diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/placement.cxx b/simgear/scene/model/placement.cxx
index e1c5a0a5..7b6a0b69 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/placement.cxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/placement.cxx
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ SGModelPlacement::init( osg::Node * model )
   _selector->setValue(0, 1);
 }
 
+void SGModelPlacement::clear()
+{
+    _selector = NULL;
+    _transform = NULL;
+}
+
 void
 SGModelPlacement::update()
 {
diff --git a/simgear/scene/model/placement.hxx b/simgear/scene/model/placement.hxx
index 97d5cda5..84aecac2 100644
--- a/simgear/scene/model/placement.hxx
+++ b/simgear/scene/model/placement.hxx
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ public:
   virtual ~SGModelPlacement ();
 
   virtual void init( osg::Node* model );
-
+  void clear();
+  
   virtual void update();
 
   virtual osg::Node* getSceneGraph () { return _selector.get(); }