0.0),
+                        node->getFloatValue("offsets/x-m", 0.0),
+                        node->getFloatValue("offsets/y-m", 0.0),
+                        node->getFloatValue("offsets/z-m", 0.0));
+    align->setTransform(res_matrix);
+
+    ssgBranch * kid = fgLoad3DModel( fg_root, node->getStringValue("path"),
+                                     prop_root, sim_time_sec );
+    align->addKid(kid);
+    model->addKid(align);
+  }
+
+  return alignmainmodel;
+}
+
+
+// end of model_panel.cxx
diff --git a/src/Model/model_panel.hxx b/src/Model/model_panel.hxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..98b5ffe71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Model/model_panel.hxx
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// model.hxx - manage a 3D aircraft model.
+// Written by David Megginson, started 2002.
+//
+// This file is in the Public Domain, and comes with no warranty.
+
+#ifndef __MODEL_HXX
+#define __MODEL_HXX 1
+
+#ifndef __cplusplus
+# error This library requires C++
+#endif
+
+#include <vector>
+
+SG_USING_STD(vector);
+
+#include <plib/sg.h>
+#include <plib/ssg.h>
+
+#include <simgear/math/point3d.hxx>
+#include <simgear/props/props.hxx>
+
+
+// Don't pull in the headers, since we don't need them here.
+class ssgBranch;
+class ssgCutout;
+class ssgEntity;
+class ssgRangeSelector;
+class ssgSelector;
+class ssgTransform;
+
+class SGInterpTable;
+class FGCondition;
+class FGLocation;
+
+
+// Has anyone done anything *really* stupid, like making min and max macros?
+#ifdef min
+#undef min
+#endif
+#ifdef max
+#undef max
+#endif
+
+
+/**
+ * Load a 3D model with or without XML wrapper.  This version supports
+ * also loading the instrument panel and is wired in with dependencies
+ * on panelnode.hxx, and thus files in src/Cockpit and also GUI/mouse
+ * input code to support the 3d clickable hotspots.
+ *
+ * If the path ends in ".xml", then it will be used as a property-
+ * list wrapper to add animations to the model.
+ *
+ * Subsystems should not normally invoke this function directly;
+ * instead, they should use the FGModelLoader declared in loader.hxx.
+ */
+ssgBranch *fgLoad3DModelPanel( const string& fg_root, const string &path,
+                               SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
+                               double sim_time_sec );
+
+
+#endif // __MODEL_HXX
diff --git a/src/Model/modelmgr.cxx b/src/Model/modelmgr.cxx
index 609f7abdf..72d257368 100644
--- a/src/Model/modelmgr.cxx
+++ b/src/Model/modelmgr.cxx
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
 #include <Scenery/scenery.hxx>
 
-#include "modelmgr.hxx"
 #include "model.hxx"
+#include "placement.hxx"
+
+#include "modelmgr.hxx"
 
 
 FGModelMgr::FGModelMgr ()
@@ -36,12 +38,15 @@ FGModelMgr::init ()
     SG_LOG(SG_GENERAL, SG_INFO,
 	   "Adding model " << node->getStringValue("name", "[unnamed]"));
     Instance * instance = new Instance;
-    FGModelPlacement * model = new FGModelPlacement;
+    FGModelPlacement *model = new FGModelPlacement;
     instance->model = model;
-    model->init( globals->get_fg_root(),
-                 node->getStringValue("path", "Models/Geometry/glider.ac"),
-                 globals->get_props(),
-                 globals->get_sim_time_sec() );
+    ssgBranch *object
+        = fgLoad3DModel( globals->get_fg_root(),
+                         node->getStringValue("path",
+                                              "Models/Geometry/glider.ac"),
+                         globals->get_props(),
+                         globals->get_sim_time_sec() );
+    model->init( object );
 
 				// Set position and orientation either
 				// indirectly through property refs
diff --git a/src/Model/placement.cxx b/src/Model/placement.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d8bf21e2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Model/placement.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+// placement.cxx - manage the placment of a 3D model.
+// Written by David Megginson, started 2002.
+//
+// This file is in the Public Domain, and comes with no warranty.
+
+#include <simgear/compiler.h>
+
+#include <string.h>             // for strcmp()
+
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <plib/sg.h>
+#include <plib/ssg.h>
+#include <plib/ul.h>
+
+#include <simgear/scene/model/location.hxx>
+
+#include "model.hxx"
+
+#include "placement.hxx"
+
+SG_USING_STD(vector);
+
+
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Implementation of FGModelPlacement.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+FGModelPlacement::FGModelPlacement ()
+  : _lon_deg(0),
+    _lat_deg(0),
+    _elev_ft(0),
+    _roll_deg(0),
+    _pitch_deg(0),
+    _heading_deg(0),
+    _selector(new ssgSelector),
+    _position(new ssgTransform),
+    _location(new FGLocation)
+{
+}
+
+FGModelPlacement::~FGModelPlacement ()
+{
+}
+
+#if 0
+void
+FGModelPlacement::init( const string &fg_root,
+                        const string &path,
+                        SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
+                        double sim_time_sec, int dummy )
+{
+  ssgBranch * model = fgLoad3DModel( fg_root, path, prop_root, sim_time_sec );
+  if (model != 0)
+      _position->addKid(model);
+  _selector->addKid(_position);
+  _selector->clrTraversalMaskBits(SSGTRAV_HOT);
+}
+#endif
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::init( ssgBranch * model )
+{
+  if (model != 0) {
+      _position->addKid(model);
+  }
+  _selector->addKid(_position);
+  _selector->clrTraversalMaskBits(SSGTRAV_HOT);
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::update( const Point3D scenery_center )
+{
+  _location->setPosition( _lon_deg, _lat_deg, _elev_ft );
+  _location->setOrientation( _roll_deg, _pitch_deg, _heading_deg );
+
+  sgCopyMat4( POS, _location->getTransformMatrix(scenery_center) );
+
+  sgVec3 trans;
+  sgCopyVec3(trans, _location->get_view_pos());
+
+  for(int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+    float tmp = POS[i][3];
+    for( int j=0; j<3; j++ ) {
+      POS[i][j] += (tmp * trans[j]);
+    }
+  }
+  _position->setTransform(POS);
+}
+
+bool
+FGModelPlacement::getVisible () const
+{
+  return (_selector->getSelect() != 0);
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setVisible (bool visible)
+{
+  _selector->select(visible);
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setLongitudeDeg (double lon_deg)
+{
+  _lon_deg = lon_deg;
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setLatitudeDeg (double lat_deg)
+{
+  _lat_deg = lat_deg;
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setElevationFt (double elev_ft)
+{
+  _elev_ft = elev_ft;
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setPosition (double lon_deg, double lat_deg, double elev_ft)
+{
+  _lon_deg = lon_deg;
+  _lat_deg = lat_deg;
+  _elev_ft = elev_ft;
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setRollDeg (double roll_deg)
+{
+  _roll_deg = roll_deg;
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setPitchDeg (double pitch_deg)
+{
+  _pitch_deg = pitch_deg;
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setHeadingDeg (double heading_deg)
+{
+  _heading_deg = heading_deg;
+}
+
+void
+FGModelPlacement::setOrientation (double roll_deg, double pitch_deg,
+                                  double heading_deg)
+{
+  _roll_deg = roll_deg;
+  _pitch_deg = pitch_deg;
+  _heading_deg = heading_deg;
+}
+
+// end of model.cxx
diff --git a/src/Model/placement.hxx b/src/Model/placement.hxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..453353b89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Model/placement.hxx
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+// placement.hxx - manage the placment of a 3D model.
+// Written by David Megginson, started 2002.
+//
+// This file is in the Public Domain, and comes with no warranty.
+
+
+#ifndef _SG_PLACEMENT_HXX
+#define _SG_PLACEMENT_HXX 1
+
+#ifndef __cplusplus
+# error This library requires C++
+#endif
+
+#include <vector>
+
+SG_USING_STD(vector);
+
+#include <plib/sg.h>
+#include <plib/ssg.h>
+
+#include <simgear/math/point3d.hxx>
+#include <simgear/props/props.hxx>
+
+
+// Don't pull in the headers, since we don't need them here.
+class FGLocation;
+
+
+// Has anyone done anything *really* stupid, like making min and max macros?
+#ifdef min
+#undef min
+#endif
+#ifdef max
+#undef max
+#endif
+
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// Model placement.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+/**
+ * A wrapper for a model with a definite placement.
+ */
+class FGModelPlacement
+{
+public:
+
+  FGModelPlacement ();
+  virtual ~FGModelPlacement ();
+
+    virtual void FGModelPlacement::init( ssgBranch * model );
+  /* virtual void init( const string &fg_root,
+                     const string &path,
+                     SGPropertyNode *prop_root,
+                     double sim_time_sec, int dummy ); */
+  virtual void update( const Point3D scenery_center );
+
+  virtual ssgEntity * getSceneGraph () { return (ssgEntity *)_selector; }
+
+  virtual FGLocation * getFGLocation () { return _location; }
+
+  virtual bool getVisible () const;
+  virtual void setVisible (bool visible);
+
+  virtual double getLongitudeDeg () const { return _lon_deg; }
+  virtual double getLatitudeDeg () const { return _lat_deg; }
+  virtual double getElevationFt () const { return _elev_ft; }
+
+  virtual void setLongitudeDeg (double lon_deg);
+  virtual void setLatitudeDeg (double lat_deg);
+  virtual void setElevationFt (double elev_ft);
+  virtual void setPosition (double lon_deg, double lat_deg, double elev_ft);
+
+  virtual double getRollDeg () const { return _roll_deg; }
+  virtual double getPitchDeg () const { return _pitch_deg; }
+  virtual double getHeadingDeg () const { return _heading_deg; }
+
+  virtual void setRollDeg (double roll_deg);
+  virtual void setPitchDeg (double pitch_deg);
+  virtual void setHeadingDeg (double heading_deg);
+  virtual void setOrientation (double roll_deg, double pitch_deg,
+                               double heading_deg);
+  
+  // Addition by Diarmuid Tyson for Multiplayer Support
+  // Allows multiplayer to get players position transform
+  virtual const sgVec4 *get_POS() { return POS; }
+
+private:
+
+                                // Geodetic position
+  double _lon_deg;
+  double _lat_deg;
+  double _elev_ft;
+
+                                // Orientation
+  double _roll_deg;
+  double _pitch_deg;
+  double _heading_deg;
+
+  ssgSelector * _selector;
+  ssgTransform * _position;
+
+                                // Location
+  FGLocation * _location;
+
+
+  // Addition by Diarmuid Tyson for Multiplayer Support
+  // Moved from update method
+  // POS for transformation Matrix
+  sgMat4 POS;
+
+};
+
+#endif // _SG_PLACEMENT_HXX
diff --git a/src/Network/multiplay.cxx b/src/Network/multiplay.cxx
index dfb6b6a15..ff88c98c2 100644
--- a/src/Network/multiplay.cxx
+++ b/src/Network/multiplay.cxx
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 
 #include <simgear/debug/logstream.hxx>
 
+#include <Model/placement.hxx>
+
 #include "multiplay.hxx"
 
 SG_USING_STD(string);