diff --git a/include/osgSim/ColorRange b/include/osgSim/ColorRange
index d1dcbc67b..2a7d605d2 100644
--- a/include/osgSim/ColorRange
+++ b/include/osgSim/ColorRange
@@ -32,12 +32,18 @@ class OSGSIM_EXPORT ColorRange: public ScalarsToColors
 {
 public:
 
+    /** Constructor for a ColorRange with a default list of colors set to Red-Yellow-Green-Blue-Cyan
+    @param min      minimum scalar value
+    @param max      maximum scalar value
+    */
+    ColorRange(float min, float max);
+
     /** Constructor for a ColorRange
     @param min      minimum scalar value
     @param max      maximum scalar value
-    @param colors   optional range of colors, defaulting to Red-Yellow-Green-Blue-Cyan
+    @param colors   optional range of colors, 
     */
-    ColorRange(float min, float max, const std::vector<osg::Vec4>& colors = std::vector<osg::Vec4>());
+    ColorRange(float min, float max, const std::vector<osg::Vec4>& colors);
 
     /** Set the range of colors. */
     void setColors(const std::vector<osg::Vec4>& colors);
diff --git a/src/osgSim/ColorRange.cpp b/src/osgSim/ColorRange.cpp
index f2298d6f3..7a96a5354 100644
--- a/src/osgSim/ColorRange.cpp
+++ b/src/osgSim/ColorRange.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 
 using namespace osgSim;
 
+ColorRange::ColorRange(float min, float max): ScalarsToColors(min,max)
+{
+   // Default to something sensible
+    _colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(1.0,0.0,0.0,1.0));  // R
+    _colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(1.0,1.0,0.0,1.0));  // Y
+    _colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(0.0,1.0,0.0,1.0));  // G
+    _colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(0.0,1.0,1.0,1.0));  // C
+    _colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(0.0,0.0,1.0,1.0));  // B
+}
+
 ColorRange::ColorRange(float min, float max, const std::vector<osg::Vec4>& colors): ScalarsToColors(min,max)
 {
     setColors(colors);
@@ -9,30 +19,21 @@ ColorRange::ColorRange(float min, float max, const std::vector<osg::Vec4>& color
 
 void ColorRange::setColors(const std::vector<osg::Vec4>& colors)
 {
-    if(colors.size()>1)
-	{
-	    _colors=colors;
-	}
-	else
-	{
-	    // Default to something sensible
-		_colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(1.0,0.0,0.0,1.0));  // R
-		_colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(1.0,1.0,0.0,1.0));  // Y
-		_colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(0.0,1.0,0.0,1.0));  // G
-		_colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(0.0,1.0,1.0,1.0));  // C
-		_colors.push_back(osg::Vec4(0.0,0.0,1.0,1.0));  // B
-	}
+    _colors=colors;
 }
 
 osg::Vec4 ColorRange::getColor(float scalar) const
 {
+    if (_colors.empty()) return osg::Vec4(1.0f,1.0f,1.0f,1.0f);
+    if (_colors.size()==1) return  _colors.front();
+
     if(scalar<getMin()) return _colors.front();
     if(scalar>getMax()) return _colors.back();
 
-	float r = ((scalar - getMin())/(getMax() - getMin())) * (_colors.size()-1);
+    float r = ((scalar - getMin())/(getMax() - getMin())) * (_colors.size()-1);
     int lower = static_cast<int>(floor(r));
-	int upper = static_cast<int>(ceil(r));
+    int upper = static_cast<int>(ceil(r));
 
-	osg::Vec4 color = _colors[lower] + ((_colors[upper] - _colors[lower]) * (r-lower));
-	return color;
+    osg::Vec4 color = _colors[lower] + ((_colors[upper] - _colors[lower]) * (r-lower));
+    return color;
 }