diff --git a/include/asset.h b/include/asset.h
index a76bbdc..d5e180f 100644
--- a/include/asset.h
+++ b/include/asset.h
@@ -58,6 +58,17 @@ struct Assets
 };
 
 
+Mesh* meshInit(MemoryArena* arena,
+	u32 num_vertices,
+	u32 num_indices,
+	bool use_normals = false,
+	bool use_colors = false,
+	bool use_uvs = false);
+
+Model* modelInitManual(MemoryArena* arena,
+	u32 num_meshes,
+	Mesh* meshes = nullptr);
+
 Model* getModelByPath(Assets* assets, const char* filepath);
 
 Texture* getTextureByPath(Assets* assets, const char* filepath);
diff --git a/src/asset.cpp b/src/asset.cpp
index 8f84e75..bf3e245 100644
--- a/src/asset.cpp
+++ b/src/asset.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,44 @@ Texture* getCachedTexture(Assets* assets, u64 path_hash);
 
 // interface
 
+Mesh*
+meshInit(MemoryArena* arena,
+	u32 num_vertices,
+	u32 num_indices,
+	bool use_normals,
+	bool use_colors,
+	bool use_uvs)
+{
+	Mesh* m = ARENA_ALLOC(arena, Mesh, 1);
+	m->num_vertices = num_vertices;
+	m->num_indices = num_indices;
+
+	m->vertices = ARENA_ALLOC(arena, vec3, num_vertices);
+	m->indices = ARENA_ALLOC(arena, u16, num_indices);
+
+	if (use_normals)
+		m->normals = ARENA_ALLOC(arena, vec3, num_vertices);
+	if (use_colors)
+		m->colors = ARENA_ALLOC(arena, vec3, num_vertices);
+	if (use_uvs)
+		m->uvs = ARENA_ALLOC(arena, vec2, num_vertices);
+
+	m->xform = ARENA_ALLOC(arena, mat4, 1);
+	*m->xform = mat4(1);
+
+	return m;
+}
+
+Model*
+modelInitManual(MemoryArena* arena, u32 num_meshes, Mesh* meshes)
+{
+	Model* mdl = ARENA_ALLOC(arena, Model, 1);
+	mdl->meshes = meshes; // NOTE: defaults to nullptr
+	mdl->num_meshes = num_meshes;
+
+	return mdl;
+}
+
 Model*
 getModelByPath(Assets* assets, const char* filepath)
 {