diff --git a/include/osgParticle/ConstantRateCounter b/include/osgParticle/ConstantRateCounter
index 6ea677514..41ef51dbd 100644
--- a/include/osgParticle/ConstantRateCounter
+++ b/include/osgParticle/ConstantRateCounter
@@ -63,6 +63,15 @@ namespace osgParticle
             return osg::maximum(_minimumNumberOfParticlesToCreate, i);
         }
 
+
+        virtual int getEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(double lifeTime) const
+        {
+            int minNumParticles =  static_cast<int>(_minimumNumberOfParticlesToCreate*60.0f*lifeTime);
+            int baseNumPartciles = static_cast<int>(_numberOfParticlesPerSecondToCreate * lifeTime);
+            return osg::maximum(minNumParticles, baseNumPartciles);
+        }
+
+
     protected:
         virtual ~ConstantRateCounter() {}
 
diff --git a/include/osgParticle/Counter b/include/osgParticle/Counter
index 071ebc708..dde87e1ad 100644
--- a/include/osgParticle/Counter
+++ b/include/osgParticle/Counter
@@ -30,8 +30,12 @@ namespace osgParticle
         virtual const char* className() const { return "Counter"; }
         virtual bool isSameKindAs(const osg::Object* obj) const { return dynamic_cast<const Counter* >(obj) != 0; }
 
+        /** get the number of particle of create for current frame.*/
         virtual int numParticlesToCreate(double dt) const = 0;
 
+        /** get the esimated maximum number of particles that would be generated duration the lifetime of a particle before it expires.*/
+        virtual int getEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(double lifeTime) const = 0;
+
     protected:
         ~Counter() {}
         Counter &operator=(const Counter &) { return *this; }
diff --git a/include/osgParticle/Emitter b/include/osgParticle/Emitter
index a433e6832..ff8a6a10e 100644
--- a/include/osgParticle/Emitter
+++ b/include/osgParticle/Emitter
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ namespace osgParticle
         virtual bool isSameKindAs(const osg::Object* obj) const { return dynamic_cast<const Emitter*>(obj) != 0; }
         virtual void accept(osg::NodeVisitor& nv) { if (nv.validNodeMask(*this)) { nv.pushOntoNodePath(this); nv.apply(*this); nv.popFromNodePath(); } }
 
+        void setParticleSystem(ParticleSystem* ps);
+
+        void setEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(int num);
+        int getEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles() const { return _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles; }
+
+
         /// Get the particle template.
         inline const Particle& getParticleTemplate() const;
 
@@ -67,6 +73,8 @@ namespace osgParticle
 
         bool _usedeftemp;
         Particle _ptemp;
+
+        int _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles;
     };
 
     // INLINE FUNCTIONS
diff --git a/include/osgParticle/Particle b/include/osgParticle/Particle
index 0d401651c..9c2937d0b 100644
--- a/include/osgParticle/Particle
+++ b/include/osgParticle/Particle
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@
 #include <osg/Vec3>
 #include <osg/Vec4>
 #include <osg/Matrix>
-#include <osg/Drawable>
-#include <osg/GL>
-#include <osg/GLBeginEndAdapter>
 
 namespace osgParticle
 {
@@ -150,6 +147,13 @@ namespace osgParticle
         /// Get the t texture coordinate of the bottom left of the particle
         inline float getTTexCoord() const { return _t_coord; }
 
+        /// Get the texture coordinate width of the particle
+        inline float getSTexTile() const { return _s_tile; }
+
+        /// Get the texture coordinate height of the particle
+        inline float getTTexTile() const { return _t_tile; }
+
+
         /// Get width of texture tile
         inline int getTileS() const;
 
@@ -240,15 +244,6 @@ namespace osgParticle
         */
         bool update(double dt, bool onlyTimeStamp);
 
-        /// Perform some pre-rendering tasks. Called automatically by particle systems.
-        inline void beginRender(osg::GLBeginEndAdapter* gl) const;
-
-        /// Render the particle. Called automatically by particle systems.
-        void render(osg::GLBeginEndAdapter* gl, const osg::Vec3& xpos, const osg::Vec3& px, const osg::Vec3& py, float scale = 1.0f) const;
-
-        /// Perform some post-rendering tasks. Called automatically by particle systems.
-        inline void endRender(osg::GLBeginEndAdapter* gl) const;
-
         /// Get the current (interpolated) polygon size. Valid only after the first call to update().
         inline float getCurrentSize() const;
 
@@ -560,36 +555,6 @@ namespace osgParticle
         _massinv = 1 / m;
     }
 
-    inline void Particle::beginRender(osg::GLBeginEndAdapter* gl) const
-    {
-        switch (_shape)
-        {
-        case POINT:
-            gl->Begin(GL_POINTS);
-            break;
-        case QUAD:
-            gl->Begin(GL_QUADS);
-            break;
-        case LINE:
-            gl->Begin(GL_LINES);
-            break;
-        default: ;
-        }
-    }
-
-    inline void Particle::endRender(osg::GLBeginEndAdapter* gl) const
-    {
-        switch (_shape)
-        {
-        case POINT:
-        case QUAD:
-        case LINE:
-            gl->End();
-            break;
-        default: ;
-        }
-    }
-
     inline float Particle::getCurrentSize() const
     {
         return _current_size;
diff --git a/include/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor b/include/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor
index 58f0cd7b6..e6424ea40 100644
--- a/include/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor
+++ b/include/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ namespace osgParticle
         inline const ParticleSystem* getParticleSystem() const;
 
         /// Set the destination particle system.
-        inline void setParticleSystem(ParticleSystem* ps);
+        virtual void setParticleSystem(ParticleSystem* ps);
 
         /// Set the endless flag of this processor.
         inline void setEndless(bool type);
@@ -148,7 +148,6 @@ namespace osgParticle
 
         virtual void process(double dt) = 0;
 
-    private:
         ReferenceFrame _rf;
         bool _enabled;
         double _t0;
@@ -211,10 +210,6 @@ namespace osgParticle
         return _ps.get();
     }
 
-    inline void ParticleProcessor::setParticleSystem(ParticleSystem* ps)
-    {
-        _ps = ps;
-    }
 
     inline void ParticleProcessor::setEndless(bool type)
     {
diff --git a/include/osgParticle/ParticleSystem b/include/osgParticle/ParticleSystem
index b1a1ac571..e3e76f46b 100644
--- a/include/osgParticle/ParticleSystem
+++ b/include/osgParticle/ParticleSystem
@@ -267,6 +267,11 @@ namespace osgParticle
 
         virtual osg::VertexArrayState* createVertexArrayState(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo, bool usingVBOs) const;
 
+        void adjustEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(int delta) {  _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles += delta; }
+
+        void setEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(int num) { _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles = num; }
+        int getEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles() const { return _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles; }
+
     protected:
 
         virtual ~ParticleSystem();
@@ -277,6 +282,8 @@ namespace osgParticle
         void single_pass_render(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo, const osg::Matrix& modelview) const;
         void render_vertex_array(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) const;
 
+        void new_drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) const;
+
         typedef std::vector<Particle> Particle_vector;
         typedef std::stack<Particle*> Death_stack;
 
@@ -315,23 +322,38 @@ namespace osgParticle
         SortMode _sortMode;
         double _visibilityDistance;
 
-        mutable int _draw_count;
-
         mutable ReadWriterMutex _readWriteMutex;
 
+        int _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles;
+
         struct ArrayData
         {
             ArrayData();
 
+            void init();
+            void init3();
+
             void reserve(unsigned int numVertices);
             void resize(unsigned int numVertices);
             void resizeGLObjectBuffers(unsigned int maxSize);
             void releaseGLObjects(osg::State* state);
 
+            void clear();
+            void dirty();
+
+            void dispatchArrays(osg::State& state);
+            void dispatchPrimitives();
+
             osg::ref_ptr<osg::BufferObject> vertexBufferObject;
             osg::ref_ptr<osg::Vec3Array>    vertices;
+            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Vec3Array>    normals;
             osg::ref_ptr<osg::Vec4Array>    colors;
-            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Vec2Array>    texcoords;
+            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Vec2Array>    texcoords2;
+            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Vec3Array>    texcoords3;
+
+            typedef std::pair<GLenum, unsigned int> ModeCount;
+            typedef std::vector<ModeCount> Primitives;
+            Primitives primitives;
         };
 
         typedef osg::buffered_object< ArrayData > BufferedArrayData;
diff --git a/include/osgParticle/VariableRateCounter b/include/osgParticle/VariableRateCounter
index 6b974973d..f54f99ee2 100644
--- a/include/osgParticle/VariableRateCounter
+++ b/include/osgParticle/VariableRateCounter
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace osgParticle
         inline void setRateRange(const rangef& r);
         inline void setRateRange(float minrange, float maxrange);
 
+        virtual int getEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(double lifeTime) const { return static_cast<int>(_rate_range.maximum * lifeTime); }
+
     protected:
         virtual ~VariableRateCounter() {}
 
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/ConnectedParticleSystem.cpp b/src/osgParticle/ConnectedParticleSystem.cpp
index 923315c8c..02eea9e33 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/ConnectedParticleSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/ConnectedParticleSystem.cpp
@@ -114,14 +114,29 @@ void ConnectedParticleSystem::reuseParticle(int particleIndex)
 
 void ConnectedParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) const
 {
-    osg::State& state = *renderInfo.getState();
-    osg::GLBeginEndAdapter& gl = state.getGLBeginEndAdapter();
-
     ScopedReadLock lock(_readWriteMutex);
 
+    osg::State& state = *renderInfo.getState();
+
     const Particle* particle = (_startParticle != Particle::INVALID_INDEX) ? &_particles[_startParticle] : 0;
     if (!particle) return;
 
+    ArrayData& ad = _bufferedArrayData[state.getContextID()];
+    if (!ad.vertices.valid())
+    {
+        ad.init();
+        ad.reserve(_particles.capacity()*2);
+    }
+
+    ad.clear();
+    ad.dirty();
+
+    // set up arrays and primitives ready to fill in
+    osg::Vec3Array& vertices = *ad.vertices;
+    osg::Vec4Array& colors = *ad.colors;
+    osg::Vec2Array& texcoords = *ad.texcoords2;
+    ArrayData::Primitives& primitives = ad.primitives;
+
 
     osg::Vec4 pixelSizeVector = osg::CullingSet::computePixelSizeVector(*state.getCurrentViewport(),state.getProjectionMatrix(),state.getModelViewMatrix());
     float unitPixelSize = fabs(1.0/(particle->getPosition()*pixelSizeVector));
@@ -134,15 +149,14 @@ void ConnectedParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) co
     if (pixelSizeOfFirstParticle<1.0)
     {
         // draw the connected particles as a line
-        gl.Begin(GL_LINE_STRIP);
         while(particle != 0)
         {
 
             const osg::Vec4& color = particle->getCurrentColor();
             const osg::Vec3& pos = particle->getPosition();
-            gl.Color4f( color.r(), color.g(), color.b(), color.a() * particle->getCurrentAlpha());
-            gl.TexCoord2f( particle->getSTexCoord(), 0.5f );
-            gl.Vertex3fv(pos.ptr());
+            colors.push_back(osg::Vec4( color.r(), color.g(), color.b(), color.a() * particle->getCurrentAlpha()));
+            texcoords.push_back(osg::Vec2( particle->getSTexCoord(), 0.5f ));
+            vertices.push_back(pos);
 
             const Particle* nextParticle = (particle->getNextParticle() != Particle::INVALID_INDEX) ? &_particles[particle->getNextParticle()] : 0;
             if (nextParticle)
@@ -163,11 +177,11 @@ void ConnectedParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) co
             }
             particle = nextParticle;
         }
-        gl.End();
+
+        primitives.push_back(ArrayData::ModeCount(GL_LINE_STRIP, vertices.size()));
     }
     else
     {
-
         // draw the connected particles as a quad stripped aligned to be orthogonal to the eye
         osg::Matrix eyeToLocalTransform;
         eyeToLocalTransform.invert(state.getModelViewMatrix());
@@ -175,7 +189,6 @@ void ConnectedParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) co
 
         osg::Vec3 delta(0.0f,0.0f,1.0f);
 
-        gl.Begin(GL_QUAD_STRIP);
         while(particle != 0)
         {
             const osg::Vec4& color = particle->getCurrentColor();
@@ -209,17 +222,20 @@ void ConnectedParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) co
             osg::Vec3 bottom(pos-normal);
             osg::Vec3 top(pos+normal);
 
-            gl.Color4f( color.r(), color.g(), color.b(), color.a() * particle->getCurrentAlpha());
+            colors.push_back(osg::Vec4( color.r(), color.g(), color.b(), color.a() * particle->getCurrentAlpha()));
+            texcoords.push_back( osg::Vec2( particle->getSTexCoord(), 0.0f ));
+            vertices.push_back(bottom);
 
-            gl.TexCoord2f( particle->getSTexCoord(), 0.0f );
-            gl.Vertex3fv(bottom.ptr());
-
-            gl.TexCoord2f( particle->getSTexCoord(), 1.0f );
-            gl.Vertex3fv(top.ptr());
+            colors.push_back(colors.back());
+            texcoords.push_back( osg::Vec2( particle->getSTexCoord(), 1.0f ));
+            vertices.push_back(top);
 
             particle = nextParticle;
         }
-        gl.End();
-    }
-}
 
+        primitives.push_back(ArrayData::ModeCount(GL_QUAD_STRIP, vertices.size()));
+    }
+
+    ad.dispatchArrays(state);
+    ad.dispatchPrimitives();
+}
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/Emitter.cpp b/src/osgParticle/Emitter.cpp
index d01c6bf10..4f0697897 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/Emitter.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/Emitter.cpp
@@ -5,13 +5,31 @@
 
 osgParticle::Emitter::Emitter()
 :    ParticleProcessor(),
-    _usedeftemp(true)
+    _usedeftemp(true),
+    _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles(0)
 {
 }
 
 osgParticle::Emitter::Emitter(const Emitter& copy, const osg::CopyOp& copyop)
 :     ParticleProcessor(copy, copyop),
     _usedeftemp(copy._usedeftemp),
-    _ptemp(copy._ptemp)
+    _ptemp(copy._ptemp),
+    _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles(0)
 {
 }
+
+void osgParticle::Emitter::setParticleSystem(ParticleSystem* ps)
+{
+    if (_ps==ps) return;
+
+    ParticleProcessor::setParticleSystem(ps);
+
+    if (_ps) _ps->adjustEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(_estimatedMaxNumOfParticles);
+}
+
+void osgParticle::Emitter::setEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(int num)
+{
+    if (_ps) _ps->adjustEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(num-_estimatedMaxNumOfParticles);
+
+    _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles = num;
+}
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/ModularEmitter.cpp b/src/osgParticle/ModularEmitter.cpp
index 0cd708f88..8ca573d3a 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/ModularEmitter.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/ModularEmitter.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ void osgParticle::ModularEmitter::emitParticles(double dt)
         worldToPs = osg::Matrix::inverse(psToWorld);
     }
 
+    const Particle& particleTemplate = getUseDefaultTemplate() ? getParticleSystem()->getDefaultParticleTemplate() : getParticleTemplate();
+
+    double duration = particleTemplate.getLifeTime();
+    if (!getEndless() && getLifeTime()<duration) duration = getLifeTime();
+    // duration += 5.0f/60.0f;
+
+    unsigned int num_before_end_of_lifetime = _counter->getEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(duration);
+    float esimateMaxNumScale = 1.1f;
+
     if (getReferenceFrame() == RELATIVE_RF)
     {
         const osg::Matrix& ltw = getLocalToWorldMatrix();
@@ -45,26 +54,41 @@ void osgParticle::ModularEmitter::emitParticles(double dt)
         if (_numParticleToCreateMovementCompensationRatio>0.0f)
         {
             // compute the distance moved between frames
-            const osg::Vec3d controlPosition
-                = osg::Vec3d(_placer->getControlPosition());
+            const osg::Vec3d controlPosition = osg::Vec3d(_placer->getControlPosition());
             osg::Vec3d previousPosition = controlPosition * previous_ltw;
             osg::Vec3d currentPosition = controlPosition * ltw;
             float distance = (currentPosition-previousPosition).length();
 
-            float size = getUseDefaultTemplate() ?
-                        getParticleSystem()->getDefaultParticleTemplate().getSizeRange().minimum :
-                        getParticleTemplate().getSizeRange().minimum;
+            float size = particleTemplate.getSizeRange().minimum;
 
             float num_extra_samples = _numParticleToCreateMovementCompensationRatio*distance/size;
             float rounded_down = floor(num_extra_samples);
             float remainder = num_extra_samples-rounded_down;
 
             n = osg::maximum(n, int(rounded_down) +  (((float) rand() < remainder * (float)RAND_MAX) ? 1 : 0));
+
+            unsigned int num_for_duration = static_cast<unsigned int>((num_extra_samples/dt) * duration);
+            if (num_for_duration>num_before_end_of_lifetime)
+            {
+                num_before_end_of_lifetime = num_for_duration;
+            }
+
+
         }
 
+        num_before_end_of_lifetime = static_cast<unsigned int>( ceilf(static_cast<float>(num_before_end_of_lifetime) * esimateMaxNumScale));
+
+        setEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(num_before_end_of_lifetime);
+
+
+        // double num_per_second = (static_cast<double>(n)/dt);
+        // OSG_NOTICE<<"emitParticle count="<<_counter->className()<<" ps="<<std::hex<<getParticleSystem()<<std::dec<<", n="<<n<<", num_per_second="<<num_per_second<<", num_before_end_of_lifetime="<<num_before_end_of_lifetime<<std::endl;
+        // if (getEndless()) { OSG_NOTICE<<"    Emitter::getLifeTime()=ENDLESS particle.getLifeTime()="<<particleTemplate.getLifeTime()<<" duration="<<duration<<std::endl; }
+        // else { OSG_NOTICE<<"    Emitter::getLifeTime()="<<getLifeTime()<<" particle.getLifeTime()="<<particleTemplate.getLifeTime()<<" duration="<<duration<<std::endl; }
+
         for (int i=0; i<n; ++i)
         {
-            Particle* P = getParticleSystem()->createParticle(getUseDefaultTemplate()? 0: &getParticleTemplate());
+            Particle* P = getParticleSystem()->createParticle(&particleTemplate);
             if (P)
             {
                 _placer->place(P);
@@ -87,9 +111,19 @@ void osgParticle::ModularEmitter::emitParticles(double dt)
     else
     {
         int n = _counter->numParticlesToCreate(dt);
+
+        num_before_end_of_lifetime = static_cast<unsigned int>( ceilf(static_cast<float>(num_before_end_of_lifetime) * esimateMaxNumScale));
+
+        setEstimatedMaxNumOfParticles(num_before_end_of_lifetime);
+
+        // double num_per_second = (static_cast<double>(n)/dt);
+        // OSG_NOTICE<<"emitParticle ps="<<std::hex<<getParticleSystem()<<std::dec<<", num_per_second="<<num_per_second<<", num_before_end_of_lifetime="<<num_before_end_of_lifetime<<std::endl;
+        // if (getEndless()) { OSG_NOTICE<<"    Emitter::getLifeTime()=ENDLESS particle.getLifeTime()="<<particleTemplate.getLifeTime()<<" duration="<<duration<<std::endl; }
+        // else { OSG_NOTICE<<"    Emitter::getLifeTime()="<<getLifeTime()<<" particle.getLifeTime()="<<particleTemplate.getLifeTime()<<" duration="<<duration<<std::endl; }
+
         for (int i=0; i<n; ++i)
         {
-            Particle* P = getParticleSystem()->createParticle(getUseDefaultTemplate()? 0: &getParticleTemplate());
+            Particle* P = getParticleSystem()->createParticle(&particleTemplate);
             if (P)
             {
                 _placer->place(P);
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/Particle.cpp b/src/osgParticle/Particle.cpp
index 62f58dfb7..e78e72b55 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/Particle.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/Particle.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 #include <osg/Vec3>
 #include <osg/Vec4>
 #include <osg/Matrix>
-#include <osg/GL>
 #include <osg/Notify>
 
 namespace
@@ -129,57 +128,6 @@ bool osgParticle::Particle::update(double dt, bool onlyTimeStamp)
     return true;
 }
 
-void osgParticle::Particle::render(osg::GLBeginEndAdapter* gl, const osg::Vec3& xpos, const osg::Vec3& px, const osg::Vec3& py, float scale) const
-{
-    gl->Color4f( _current_color.x(),
-                _current_color.y(),
-                _current_color.z(),
-                _current_color.w() * _current_alpha);
-
-    osg::Vec3 p1(px * _current_size * scale);
-    osg::Vec3 p2(py * _current_size * scale);
-
-    switch (_shape)
-    {
-    case POINT:
-        gl->Vertex3f(xpos.x(), xpos.y(), xpos.z());
-        break;
-
-    case USER:
-    case QUAD_TRIANGLESTRIP:
-    case HEXAGON:
-    case QUAD:
-        gl->TexCoord2f(_s_coord, _t_coord);
-        gl->Vertex3fv((xpos-(p1+p2)).ptr());
-        gl->TexCoord2f(_s_coord+_s_tile, _t_coord);
-        gl->Vertex3fv((xpos+(p1-p2)).ptr());
-        gl->TexCoord2f(_s_coord+_s_tile, _t_coord+_t_tile);
-        gl->Vertex3fv((xpos+(p1+p2)).ptr());
-        gl->TexCoord2f(_s_coord, _t_coord+_t_tile);
-        gl->Vertex3fv((xpos-(p1-p2)).ptr());
-        break;
-
-    case LINE:
-        {
-            // Get the normalized direction of the particle, to be used in the
-            // calculation of one of the linesegment endpoints.
-            float vl = _velocity.length();
-            if (vl != 0) {
-                osg::Vec3 v = _velocity * _current_size * scale / vl;
-
-                gl->TexCoord1f(0);
-                gl->Vertex3f(xpos.x(), xpos.y(), xpos.z());
-                gl->TexCoord1f(1);
-                gl->Vertex3f(xpos.x() + v.x(), xpos.y() + v.y(), xpos.z() + v.z());
-            }
-        }
-        break;
-
-    default:
-        OSG_WARN << "Invalid shape for particles\n";
-    }
-}
-
 void osgParticle::Particle::setUpTexCoordsAsPartOfConnectedParticleSystem(ParticleSystem* ps)
 {
     if (getPreviousParticle()!=Particle::INVALID_INDEX)
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor.cpp b/src/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor.cpp
index d0e7e538a..df926a0c5 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/ParticleProcessor.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ osgParticle::ParticleProcessor::ParticleProcessor(const ParticleProcessor& copy,
 {
 }
 
+void osgParticle::ParticleProcessor::setParticleSystem(ParticleSystem* ps)
+{
+    _ps = ps;
+}
+
 void osgParticle::ParticleProcessor::traverse(osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 {
     // typecast the NodeVisitor to CullVisitor
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystem.cpp b/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystem.cpp
index 333225471..1752568bc 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/ParticleSystem.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 #include <osgDB/FileUtils>
 #include <osgDB/ReadFile>
+#include <osgDB/WriteFile>
 #include <osgUtil/CullVisitor>
 
 #define USE_LOCAL_SHADERS
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ParticleSystem()
     _detail(1),
     _sortMode(NO_SORT),
     _visibilityDistance(-1.0),
-    _draw_count(0)
+    _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles(0)
 {
     // we don't support display lists because particle systems
     // are dynamic, and they always changes between frames
@@ -86,18 +87,20 @@ osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ParticleSystem(const ParticleSystem& copy, const os
     _detail(copy._detail),
     _sortMode(copy._sortMode),
     _visibilityDistance(copy._visibilityDistance),
-    _draw_count(0)
+    _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles(0)
 {
 }
 
 osgParticle::ParticleSystem::~ParticleSystem()
 {
+//    OSG_NOTICE<<"ParticleSystem::~ParticleSystem() "<<std::dec<<this<<std::dec<<" _particles.size()="<<_particles.size()<<", _particles.capacity()="<<_particles.capacity()<<" _estimatedMaxNumOfParticles="<<_estimatedMaxNumOfParticles<<std::endl;
 }
 
 osgParticle::Particle* osgParticle::ParticleSystem::createParticle(const osgParticle::Particle* ptemplate)
 {
     // is there any dead particle?
-    if (!_deadparts.empty()) {
+    if (!_deadparts.empty())
+    {
 
         // retrieve a pointer to the last dead particle
         Particle* P = _deadparts.top();
@@ -109,7 +112,17 @@ osgParticle::Particle* osgParticle::ParticleSystem::createParticle(const osgPart
         _deadparts.pop();
         return P;
 
-    } else {
+    }
+    else
+    {
+
+        if (_particles.size()==_particles.capacity())
+        {
+            if (_estimatedMaxNumOfParticles > static_cast<int>(_particles.capacity()))
+            {
+                _particles.reserve(_estimatedMaxNumOfParticles);
+            }
+        }
 
         // add a new particle to the vector
         _particles.push_back(ptemplate? *ptemplate: _def_ptemp);
@@ -198,10 +211,12 @@ void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::update(double dt, osg::NodeVisitor& nv)
 
 void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) const
 {
-    osg::State& state = *renderInfo.getState();
+    if (_particles.size() <= 0) return;
 
     ScopedReadLock lock(_readWriteMutex);
 
+    osg::State& state = *renderInfo.getState();
+
     // update the frame count, so other objects can detect when
     // this particle system is culled
     _last_frame = state.getFrameStamp()->getFrameNumber();
@@ -213,6 +228,237 @@ void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo
     // get the current modelview matrix
     osg::Matrix modelview = state.getModelViewMatrix();
 
+    ArrayData& ad = _bufferedArrayData[state.getContextID()];
+
+    if (_useVertexArray)
+    {
+        // note from Robert Osfield, September 2016, this block implementated for backwards compatibility but is pretty way vertex array/shaders were hacked into osgParticle
+
+        // set up arrays and primitives ready to fill in
+        if (!ad.vertices.valid())
+        {
+            ad.init3();
+            ad.reserve(_particles.capacity());
+        }
+
+        ad.clear();
+        ad.dirty();
+
+        osg::Vec3Array& vertices = *ad.vertices;
+        osg::Vec3Array& normals = *ad.normals;
+        osg::Vec4Array& colors = *ad.colors;
+        osg::Vec3Array& texcoords = *ad.texcoords3;
+        ArrayData::Primitives& primitives = ad.primitives;
+
+        for(unsigned int i=0; i<_particles.size(); i+=_detail)
+        {
+            const Particle* particle = &_particles[i];
+            const osg::Vec4& color = particle->getCurrentColor();
+            const osg::Vec3& pos = particle->getPosition();
+            const osg::Vec3& vel = particle->getVelocity();
+            colors.push_back( color );
+            texcoords.push_back( osg::Vec3(particle->_alive, particle->_current_size, particle->_current_alpha) );
+            normals.push_back(vel);
+            vertices.push_back(pos);
+        }
+
+        primitives.push_back(ArrayData::ModeCount(GL_POINTS, vertices.size()));
+
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // set up arrays and primitives ready to fill in
+        if (!ad.vertices.valid())
+        {
+            ad.init();
+            ad.reserve(_particles.capacity()*4);
+        }
+
+        ad.clear();
+        ad.dirty();
+
+        osg::Vec3Array& vertices = *ad.vertices;
+        osg::Vec4Array& colors = *ad.colors;
+        osg::Vec2Array& texcoords = *ad.texcoords2;
+        ArrayData::Primitives& primitives = ad.primitives;
+
+        float scale = sqrtf(static_cast<float>(_detail));
+
+        osg::Vec3 xAxis = _align_X_axis;
+        osg::Vec3 yAxis = _align_Y_axis;
+
+        osg::Vec3 scaled_aligned_xAxis = _align_X_axis;
+        osg::Vec3 scaled_aligned_yAxis = _align_Y_axis;
+
+        float xScale = 1.0f;
+        float yScale = 1.0f;
+
+        if (_alignment==BILLBOARD)
+        {
+            xAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(modelview,_align_X_axis);
+            yAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(modelview,_align_Y_axis);
+
+            float lengthX2 = xAxis.length2();
+            float lengthY2 = yAxis.length2();
+
+            if (_particleScaleReferenceFrame==LOCAL_COORDINATES)
+            {
+                xScale = 1.0f/sqrtf(lengthX2);
+                yScale = 1.0f/sqrtf(lengthY2);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                xScale = 1.0f/lengthX2;
+                yScale = 1.0f/lengthY2;
+            }
+
+            scaled_aligned_xAxis *= xScale;
+            scaled_aligned_yAxis *= yScale;
+
+            xAxis *= xScale;
+            yAxis *= yScale;
+        }
+
+        for(unsigned int i=0; i<_particles.size(); i+=_detail)
+        {
+            const Particle* currentParticle = &_particles[i];
+
+            bool insideDistance = true;
+            if (_sortMode != NO_SORT && _visibilityDistance>0.0)
+            {
+                insideDistance = (currentParticle->getDepth()>=0.0 && currentParticle->getDepth()<=_visibilityDistance);
+            }
+
+            if (currentParticle->isAlive() && insideDistance)
+            {
+                const osg::Vec3& angle = currentParticle->getAngle();
+                bool requiresRotation = (angle.x()!=0.0f || angle.y()!=0.0f || angle.z()!=0.0f);
+                if (requiresRotation)
+                {
+                    osg::Matrix R;
+                    R.makeRotate(
+                        angle.x(), osg::Vec3(1, 0, 0),
+                        angle.y(), osg::Vec3(0, 1, 0),
+                        angle.z(), osg::Vec3(0, 0, 1));
+
+                    if (_alignment==BILLBOARD)
+                    {
+                        xAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(R,scaled_aligned_xAxis);
+                        xAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(modelview,xAxis);
+
+                        yAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(R,scaled_aligned_yAxis);
+                        yAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(modelview,yAxis);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        xAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(R, scaled_aligned_xAxis);
+                        yAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(R, scaled_aligned_yAxis);
+                    }
+                }
+
+                osg::Vec4 color = currentParticle->getCurrentColor();
+                color.a() *= currentParticle->getCurrentAlpha();
+
+                float currentSize = currentParticle->getCurrentSize();
+
+                const osg::Vec3& xpos = currentParticle->getPosition();
+                const float s_coord = currentParticle->getSTexCoord();
+                const float t_coord = currentParticle->getTTexCoord();
+                const float s_tile = currentParticle->getSTexTile();
+                const float t_tile = currentParticle->getTTexTile();
+
+                osg::Vec3 p1(xAxis * currentSize * scale);
+                osg::Vec3 p2(yAxis * currentSize * scale);
+
+                switch (currentParticle->getShape())
+                {
+                    case osgParticle::Particle::POINT:
+                    {
+                        vertices.push_back(currentParticle->getPosition());
+                        colors.push_back(color);
+                        texcoords.push_back(osg::Vec2(0.5f,0.5f));
+
+                        if (!primitives.empty() && primitives.back().first==GL_POINTS)
+                        {
+                            primitives.back().second++;
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            primitives.push_back(ArrayData::ModeCount(GL_POINTS,1));
+                        }
+
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    case osgParticle::Particle::USER:
+                    case osgParticle::Particle::QUAD_TRIANGLESTRIP:
+                    case osgParticle::Particle::HEXAGON:
+                    case osgParticle::Particle::QUAD:
+                    {
+                        vertices.push_back(xpos-p1-p2);
+                        colors.push_back(color);
+                        texcoords.push_back(osg::Vec2(s_coord, t_coord));
+
+                        vertices.push_back(xpos+p1-p2);
+                        colors.push_back(color);
+                        texcoords.push_back(osg::Vec2(s_coord+s_tile, t_coord));
+
+                        vertices.push_back(xpos+p1+p2);
+                        colors.push_back(color);
+                        texcoords.push_back(osg::Vec2(s_coord+s_tile, t_coord+t_tile));
+
+                        vertices.push_back(xpos-p1+p2);
+                        colors.push_back(color);
+                        texcoords.push_back(osg::Vec2(s_coord, t_coord+t_tile));
+
+                        if (!primitives.empty() && primitives.back().first==GL_QUADS)
+                        {
+                            primitives.back().second+=4;
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            primitives.push_back(ArrayData::ModeCount(GL_QUADS,4));
+                        }
+
+                        break;
+                    }
+                    case osgParticle::Particle::LINE:
+                    {
+                        // Get the normalized direction of the particle, to be used in the
+                        // calculation of one of the linesegment endpoints.
+                        const osg::Vec3& velocity = currentParticle->getVelocity();
+                        float vl = velocity.length();
+                        if (vl != 0)
+                        {
+                            osg::Vec3 v = velocity * currentSize * scale / vl;
+
+                            vertices.push_back(currentParticle->getPosition());
+                            colors.push_back(color);
+                            texcoords.push_back(osg::Vec2(0.0f,0.0f));
+
+                            vertices.push_back(currentParticle->getPosition()+v);
+                            colors.push_back(color);
+                            texcoords.push_back(osg::Vec2(1.0f,1.0f));
+
+                            if (!primitives.empty() && primitives.back().first==GL_LINES)
+                            {
+                                primitives.back().second+=2;
+                            }
+                            else
+                            {
+                                primitives.push_back(ArrayData::ModeCount(GL_LINES,2));
+                            }
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+
+                    default:
+                        OSG_WARN << "Invalid shape for particles\n";
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+    }
+
     // set up depth mask for first rendering pass
 #if !defined(OSG_GLES1_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GLES2_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GL3_AVAILABLE)
     glPushAttrib(GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);
@@ -220,11 +466,8 @@ void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo
 
     glDepthMask(GL_FALSE);
 
-    // render, first pass
-    if (_useVertexArray)
-        render_vertex_array(renderInfo);
-    else
-        single_pass_render(renderInfo, modelview);
+    ad.dispatchArrays(state);
+    ad.dispatchPrimitives();
 
 #if !defined(OSG_GLES1_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GLES2_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GL3_AVAILABLE)
     // restore depth mask settings
@@ -232,29 +475,21 @@ void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo
 #endif
 
     // render, second pass
-    if (_doublepass) {
+    if (_doublepass)
+    {
         // set up color mask for second rendering pass
 #if !defined(OSG_GLES1_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GLES2_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GL3_AVAILABLE)
         glPushAttrib(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT);
 #endif
         glColorMask(GL_FALSE, GL_FALSE, GL_FALSE, GL_FALSE);
 
-        // render the particles onto the depth buffer
-        if (_useVertexArray)
-            render_vertex_array(renderInfo);
-        else
-            single_pass_render(renderInfo, modelview);
+        ad.dispatchPrimitives();
 
 #if !defined(OSG_GLES1_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GLES2_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GL3_AVAILABLE)
         // restore color mask settings
         glPopAttrib();
 #endif
     }
-
-#if defined(OSG_GLES1_AVAILABLE) || defined(OSG_GLES2_AVAILABLE) && !defined(OSG_GL3_AVAILABLE)
-    OSG_NOTICE<<"Warning: ParticleSystem::drawImplementation(..) not fully implemented."<<std::endl;
-#endif
-
 }
 
 void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::setDefaultAttributes(const std::string& texturefile, bool emissive_particles, bool lighting, int texture_unit)
@@ -386,149 +621,6 @@ void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::setDefaultAttributesUsingShaders(const std::st
     setUseShaders(true);
 }
 
-
-void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::single_pass_render(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo, const osg::Matrix& modelview) const
-{
-    _draw_count = 0;
-    if (_particles.size() <= 0) return;
-
-    osg::GLBeginEndAdapter* gl = &(renderInfo.getState()->getGLBeginEndAdapter());
-
-    float scale = sqrtf(static_cast<float>(_detail));
-
-    osg::Vec3 xAxis = _align_X_axis;
-    osg::Vec3 yAxis = _align_Y_axis;
-
-    osg::Vec3 scaled_aligned_xAxis = _align_X_axis;
-    osg::Vec3 scaled_aligned_yAxis = _align_Y_axis;
-
-    float xScale = 1.0f;
-    float yScale = 1.0f;
-
-    if (_alignment==BILLBOARD)
-    {
-        xAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(modelview,_align_X_axis);
-        yAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(modelview,_align_Y_axis);
-
-        float lengthX2 = xAxis.length2();
-        float lengthY2 = yAxis.length2();
-
-        if (_particleScaleReferenceFrame==LOCAL_COORDINATES)
-        {
-            xScale = 1.0f/sqrtf(lengthX2);
-            yScale = 1.0f/sqrtf(lengthY2);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            xScale = 1.0f/lengthX2;
-            yScale = 1.0f/lengthY2;
-        }
-
-        scaled_aligned_xAxis *= xScale;
-        scaled_aligned_yAxis *= yScale;
-
-        xAxis *= xScale;
-        yAxis *= yScale;
-    }
-
-    bool requiresEndRender = false;
-    const Particle* startParticle = &_particles[0];
-
-    startParticle->beginRender(gl);
-    requiresEndRender = true;
-
-    for(unsigned int i=0; i<_particles.size(); i+=_detail)
-    {
-        const Particle* currentParticle = &_particles[i];
-
-        bool insideDistance = true;
-        if (_sortMode != NO_SORT && _visibilityDistance>0.0)
-            insideDistance = (currentParticle->getDepth()>=0.0 && currentParticle->getDepth()<=_visibilityDistance);
-
-        if (currentParticle->isAlive() && insideDistance)
-        {
-            if (currentParticle->getShape() != startParticle->getShape())
-            {
-                startParticle->endRender(gl);
-                startParticle = currentParticle;
-
-                currentParticle->beginRender(gl);
-                requiresEndRender = true;
-                glDepthMask(GL_FALSE);
-            }
-            ++_draw_count;
-
-            const osg::Vec3& angle = currentParticle->getAngle();
-            bool requiresRotation = (angle.x()!=0.0f || angle.y()!=0.0f || angle.z()!=0.0f);
-            if (requiresRotation)
-            {
-                osg::Matrix R;
-                R.makeRotate(
-                    angle.x(), osg::Vec3(1, 0, 0),
-                    angle.y(), osg::Vec3(0, 1, 0),
-                    angle.z(), osg::Vec3(0, 0, 1));
-
-                if (_alignment==BILLBOARD)
-                {
-                    xAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(R,scaled_aligned_xAxis);
-                    xAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(modelview,xAxis);
-
-                    yAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(R,scaled_aligned_yAxis);
-                    yAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(modelview,yAxis);
-
-                    currentParticle->render(gl,currentParticle->getPosition(), xAxis, yAxis, scale);
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    xAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(R, scaled_aligned_xAxis);
-                    yAxis = osg::Matrix::transform3x3(R, scaled_aligned_yAxis);
-
-                    currentParticle->render(gl,currentParticle->getPosition(), xAxis, yAxis, scale);
-                }
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                currentParticle->render(gl,currentParticle->getPosition(), xAxis, yAxis, scale);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    if (requiresEndRender)
-        startParticle->endRender(gl);
-}
-
-void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::render_vertex_array(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) const
-{
-    if (_particles.size() <= 0) return;
-
-    // Compute the pointer and offsets
-    Particle_vector::const_iterator itr = _particles.begin();
-    float* ptr = (float*)(&(*itr));
-    GLsizei stride = 0;
-    if (_particles.size() > 1)
-    {
-        float* ptr1 = (float*)(&(*(itr+1)));
-        stride = ptr1 - ptr;
-    }
-    GLsizei posOffset = (float*)(&(itr->_position)) - ptr;         // Position
-    GLsizei colorOffset = (float*)(&(itr->_current_color)) - ptr;  // Color
-    GLsizei velOffset = (float*)(&(itr->_velocity)) - ptr;         // Velocity
-    GLsizei propOffset = (float*)(&(itr->_alive)) - ptr;       // Alive, size & alpha
-
-    // Draw particles as arrays
-    osg::State& state = *renderInfo.getState();
-    state.lazyDisablingOfVertexAttributes();
-    state.setColorPointer(4, GL_FLOAT, stride * sizeof(float), ptr + colorOffset);
-    state.setVertexPointer(3, GL_FLOAT, stride * sizeof(float), ptr + posOffset);
-    if (_useShaders)
-    {
-        state.setNormalPointer(GL_FLOAT, stride * sizeof(float), ptr + velOffset);
-        state.setTexCoordPointer(0, 3, GL_FLOAT, stride * sizeof(float), ptr + propOffset);
-    }
-    state.applyDisablingOfVertexAttributes();
-    glDrawArrays(GL_POINTS, 0, _particles.size());
-}
-
 osg::BoundingBox osgParticle::ParticleSystem::computeBoundingBox() const
 {
     if (!_bounds_computed)
@@ -567,35 +659,21 @@ void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::releaseGLObjects(osg::State* state) const
 
 osg::VertexArrayState* osgParticle::ParticleSystem::createVertexArrayState(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo, bool usingVBOs) const
 {
-    OSG_NOTICE<<"osgParticle::ParticleSystem::createVertexArrayState() "<<this<<std::endl;
-#if 0
-    return osg::Drawable::createVertexArrayState(renderInfo, usingVBOs);
-#else
     osg::State& state = *renderInfo.getState();
 
-    ArrayData& ad = _bufferedArrayData[state.getContextID()];
-
     osg::VertexArrayState* vas = new osg::VertexArrayState(&state);
 
-    OSG_NOTICE<<"  Creating new osg::VertexArrayState "<< vas<<std::endl;
-
-    if (ad.vertices.valid()) vas->assignVertexArrayDispatcher();
-    if (ad.colors.valid()) vas->assignColorArrayDispatcher();
-    if (ad.texcoords.valid()) vas->assignTexCoordArrayDispatcher(1);
+    vas->assignVertexArrayDispatcher();
+    vas->assignNormalArrayDispatcher();
+    vas->assignColorArrayDispatcher();
+    vas->assignTexCoordArrayDispatcher(1);
 
     if (state.useVertexArrayObject(_useVertexArrayObject))
     {
-        OSG_NOTICE<<"    Setup VertexArrayState to use VAO "<<vas<<std::endl;
-
         vas->generateVertexArrayObject();
     }
-    else
-    {
-        OSG_NOTICE<<"    Setup VertexArrayState to without using VAO "<<vas<<std::endl;
-    }
 
     return vas;
-#endif
 }
 
 
@@ -605,48 +683,139 @@ osg::VertexArrayState* osgParticle::ParticleSystem::createVertexArrayState(osg::
 //
 osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::ArrayData()
 {
-    OSG_NOTICE<<"osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData() "<<this<<std::endl;
+}
+
+void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::init()
+{
     vertexBufferObject = new osg::VertexBufferObject;
-    vertices = new osg::Vec3Array;
+    vertexBufferObject->setUsage(GL_DYNAMIC_DRAW);
+
+    vertices = new osg::Vec3Array(osg::Array::BIND_PER_VERTEX);
     vertices->setBufferObject(vertexBufferObject.get());
+    vertices->setDataVariance(osg::Object::DYNAMIC);
 
-    colors = new osg::Vec4Array;
+    colors = new osg::Vec4Array(osg::Array::BIND_PER_VERTEX);
     colors->setBufferObject(vertexBufferObject.get());
+    colors->setDataVariance(osg::Object::DYNAMIC);
 
-    texcoords = new osg::Vec2Array;
-    texcoords->setBufferObject(vertexBufferObject.get());
+    texcoords2 = new osg::Vec2Array(osg::Array::BIND_PER_VERTEX);
+    texcoords2->setBufferObject(vertexBufferObject.get());
+    texcoords2->setDataVariance(osg::Object::DYNAMIC);
+}
+
+void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::init3()
+{
+    vertexBufferObject = new osg::VertexBufferObject;
+    vertexBufferObject->setUsage(GL_DYNAMIC_DRAW);
+
+    vertices = new osg::Vec3Array(osg::Array::BIND_PER_VERTEX);
+    vertices->setBufferObject(vertexBufferObject.get());
+    vertices->setDataVariance(osg::Object::DYNAMIC);
+
+    normals = new osg::Vec3Array(osg::Array::BIND_PER_VERTEX);
+    normals->setBufferObject(vertexBufferObject.get());
+    normals->setDataVariance(osg::Object::DYNAMIC);
+
+    colors = new osg::Vec4Array(osg::Array::BIND_PER_VERTEX);
+    colors->setBufferObject(vertexBufferObject.get());
+    colors->setDataVariance(osg::Object::DYNAMIC);
+
+    texcoords3 = new osg::Vec3Array(osg::Array::BIND_PER_VERTEX);
+    texcoords3->setBufferObject(vertexBufferObject.get());
+    texcoords3->setDataVariance(osg::Object::DYNAMIC);
 }
 
 void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::reserve(unsigned int numVertices)
 {
-    vertices->reserve(numVertices);
-    colors->reserve(numVertices);
-    texcoords->reserve(numVertices);
+    unsigned int vertex_size = 0;
+
+    if (vertices.valid()) { vertices->reserve(numVertices); vertex_size += 12; }
+    if (normals.valid()) { normals->reserve(numVertices); vertex_size += 12; }
+    if (colors.valid()) { colors->reserve(numVertices); vertex_size += 16; }
+    if (texcoords2.valid()) { texcoords2->reserve(numVertices); vertex_size += 8; }
+    if (texcoords3.valid()) { texcoords3->reserve(numVertices); vertex_size += 12; }
+
+    vertexBufferObject->getProfile()._size = numVertices * vertex_size;
 }
 
 void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::resize(unsigned int numVertices)
 {
-    vertices->resize(numVertices);
-    colors->resize(numVertices);
-    texcoords->resize(numVertices);
+    if (vertices.valid()) vertices->resize(numVertices);
+    if (normals.valid()) normals->resize(numVertices);
+    if (colors.valid()) colors->resize(numVertices);
+    if (texcoords2.valid()) texcoords2->resize(numVertices);
+    if (texcoords3.valid()) texcoords3->resize(numVertices);
 }
 
 void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::resizeGLObjectBuffers(unsigned int maxSize)
 {
-    OSG_NOTICE<<"osgParticle::ParticleSystem::resizeGLObjectBuffers("<<maxSize<<") "<<this<<std::endl;
+    // OSG_NOTICE<<"osgParticle::ParticleSystem::resizeGLObjectBuffers("<<maxSize<<") "<<this<<std::endl;
 
-    vertexBufferObject->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
-    vertices->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
-    colors->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
-    texcoords->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
+    if (vertexBufferObject.valid()) vertexBufferObject->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
+
+    if (vertices.valid()) vertices->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
+    if (normals.valid()) normals->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
+    if (colors.valid()) colors->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
+    if (texcoords2.valid()) texcoords2->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
+    if (texcoords3.valid()) texcoords3->resizeGLObjectBuffers(maxSize);
 }
 
 void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::releaseGLObjects(osg::State* state)
 {
-    OSG_NOTICE<<"osgParticle::ParticleSystem::releaseGLObjects("<<state<<") "<<this<<std::endl;
+    // OSG_NOTICE<<"osgParticle::ParticleSystem::releaseGLObjects("<<state<<") "<<this<<std::endl;
 
-    vertexBufferObject->releaseGLObjects(state);
-    vertices->releaseGLObjects(state);
-    colors->releaseGLObjects(state);
-    texcoords->releaseGLObjects(state);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+    if (vertexBufferObject.valid()) vertexBufferObject->releaseGLObjects(state);
+
+    if (vertices.valid()) vertices->releaseGLObjects(state);
+    if (normals.valid()) normals->releaseGLObjects(state);
+    if (colors.valid()) colors->releaseGLObjects(state);
+    if (texcoords2.valid()) texcoords2->releaseGLObjects(state);
+    if (texcoords3.valid()) texcoords3->releaseGLObjects(state);
+}
+
+void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::clear()
+{
+    if (vertices.valid()) vertices->clear();
+    if (normals.valid()) normals->clear();
+    if (colors.valid()) colors->clear();
+    if (texcoords2.valid()) texcoords2->clear();
+    if (texcoords3.valid()) texcoords3->clear();
+    primitives.clear();
+}
+
+void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::dirty()
+{
+    if (vertices.valid()) vertices->dirty();
+    if (normals.valid()) normals->dirty();
+    if (colors.valid()) colors->dirty();
+    if (texcoords2.valid()) texcoords2->dirty();
+    if (texcoords3.valid()) texcoords3->dirty();
+}
+
+void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::dispatchArrays(osg::State& state)
+{
+    osg::VertexArrayState* vas = state.getCurrentVertexArrayState();
+
+    vas->lazyDisablingOfVertexAttributes();
+
+    if (vertices.valid()) vas->setVertexArray(state, vertices.get());
+    if (normals.valid()) vas->setNormalArray(state, normals.get());
+    if (colors.valid()) vas->setColorArray(state, colors.get());
+    if (texcoords2.valid()) vas->setTexCoordArray(state, 0, texcoords2.get());
+    if (texcoords3.valid()) vas->setTexCoordArray(state, 0, texcoords3.get());
+
+    vas->applyDisablingOfVertexAttributes(state);
+}
+
+void osgParticle::ParticleSystem::ArrayData::dispatchPrimitives()
+{
+    unsigned int base = 0;
+    for(ArrayData::Primitives::iterator itr = primitives.begin();
+        itr != primitives.end();
+        ++itr)
+    {
+        ArrayData::ModeCount& mc = *itr;
+        glDrawArrays(mc.first, base, mc.second);
+        base += mc.second;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/osgParticle/SmokeEffect.cpp b/src/osgParticle/SmokeEffect.cpp
index f4edee973..1743f3ab8 100644
--- a/src/osgParticle/SmokeEffect.cpp
+++ b/src/osgParticle/SmokeEffect.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ void SmokeEffect::setUpEmitterAndProgram()
         osgParticle::RandomRateCounter* counter = dynamic_cast<osgParticle::RandomRateCounter*>(_emitter->getCounter());
         if (counter)
         {
-            counter->setRateRange(3*_intensity,5*_intensity);
+            counter->setRateRange(3.0f*_intensity,5.0f*_intensity);
         }
 
         osgParticle::SectorPlacer* placer = dynamic_cast<osgParticle::SectorPlacer*>(_emitter->getPlacer());
diff --git a/src/osgWrappers/serializers/osgParticle/Particle.cpp b/src/osgWrappers/serializers/osgParticle/Particle.cpp
index ccbd795ad..42493997e 100644
--- a/src/osgWrappers/serializers/osgParticle/Particle.cpp
+++ b/src/osgWrappers/serializers/osgParticle/Particle.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <osgParticle/Particle>
+#include <osg/Drawable>
 #include <osgDB/ObjectWrapper>
 #include <osgDB/InputStream>
 #include <osgDB/OutputStream>