diff --git a/nif/nif_file.cpp b/nif/nif_file.cpp
index fd7a38b3b..a18496550 100644
--- a/nif/nif_file.cpp
+++ b/nif/nif_file.cpp
@@ -50,8 +50,13 @@ void NIFFile::parse()
       
       cout << i << ": " << rec.toString() << endl;
 
+      NifRecord *r = NULL;
+
       if(rec == "NiNode") cout << " got a node!\n";
 
+      if(r) r->read(this);
+      else cout << "No record was created\n";
+
       break;
     }
 }
diff --git a/nif/nif_file.h b/nif/nif_file.h
index f276acd64..093131246 100644
--- a/nif/nif_file.h
+++ b/nif/nif_file.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 #include <vector>
 #include <string>
 
+#include "record.h"
+
 using namespace Mangle::Stream;
 
 class NIFFile
@@ -52,7 +54,6 @@ class NIFFile
   std::string filename;
 
   /// Record list
-  typedef void NifRecord;
   std::vector<NifRecord*> records;
 
   /// Used for error handling
diff --git a/nif/record.h b/nif/record.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..52fbd030c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nif/record.h
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/*
+  OpenMW - The completely unofficial reimplementation of Morrowind
+  Copyright (C) 2008-2010  Nicolay Korslund
+  Email: < korslund@gmail.com >
+  WWW: http://openmw.sourceforge.net/
+
+  This file (record.h) is part of the OpenMW package.
+
+  OpenMW is distributed as free software: you can redistribute it
+  and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+  version 3, as published by the Free Software Foundation.
+
+  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+  WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+  General Public License for more details.
+
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+  version 3 along with this program. If not, see
+  http://www.gnu.org/licenses/ .
+
+ */
+
+#ifndef _NIF_RECORD_H_
+#define _NIF_RECORD_H_
+
+class NIFFile;
+
+class NifRecord
+{
+ public:
+  virtual void read(NIFFile *nif) = 0;
+
+  /*
+    Use these later if you want custom allocation of all NIF objects
+
+  static void* operator new(size_t size);
+  static void operator delete(void *p);
+  */
+};
+
+#endif
diff --git a/nif/tests/Makefile b/nif/tests/Makefile
index 196ce26e2..ea6e21959 100644
--- a/nif/tests/Makefile
+++ b/nif/tests/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ GCC=g++
 
 all: niftool
 
-niftool: niftool.cpp ../nif_file.h
+niftool: niftool.cpp ../nif_file.h ../nif_file.cpp ../record.h
 	$(GCC) $< ../nif_file.cpp ../../tools/stringops.cpp -o $@
 
 clean: