diff --git a/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.cpp b/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.cpp
index eddcfe50d..fd0be6665 100644
--- a/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.cpp
+++ b/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@
 #include <LogVisor/LogVisor.hpp>
 #include "BlenderConnection.hpp"
 
+#if _WIN32
+#include <io.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#endif
+
 namespace HECL
 {
 
@@ -17,8 +22,6 @@ BlenderConnection* SharedBlenderConnection = nullptr;
 
 #ifdef __APPLE__
 #define DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN "/Applications/Blender.app/Contents/MacOS/blender"
-#elif _WIN32
-#define DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN _S("%ProgramFiles%\\Blender Foundation\\Blender\\blender.exe")
 #else
 #define DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN "blender"
 #endif
@@ -26,6 +29,19 @@ BlenderConnection* SharedBlenderConnection = nullptr;
 extern "C" uint8_t HECL_BLENDERSHELL[];
 extern "C" size_t HECL_BLENDERSHELL_SZ;
 
+extern "C" uint8_t HECL_ADDON[];
+extern "C" size_t HECL_ADDON_SZ;
+
+static bool InstallAddon(const SystemChar* path)
+{
+    FILE* fp = HECL::Fopen(path, _S("wb"));
+    if (!fp)
+        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to install blender addon at '%s'"), path);
+    fwrite(HECL_ADDON, 1, HECL_ADDON_SZ, fp);
+    fclose(fp);
+    return true;
+}
+
 size_t BlenderConnection::_readLine(char* buf, size_t bufSz)
 {
     size_t readBytes = 0;
@@ -37,15 +53,9 @@ size_t BlenderConnection::_readLine(char* buf, size_t bufSz)
             *(buf-1) = '\0';
             return bufSz - 1;
         }
-#if _WIN32
-        DWORD ret = 0;
-        if (!ReadFile(m_readpipe[0], buf, 1, &ret, NULL))
-            goto err;
-#else
-        ssize_t ret = read(m_readpipe[0], buf, 1);
+        int ret = read(m_readpipe[0], buf, 1);
         if (ret < 0)
             goto err;
-#endif
         else if (ret == 1)
         {
             if (*buf == '\n')
@@ -69,21 +79,13 @@ err:
 
 size_t BlenderConnection::_writeLine(const char* buf)
 {
-#if _WIN32
-    DWORD ret = 0;
-    if (!WriteFile(m_writepipe[1], buf, strlen(buf), &ret, NULL))
-        goto err;
-    if (!WriteFile(m_writepipe[1], "\n", 1, NULL, NULL))
-        goto err;
-#else
-    ssize_t ret, nlerr;
+    int ret, nlerr;
     ret = write(m_writepipe[1], buf, strlen(buf));
     if (ret < 0)
         goto err;
     nlerr = write(m_writepipe[1], "\n", 1);
     if (nlerr < 0)
         goto err;
-#endif
     return (size_t)ret;
 err:
     BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
@@ -92,15 +94,9 @@ err:
 
 size_t BlenderConnection::_readBuf(char* buf, size_t len)
 {
-#if _WIN32
-    DWORD ret = 0;
-    if (!ReadFile(m_readpipe[0], buf, len, &ret, NULL))
-        goto err;
-#else
-    ssize_t ret = read(m_readpipe[0], buf, len);
+    int ret = read(m_readpipe[0], buf, len);
     if (ret < 0)
         goto err;
-#endif
     return ret;
 err:
     BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
@@ -109,15 +105,9 @@ err:
 
 size_t BlenderConnection::_writeBuf(const char* buf, size_t len)
 {
-#if _WIN32
-    DWORD ret = 0;
-    if (!WriteFile(m_writepipe[1], buf, len, &ret, NULL))
-        goto err;
-#else
-    ssize_t ret = write(m_writepipe[1], buf, len);
+    int ret = write(m_writepipe[1], buf, len);
     if (ret < 0)
         goto err;
-#endif
     return ret;
 err:
     BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, strerror(errno));
@@ -126,13 +116,8 @@ err:
 
 void BlenderConnection::_closePipe()
 {
-#if _WIN32
-    CloseHandle(m_readpipe[0]);
-    CloseHandle(m_writepipe[1]);
-#else
     close(m_readpipe[0]);
     close(m_writepipe[1]);
-#endif
 }
 
 BlenderConnection::BlenderConnection(bool silenceBlender)
@@ -155,156 +140,181 @@ BlenderConnection::BlenderConnection(bool silenceBlender)
     fwrite(HECL_BLENDERSHELL, 1, HECL_BLENDERSHELL_SZ, fp);
     fclose(fp);
 
-    /* Construct communication pipes */
-#if _WIN32
-    SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES sattrs = {sizeof(SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES), NULL, TRUE};
-    CreatePipe(&m_readpipe[0], &m_readpipe[1], &sattrs, 0);
-    CreatePipe(&m_writepipe[0], &m_writepipe[1], &sattrs, 0);
-#else
-    pipe(m_readpipe);
-    pipe(m_writepipe);
-#endif
+    HECL::SystemString blenderAddonPath(TMPDIR);
+    blenderAddonPath += _S("/hecl_blenderaddon.zip");
 
-    /* User-specified blender path */
-#if _WIN32
-    wchar_t BLENDER_BIN_BUF[2048];
-    wchar_t* blenderBin = _wgetenv(L"BLENDER_BIN");
-#else
-    char* blenderBin = getenv("BLENDER_BIN");
-#endif
-
-    /* Child process of blender */
-#if _WIN32
-    if (!blenderBin)
+    int installAttempt = 0;
+    while (true)
     {
-        /* Environment not set; use registry */
-        HKEY blenderKey;
-        if (RegOpenKeyExW(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, L"SOFTWARE\\BlenderFoundation", 0, KEY_READ, &blenderKey) == ERROR_SUCCESS)
+
+        /* Construct communication pipes */
+#if _WIN32
+        _pipe(m_readpipe, 2048, _O_BINARY);
+        _pipe(m_writepipe, 2048, _O_BINARY);
+        HANDLE writehandle = HANDLE(_get_osfhandle(m_writepipe[0]));
+        SetHandleInformation(writehandle, HANDLE_FLAG_INHERIT, HANDLE_FLAG_INHERIT);
+        HANDLE readhandle = HANDLE(_get_osfhandle(m_readpipe[1]));
+        SetHandleInformation(readhandle, HANDLE_FLAG_INHERIT, HANDLE_FLAG_INHERIT);
+#else
+        pipe(m_readpipe);
+        pipe(m_writepipe);
+#endif
+
+        /* User-specified blender path */
+#if _WIN32
+        wchar_t BLENDER_BIN_BUF[2048];
+        wchar_t* blenderBin = _wgetenv(L"BLENDER_BIN");
+#else
+        char* blenderBin = getenv("BLENDER_BIN");
+#endif
+
+        /* Child process of blender */
+#if _WIN32
+        if (!blenderBin)
         {
-            DWORD bufSz = sizeof(BLENDER_BIN_BUF);
-            if (RegGetValueW(blenderKey, NULL, L"Install_Dir", REG_SZ, NULL, BLENDER_BIN_BUF, &bufSz) == ERROR_SUCCESS)
-            {
-                wcscat_s(BLENDER_BIN_BUF, 2048, L"\\blender.exe");
-                blenderBin = BLENDER_BIN_BUF;
-            }
-            RegCloseKey(blenderKey);
+            /* Environment not set; use default */
+            wchar_t progFiles[256];
+            if (!GetEnvironmentVariableW(L"ProgramFiles", progFiles, 256))
+                BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, L"unable to determine 'Program Files' path");
+            _snwprintf(BLENDER_BIN_BUF, 2048, L"%s\\Blender Foundation\\Blender\\blender.exe", progFiles);
+            blenderBin = BLENDER_BIN_BUF;
         }
-    }
-    if (!blenderBin)
-    {
-        Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "unable to find blender");
-        return;
-    }
 
-    wchar_t cmdLine[2048];
-    _snwprintf(cmdLine, 2048, L" --background -P shellscript.py -- %08X %08X",
-               (uint32_t)m_writepipe[0], (uint32_t)m_readpipe[1]);
-
-    STARTUPINFO sinfo = {sizeof(STARTUPINFO)};
-    HANDLE nulHandle = NULL;
-    if (silenceBlender)
-    {
-        nulHandle = CreateFileW(L"nul", GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ|FILE_SHARE_WRITE, &sattrs, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, NULL);
-        sinfo.hStdError = nulHandle;
-        sinfo.hStdOutput = nulHandle;
-        sinfo.dwFlags = STARTF_USESTDHANDLES;
-    }
-
-    PROCESS_INFORMATION pinfo;
-    if (!CreateProcessW(blenderBin, cmdLine, NULL, NULL, TRUE, NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS, NULL, NULL, &sinfo, &pinfo))
-        Log.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "unable to launch blender");
-
-    CloseHandle(m_writepipe[1]);
-    CloseHandle(m_readpipe[0]);
-
-    if (nulHandle)
-        CloseHandle(nulHandle);
-
-#else
-    pid_t pid = fork();
-    if (!pid)
-    {
-        close(m_writepipe[1]);
-        close(m_readpipe[0]);
+        wchar_t cmdLine[2048];
+        if (installAttempt == 1)
+            _snwprintf(cmdLine, 2048, L" --background -P \"%s\" -- %d %d \"%s\"",
+                blenderShellPath.c_str(), int(writehandle), int(readhandle), blenderAddonPath.c_str());
+        else
+            _snwprintf(cmdLine, 2048, L" --background -P \"%s\" -- %d %d",
+                       blenderShellPath.c_str(), int(writehandle), int(readhandle));
 
+        STARTUPINFO sinfo = {sizeof(STARTUPINFO)};
+        HANDLE nulHandle = NULL;
         if (silenceBlender)
         {
-            int devNull = open("/dev/null", O_WRONLY);
-            dup2(devNull, STDOUT_FILENO);
-            dup2(devNull, STDERR_FILENO);
+            SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES sattrs = {sizeof(SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES), NULL, TRUE};
+            nulHandle = CreateFileW(L"nul", GENERIC_WRITE, FILE_SHARE_READ|FILE_SHARE_WRITE, &sattrs, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, NULL);
+            sinfo.hStdError = nulHandle;
+            sinfo.hStdOutput = nulHandle;
+            sinfo.dwFlags = STARTF_USESTDHANDLES;
         }
 
-        char errbuf[256];
-        char readfds[32];
-        snprintf(readfds, 32, "%d", m_writepipe[0]);
-        char writefds[32];
-        snprintf(writefds, 32, "%d", m_readpipe[1]);
-
-        /* Try user-specified blender first */
-        if (blenderBin)
+        PROCESS_INFORMATION pinfo;
+        if (!CreateProcessW(blenderBin, cmdLine, NULL, NULL, TRUE, NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS, NULL, NULL, &sinfo, &pinfo))
         {
-            execlp(blenderBin, blenderBin,
-                   "--background", "-P", blenderShellPath.c_str(),
-                   "--", readfds, writefds, NULL);
+            LPWSTR messageBuffer = nullptr;
+            size_t size = FormatMessageW(FORMAT_MESSAGE_ALLOCATE_BUFFER | FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM | FORMAT_MESSAGE_IGNORE_INSERTS,
+                NULL, GetLastError(), MAKELANGID(LANG_NEUTRAL, SUBLANG_DEFAULT), (LPWSTR)&messageBuffer, 0, NULL);
+            BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, L"unable to launch blender from %s: %s", blenderBin, messageBuffer);
+        }
+
+        close(m_writepipe[0]);
+        close(m_readpipe[1]);
+
+        if (nulHandle)
+            CloseHandle(nulHandle);
+
+#else
+        pid_t pid = fork();
+        if (!pid)
+        {
+            close(m_writepipe[1]);
+            close(m_readpipe[0]);
+
+            if (silenceBlender)
+            {
+                int devNull = open("/dev/null", O_WRONLY);
+                dup2(devNull, STDOUT_FILENO);
+                dup2(devNull, STDERR_FILENO);
+            }
+
+            char errbuf[256];
+            char readfds[32];
+            snprintf(readfds, 32, "%d", m_writepipe[0]);
+            char writefds[32];
+            snprintf(writefds, 32, "%d", m_readpipe[1]);
+
+            /* Try user-specified blender first */
+            if (blenderBin)
+            {
+                if (installAttempt == 1)
+                    execlp(blenderBin, blenderBin,
+                        "--background", "-P", blenderShellPath.c_str(),
+                        "--", readfds, writefds, blenderAddonPath.c_str(), NULL);
+                else
+                    execlp(blenderBin, blenderBin,
+                           "--background", "-P", blenderShellPath.c_str(),
+                           "--", readfds, writefds, NULL);
+                if (errno != ENOENT)
+                {
+                    snprintf(errbuf, 256, "NOLAUNCH %s\n", strerror(errno));
+                    write(m_writepipe[1], errbuf, strlen(errbuf));
+                    exit(1);
+                }
+            }
+
+            /* Otherwise default blender */
+            if (installAttempt == 1)
+                execlp(DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN, DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN,
+                    "--background", "-P", blenderShellPath.c_str(),
+                    "--", readfds, writefds, blenderAddonPath.c_str(), NULL);
+            else
+                execlp(DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN, DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN,
+                       "--background", "-P", blenderShellPath.c_str(),
+                       "--", readfds, writefds, NULL);
             if (errno != ENOENT)
             {
                 snprintf(errbuf, 256, "NOLAUNCH %s\n", strerror(errno));
                 write(m_writepipe[1], errbuf, strlen(errbuf));
                 exit(1);
             }
-        }
 
-        /* Otherwise default blender */
-        execlp(DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN, DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN,
-               "--background", "-P", blenderShellPath.c_str(),
-               "--", readfds, writefds, NULL);
-        if (errno != ENOENT)
-        {
-            snprintf(errbuf, 256, "NOLAUNCH %s\n", strerror(errno));
-            write(m_writepipe[1], errbuf, strlen(errbuf));
+            /* Unable to find blender */
+            write(m_writepipe[1], "NOBLENDER\n", 10);
             exit(1);
+
         }
-
-        /* Unable to find blender */
-        write(m_writepipe[1], "NOBLENDER\n", 10);
-        exit(1);
-
-    }
-    close(m_writepipe[0]);
-    close(m_readpipe[1]);
-    m_blenderProc = pid;
+        close(m_writepipe[0]);
+        close(m_readpipe[1]);
+        m_blenderProc = pid;
 #endif
 
-    /* Handle first response */
-    char lineBuf[256];
-    _readLine(lineBuf, sizeof(lineBuf));
-    if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOLAUNCH"))
-    {
-        _closePipe();
-        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "Unable to launch blender");
-    }
-    else if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOBLENDER"))
-    {
-        _closePipe();
-        if (blenderBin)
-            BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to find blender at '%s' or '%s'"),
-                       blenderBin, DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN);
-        else
-            BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to find blender at '%s'"),
-                       DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN);
-    }
-    else if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOADDON"))
-    {
-        _closePipe();
-        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "HECL addon not installed within blender");
-    }
-    else if (strcmp(lineBuf, "READY"))
-    {
-        _closePipe();
-        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "read '%s' from blender; expected 'READY'", lineBuf);
-    }
-    _writeLine("ACK");
+        /* Handle first response */
+        char lineBuf[256];
+        _readLine(lineBuf, sizeof(lineBuf));
+        if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOLAUNCH"))
+        {
+            _closePipe();
+            BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "Unable to launch blender");
+        }
+        else if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOBLENDER"))
+        {
+            _closePipe();
+            if (blenderBin)
+                BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to find blender at '%s' or '%s'"),
+                           blenderBin, DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN);
+            else
+                BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("Unable to find blender at '%s'"),
+                           DEFAULT_BLENDER_BIN);
+        }
+        else if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "NOADDON"))
+        {
+            _closePipe();
+            InstallAddon(blenderAddonPath.c_str());
+            ++installAttempt;
+            if (installAttempt >= 2)
+                BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "unable to install blender addon using '%s'", blenderAddonPath.c_str());
+            continue;
+        }
+        else if (strcmp(lineBuf, "READY"))
+        {
+            _closePipe();
+            BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "read '%s' from blender; expected 'READY'", lineBuf);
+        }
+        _writeLine("ACK");
 
+        break;
+    }
 }
 
 BlenderConnection::~BlenderConnection()
@@ -326,7 +336,7 @@ bool BlenderConnection::createBlend(const SystemString& path)
     _readLine(lineBuf, sizeof(lineBuf));
     if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "FINISHED"))
     {
-        m_loadedBlend = pathView.str();
+        m_loadedBlend = path;
         return true;
     }
     return false;
@@ -346,7 +356,7 @@ bool BlenderConnection::openBlend(const SystemString& path)
     _readLine(lineBuf, sizeof(lineBuf));
     if (!strcmp(lineBuf, "FINISHED"))
     {
-        m_loadedBlend = pathView.str();
+        m_loadedBlend = path;
         return true;
     }
     return false;
@@ -373,12 +383,12 @@ void BlenderConnection::deleteBlend()
     if (m_loadedBlend.size())
     {
         HECL::Unlink(m_loadedBlend.c_str());
-        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::Info, "Deleted '%s'", m_loadedBlend.c_str());
+        BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::Info, _S("Deleted '%s'"), m_loadedBlend.c_str());
         m_loadedBlend.clear();
     }
 }
 
-void BlenderConnection::PyOutStream::linkBlend(const SystemString& target, const std::string& objName,
+void BlenderConnection::PyOutStream::linkBlend(const std::string& target, const std::string& objName,
                                                bool link)
 {
     format("if '%s' not in bpy.data.scenes:\n"
diff --git a/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.hpp b/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.hpp
index a50d0af40..c9a0364f1 100644
--- a/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.hpp
+++ b/hecl/blender/BlenderConnection.hpp
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 #define BLENDERCONNECTION_HPP
 
 #if _WIN32
-#define _WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN 1
+#ifndef WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN 1
+#endif
 #include <windows.h>
 #else
 #include <unistd.h>
@@ -23,17 +25,15 @@ extern class BlenderConnection* SharedBlenderConnection;
 
 class BlenderConnection
 {
-    bool m_lock;
+    bool m_lock = false;
 #if _WIN32
     HANDLE m_blenderProc;
-    HANDLE m_readpipe[2];
-    HANDLE m_writepipe[2];
 #else
     pid_t m_blenderProc;
+#endif
     int m_readpipe[2];
     int m_writepipe[2];
-#endif
-    std::string m_loadedBlend;
+    SystemString m_loadedBlend;
     size_t _readLine(char* buf, size_t bufSz);
     size_t _writeLine(const char* buf);
     size_t _readBuf(char* buf, size_t len);
@@ -75,11 +75,12 @@ public:
             {
                 if (!m_parent.m_parent || !m_parent.m_parent->m_lock)
                     BlenderLog.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "lock not held for PyOutStream writing");
-                if (ch != traits_type::eof() && ch != '\n')
+                if (ch != traits_type::eof() && ch != '\n' && ch != '\0')
                 {
                     m_lineBuf += char_type(ch);
                     return ch;
                 }
+                //printf("FLUSHING %s\n", m_lineBuf.c_str());
                 m_parent.m_parent->_writeLine(m_lineBuf.c_str());
                 char readBuf[16];
                 m_parent.m_parent->_readLine(readBuf, 16);
@@ -109,7 +110,8 @@ public:
     public:
         PyOutStream(const PyOutStream& other) = delete;
         PyOutStream(PyOutStream&& other)
-        : m_parent(other.m_parent), m_sbuf(std::move(other.m_sbuf))
+        : m_parent(other.m_parent), m_sbuf(std::move(other.m_sbuf)),
+          std::ostream(&m_sbuf)
         {other.m_parent = nullptr;}
         ~PyOutStream() {close();}
         void close()
@@ -131,13 +133,19 @@ public:
             va_list ap;
             va_start(ap, fmt);
             char* result = nullptr;
+#ifdef _WIN32
+            int length = _vscprintf(fmt, ap);
+            result = (char*)malloc(length);
+            vsnprintf(result, length, fmt, ap);
+#else
             int length = vasprintf(&result, fmt, ap);
+#endif
+            va_end(ap);
             if (length > 0)
                 this->write(result, length);
             free(result);
-            va_end(ap);
         }
-        void linkBlend(const SystemString& target, const std::string& objName, bool link=true);
+        void linkBlend(const std::string& target, const std::string& objName, bool link=true);
     };
     inline PyOutStream beginPythonOut(bool deleteOnError=false)
     {
diff --git a/hecl/blender/CMakeLists.txt b/hecl/blender/CMakeLists.txt
index 3b1412d02..ba4292405 100644
--- a/hecl/blender/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hecl/blender/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,21 +1,32 @@
 list(APPEND PY_SOURCES
-     addon/__init__.py
-     addon/Nodegrid.py
-     addon/hmdl/__init__.py
-     addon/hmdl/HMDLMesh.py
-     addon/hmdl/HMDLShader.py
-     addon/hmdl/HMDLSkin.py
-     addon/hmdl/HMDLTxtr.py
-     addon/sact/__init__.py
-     addon/sact/SACTAction.py
-     addon/sact/SACTEvent.py
-     addon/sact/SACTSubtype.py)
+     hecl/__init__.py
+     hecl/Nodegrid.py
+     hecl/hmdl/__init__.py
+     hecl/hmdl/HMDLMesh.py
+     hecl/hmdl/HMDLShader.py
+     hecl/hmdl/HMDLSkin.py
+     hecl/hmdl/HMDLTxtr.py
+     hecl/sact/__init__.py
+     hecl/sact/SACTAction.py
+     hecl/sact/SACTEvent.py
+     hecl/sact/SACTSubtype.py)
 
 bintoc(hecl_blendershell.c hecl_blendershell.py HECL_BLENDERSHELL)
 
+if(NOT EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/hecl.zip)
+message("-- Generating addon package")
+execute_process(COMMAND python zip_package.py
+                WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR})
+if(NOT EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/hecl.zip)
+message(FATAL_ERROR "Unable to generate ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/hecl.zip; is python installed?")
+endif()
+endif()
+bintoc(hecl_addon.c hecl.zip HECL_ADDON)
+
 add_library(HECLBlender
             BlenderConnection.cpp
             BlenderConnection.hpp
             hecl_blendershell.py
             hecl_blendershell.c
+            hecl_addon.c
             ${PY_SOURCES})
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/Nodegrid.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/Nodegrid.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/Nodegrid.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/Nodegrid.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/__init__.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/__init__.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/__init__.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/HMDLMesh.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/HMDLMesh.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/HMDLMesh.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/HMDLMesh.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/HMDLShader.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/HMDLShader.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/HMDLShader.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/HMDLShader.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/HMDLSkin.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/HMDLSkin.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/HMDLSkin.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/HMDLSkin.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/HMDLTxtr.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/HMDLTxtr.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/HMDLTxtr.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/HMDLTxtr.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/__init__.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/hmdl/__init__.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/hmdl/__init__.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/sact/ANIM.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/sact/ANIM.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/sact/ANIM.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/sact/ANIM.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/sact/SACTAction.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/sact/SACTAction.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/sact/SACTAction.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/sact/SACTAction.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/sact/SACTEvent.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/sact/SACTEvent.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/sact/SACTEvent.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/sact/SACTEvent.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/sact/SACTSubtype.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/sact/SACTSubtype.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/sact/SACTSubtype.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/sact/SACTSubtype.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/addon/sact/__init__.py b/hecl/blender/hecl/sact/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from hecl/blender/addon/sact/__init__.py
rename to hecl/blender/hecl/sact/__init__.py
diff --git a/hecl/blender/hecl_blendershell.py b/hecl/blender/hecl_blendershell.py
index 2d4a56ee4..19505f49b 100644
--- a/hecl/blender/hecl_blendershell.py
+++ b/hecl/blender/hecl_blendershell.py
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ if '--' not in sys.argv:
 args = sys.argv[sys.argv.index('--')+1:]
 readfd = int(args[0])
 writefd = int(args[1])
+if sys.platform == "win32":
+    import msvcrt
+    readfd = msvcrt.open_osfhandle(readfd, os.O_RDONLY | os.O_BINARY)
+    writefd = msvcrt.open_osfhandle(writefd, os.O_WRONLY | os.O_BINARY)
 
 def readpipeline():
     retval = bytearray()
@@ -29,14 +33,23 @@ def quitblender():
     writepipeline(b'QUITTING')
     bpy.ops.wm.quit_blender()
 
-# Check that HECL addon is installed/enabled
-if 'hecl' not in bpy.context.user_preferences.addons:
-    if 'FINISHED' not in bpy.ops.wm.addon_enable(module='hecl'):
-        writepipeline(b'NOADDON')
-        bpy.ops.wm.quit_blender()
+# If there's a third argument, use it as the .zip path containing the addon
+if len(args) >= 3:
+    bpy.ops.wm.addon_install(overwrite=True, target='DEFAULT', filepath=args[2])
+    bpy.ops.wm.addon_refresh()
 
 # Make addon available to commands
-import hecl
+if bpy.context.user_preferences.addons.find('hecl') == -1:
+    try:
+        bpy.ops.wm.addon_enable(module='hecl')
+        bpy.ops.wm.save_userpref()
+    except:
+        pass
+try:
+    import hecl
+except:
+    writepipeline(b'NOADDON')
+    bpy.ops.wm.quit_blender()
 
 # Intro handshake
 writepipeline(b'READY')
diff --git a/hecl/blender/zip_package.py b/hecl/blender/zip_package.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c81f193b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hecl/blender/zip_package.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import sys, os
+import zipfile
+
+def zipdir(path, ziph):
+    # ziph is zipfile handle
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(path):
+        for file in files:
+            ziph.write(os.path.join(root, file))
+
+package_path = 'hecl'
+target_zip = 'hecl.zip'
+
+zf = zipfile.ZipFile(target_zip, mode='w', compression=zipfile.ZIP_DEFLATED)
+print('GENERATING', target_zip)
+if os.path.isdir(package_path):
+    zipdir(package_path, zf)
+
+zf.close()
diff --git a/hecl/driver/CMakeLists.txt b/hecl/driver/CMakeLists.txt
index fcdb69ef6..033160b6b 100644
--- a/hecl/driver/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hecl/driver/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
-if(WIN32)
-set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} /INCLUDE:HECLDataSpecs")
-endif()
-
 add_executable(hecl main.cpp
     ToolBase.hpp
     ToolPackage.hpp
@@ -24,8 +20,12 @@ list(APPEND DATA_SPEC_LIBS
      DNAMP1
      DNACommon)
 
+if(NOT WIN32)
+  list(APPEND PLAT_LIBS pthread)
+endif()
+
 target_link_libraries(hecl
     ${DATA_SPEC_LIBS}
     HECLDatabase HECLBlender HECLCommon AthenaCore NOD
-    LogVisor AthenaLibYaml png squish blowfish z lzo2 pthread
+    LogVisor AthenaLibYaml png squish blowfish z lzo2 ${PLAT_LIBS}
 )
diff --git a/hecl/driver/ToolExtract.hpp b/hecl/driver/ToolExtract.hpp
index 7a8255d65..b92b83c1a 100644
--- a/hecl/driver/ToolExtract.hpp
+++ b/hecl/driver/ToolExtract.hpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public:
                 LogModule.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "hecl extract must be ran within a project directory");
 
             size_t ErrorRef = LogVisor::ErrorCount;
-            HECL::SystemString rootDir = info.cwd + '/' + baseFile;
+            HECL::SystemString rootDir = info.cwd + _S('/') + baseFile;
             HECL::ProjectRootPath newProjRoot(rootDir);
             newProjRoot.makeDir();
             m_fallbackProj.reset(new HECL::Database::Project(newProjRoot));
diff --git a/hecl/driver/main.cpp b/hecl/driver/main.cpp
index 5ed3e1a3c..ebc23c3b6 100644
--- a/hecl/driver/main.cpp
+++ b/hecl/driver/main.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 #if _WIN32
 #define WIN_PAUSE 1
+#include <objbase.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <clocale>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -89,6 +91,12 @@ int wmain(int argc, const wchar_t** argv)
 int main(int argc, const char** argv)
 #endif
 {
+#if _WIN32
+    CoInitializeEx(nullptr, COINIT_MULTITHREADED);
+#else
+    std::setlocale(LC_ALL, "en-US.UTF-8");
+#endif
+    
     /* Xterm check */
     const char* term = getenv("TERM");
     if (term && !strncmp(term, "xterm", 5))
diff --git a/hecl/extern/Athena b/hecl/extern/Athena
index 66cb6c982..488a0100e 160000
--- a/hecl/extern/Athena
+++ b/hecl/extern/Athena
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 66cb6c982e8824fa887807bf8ba42376b301478b
+Subproject commit 488a0100e2e6044361a494a280c7f1a28911762e
diff --git a/hecl/extern/CMakeLists.txt b/hecl/extern/CMakeLists.txt
index 40b9d24b2..00c81b155 100644
--- a/hecl/extern/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hecl/extern/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-add_subdirectory(libpng)
 add_subdirectory(libSquish)
 add_subdirectory(blowfish)
 add_subdirectory(LogVisor)
 add_subdirectory(Athena EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
+add_subdirectory(libpng)
diff --git a/hecl/extern/LogVisor b/hecl/extern/LogVisor
index 154b84413..828db515b 160000
--- a/hecl/extern/LogVisor
+++ b/hecl/extern/LogVisor
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 154b84413050cdb03f281c42861b9af6eaef7d14
+Subproject commit 828db515ba316903c367b9dc7acf9d0bec0969e7
diff --git a/hecl/include/HECL/HECL.hpp b/hecl/include/HECL/HECL.hpp
index e769aa4dc..af0aa2742 100644
--- a/hecl/include/HECL/HECL.hpp
+++ b/hecl/include/HECL/HECL.hpp
@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #else
-#define _WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN 1
+#ifndef WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN 1
+#endif
 #include <Windows.h>
 #include <wchar.h>
-#include "winsupport.h"
-#define snprintf _snprintf
+#include "winsupport.hpp"
 #endif
 
 #include <time.h>
@@ -29,8 +30,10 @@
 #include "../extern/blowfish/blowfish.h"
 
 /* Handy MIN/MAX macros */
+#ifndef MAX
 #define MAX(x, y) (((x) > (y)) ? (x) : (y))
 #define MIN(x, y) (((x) < (y)) ? (x) : (y))
+#endif
 
 namespace HECL
 {
@@ -135,11 +138,11 @@ static inline void Unlink(const SystemChar* file)
 #endif
 }
 
-static inline void MakeDir(const SystemChar* dir)
+static inline void MakeDir(const char* dir)
 {
 #if _WIN32
     HRESULT err;
-    if (!CreateDirectory(dir, NULL))
+    if (!CreateDirectoryA(dir, NULL))
         if ((err = GetLastError()) != ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS)
             LogModule.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("MakeDir(%s)"), dir);
 #else
@@ -149,11 +152,29 @@ static inline void MakeDir(const SystemChar* dir)
 #endif
 }
 
+#if _WIN32
+static inline void MakeDir(const wchar_t* dir)
+{
+    HRESULT err;
+    if (!CreateDirectoryW(dir, NULL))
+        if ((err = GetLastError()) != ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS)
+            LogModule.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("MakeDir(%s)"), dir);
+}
+#endif
+
 static inline void MakeLink(const SystemChar* target, const SystemChar* linkPath)
 {
 #if _WIN32
+    HRESULT res = CreateShellLink(target, linkPath, _S("HECL Link")); /* :(( */
+    if (!SUCCEEDED(res))
+    {
+        LPWSTR messageBuffer = nullptr;
+        size_t size = FormatMessageW(FORMAT_MESSAGE_ALLOCATE_BUFFER | FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM | FORMAT_MESSAGE_IGNORE_INSERTS,
+            NULL, res, MAKELANGID(LANG_NEUTRAL, SUBLANG_DEFAULT), (LPWSTR)&messageBuffer, 0, NULL); /* :((( */
+        LogModule.report(LogVisor::FatalError, _S("MakeLink(%s, %s): %s"), target, linkPath, messageBuffer);
+    }
 #else
-    if (symlink(target, linkPath))
+    if (symlink(target, linkPath)) /* :) */
         if (errno != EEXIST)
             LogModule.report(LogVisor::FatalError, "MakeLink(%s, %s): %s", target, linkPath, strerror(errno));
 #endif
diff --git a/hecl/include/HECL/winsupport.h b/hecl/include/HECL/winsupport.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 043ac6043..000000000
--- a/hecl/include/HECL/winsupport.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef _HECL_WINSUPPORT_H_
-#define _HECL_WINSUPPORT_H_
-
-#if __cplusplus
-extern "C" {
-#endif
-
-void* memmem(const void *haystack, size_t hlen, const void *needle, size_t nlen);
-
-#if __cplusplus
-}
-#endif
-
-#endif // _HECL_WINSUPPORT_H_
diff --git a/hecl/include/HECL/winsupport.hpp b/hecl/include/HECL/winsupport.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2db5d7f00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hecl/include/HECL/winsupport.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#ifndef _HECL_WINSUPPORT_H_
+#define _HECL_WINSUPPORT_H_
+
+#ifndef WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN 1
+#endif
+#include "windows.h"
+
+void* memmem(const void *haystack, size_t hlen, const void *needle, size_t nlen);
+HRESULT CreateShellLink(LPCWSTR lpszPathObj, LPCWSTR lpszPathLink, LPCWSTR lpszDesc);
+HRESULT ResolveShellLink(LPCWSTR lpszLinkFile, LPWSTR lpszPath, int iPathBufferSize);
+
+#endif // _HECL_WINSUPPORT_H_
diff --git a/hecl/lib/CMakeLists.txt b/hecl/lib/CMakeLists.txt
index 412be8f52..2277730d9 100644
--- a/hecl/lib/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/hecl/lib/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ add_subdirectory(Frontend)
 add_subdirectory(Runtime)
 
 if(WIN32)
-list(APPEND PLAT_SRCS winsupport.c ../include/HECL/winsupport.h)
+list(APPEND PLAT_SRCS winsupport.cpp ../include/HECL/winsupport.hpp)
 endif()
 
 add_library(HECLCommon
diff --git a/hecl/lib/WideStringConvert.cpp b/hecl/lib/WideStringConvert.cpp
index e674832fe..d21c92568 100644
--- a/hecl/lib/WideStringConvert.cpp
+++ b/hecl/lib/WideStringConvert.cpp
@@ -5,29 +5,45 @@ namespace HECL
 
 std::string WideToUTF8(const std::wstring& src)
 {
+#if _WIN32
+    int len = WideCharToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, 0, src.c_str(), src.size(), nullptr, 0, nullptr, nullptr);
+    std::string retval(len, '\0');
+    WideCharToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, 0, src.c_str(), src.size(), &retval[0], len, nullptr, nullptr);
+    return retval;
+#else
     std::string retval;
     retval.reserve(src.length());
+    std::mbstate_t state = {};
     for (wchar_t ch : src)
     {
-        char mb[4];
-        int c = std::wctomb(mb, ch);
+        char mb[MB_LEN_MAX];
+        int c = std::wcrtomb(mb, ch, &state);
         retval.append(mb, c);
     }
     return retval;
+#endif
 }
 
 std::wstring UTF8ToWide(const std::string& src)
 {
+#if _WIN32
+    int len = MultiByteToWideChar(CP_UTF8, 0, src.c_str(), src.size(), nullptr, 0);
+    std::wstring retval(len, L'\0');
+    MultiByteToWideChar(CP_UTF8, 0, src.c_str(), src.size(), &retval[0], len);
+    return retval;
+#else
     std::wstring retval;
     retval.reserve(src.length());
     const char* buf = src.c_str();
+    std::mbstate_t state = {};
     while (*buf)
     {
         wchar_t wc;
-        buf += std::mbtowc(&wc, buf, MB_CUR_MAX);
+        buf += std::mbrtowc(&wc, buf, MB_LEN_MAX, &state);
         retval += wc;
     }
     return retval;
+#endif
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/hecl/lib/winsupport.c b/hecl/lib/winsupport.c
deleted file mode 100644
index ddb933bbc..000000000
--- a/hecl/lib/winsupport.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <stdint.h>
-#include <string.h>
-
-/*
-* The memmem() function finds the start of the first occurrence of the
-* substring 'needle' of length 'nlen' in the memory area 'haystack' of
-* length 'hlen'.
-*
-* The return value is a pointer to the beginning of the sub-string, or
-* NULL if the substring is not found.
-*/
-void *memmem(const uint8_t *haystack, size_t hlen, const void *needle, size_t nlen)
-{
-    int needle_first;
-    const uint8_t *p = haystack;
-    size_t plen = hlen;
-
-    if (!nlen)
-        return NULL;
-
-    needle_first = *(unsigned char *)needle;
-
-    while (plen >= nlen && (p = memchr(p, needle_first, plen - nlen + 1)))
-    {
-        if (!memcmp(p, needle, nlen))
-            return (void *)p;
-
-        p++;
-        plen = hlen - (p - haystack);
-    }
-
-    return NULL;
-}
diff --git a/hecl/lib/winsupport.cpp b/hecl/lib/winsupport.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54fe2bae6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hecl/lib/winsupport.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <string>
+#include "HECL/winsupport.hpp"
+
+/*
+* The memmem() function finds the start of the first occurrence of the
+* substring 'needle' of length 'nlen' in the memory area 'haystack' of
+* length 'hlen'.
+*
+* The return value is a pointer to the beginning of the sub-string, or
+* NULL if the substring is not found.
+*/
+void *memmem(const void *haystack, size_t hlen, const void *needle, size_t nlen)
+{
+    int needle_first;
+    const uint8_t *p = static_cast<const uint8_t*>(haystack);
+    size_t plen = hlen;
+
+    if (!nlen)
+        return NULL;
+
+    needle_first = *(unsigned char *)needle;
+
+    while (plen >= nlen && (p = static_cast<const uint8_t*>(memchr(p, needle_first, plen - nlen + 1))))
+    {
+        if (!memcmp(p, needle, nlen))
+            return (void *)p;
+
+        p++;
+        plen = hlen - (p - static_cast<const uint8_t*>(haystack));
+    }
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+/* Clearly, MS doesn't require enough headers for this */
+#include "winnls.h"
+#include "shobjidl.h"
+#include "objbase.h"
+#include "objidl.h"
+#include "shlguid.h"
+#include "strsafe.h"
+
+HRESULT CreateShellLink(LPCWSTR lpszPathObj, LPCWSTR lpszPathLink, LPCWSTR lpszDesc)
+{
+    std::wstring targetStr(lpszPathObj);
+    for (wchar_t& ch : targetStr)
+        if (ch == L'/')
+            ch = L'\\';
+    std::wstring linkStr(lpszPathLink);
+    linkStr += L".lnk";
+    for (wchar_t& ch : linkStr)
+        if (ch == L'/')
+            ch = L'\\';
+    
+    HRESULT hres;
+    IShellLink* psl;
+
+    // Get a pointer to the IShellLink interface. It is assumed that CoInitialize
+    // has already been called.
+    hres = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_ShellLink, NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_IShellLink, (LPVOID*)&psl);
+    if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
+    {
+        IPersistFile* ppf;
+
+        // Set the path to the shortcut target and add the description. 
+        WCHAR targetBuf[MAX_PATH];
+        WCHAR linkBuf[MAX_PATH];
+        WCHAR* linkFinalPart = nullptr;
+        GetFullPathNameW(linkStr.c_str(), MAX_PATH, linkBuf, &linkFinalPart);
+        if (linkFinalPart != linkBuf)
+            *(linkFinalPart-1) = L'\0';
+        StringCbPrintfW(targetBuf, MAX_PATH, L"%s\\%s", linkBuf, targetStr.c_str());
+        if (linkFinalPart != linkBuf)
+            *(linkFinalPart - 1) = L'\\';
+        psl->SetPath(targetBuf);
+        psl->SetRelativePath(linkBuf, 0);
+        psl->SetDescription(lpszDesc);
+
+        // Query IShellLink for the IPersistFile interface, used for saving the 
+        // shortcut in persistent storage. 
+        hres = psl->QueryInterface(IID_IPersistFile, (LPVOID*)&ppf);
+
+        if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
+        {
+            // Save the link by calling IPersistFile::Save. 
+            hres = ppf->Save(linkBuf, TRUE);
+            ppf->Release();
+        }
+        psl->Release();
+    }
+    return hres;
+}
+
+HRESULT ResolveShellLink(LPCWSTR lpszLinkFile, LPWSTR lpszPath, int iPathBufferSize)
+{
+    HRESULT hres;
+    IShellLink* psl;
+    WCHAR szGotPath[MAX_PATH];
+    WCHAR szDescription[MAX_PATH];
+    WIN32_FIND_DATA wfd;
+
+    *lpszPath = 0; // Assume failure 
+
+                   // Get a pointer to the IShellLink interface. It is assumed that CoInitialize
+                   // has already been called. 
+    hres = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_ShellLink, NULL, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_IShellLink, (LPVOID*)&psl);
+    if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
+    {
+        IPersistFile* ppf;
+
+        // Get a pointer to the IPersistFile interface. 
+        hres = psl->QueryInterface(IID_IPersistFile, (void**)&ppf);
+
+        if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
+        {
+            // Load the shortcut. 
+            hres = ppf->Load(lpszLinkFile, STGM_READ);
+
+            if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
+            {
+                // Resolve the link. 
+                HWND hwnd = GetConsoleWindow();
+                if (!hwnd)
+                    hwnd = GetTopWindow(nullptr);
+                hres = psl->Resolve(hwnd, 0);
+
+                if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
+                {
+                    // Get the path to the link target. 
+                    hres = psl->GetPath(szGotPath, MAX_PATH, (WIN32_FIND_DATA*)&wfd, SLGP_SHORTPATH);
+
+                    if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
+                    {
+                        // Get the description of the target. 
+                        hres = psl->GetDescription(szDescription, MAX_PATH);
+
+                        if (SUCCEEDED(hres))
+                        {
+                            hres = StringCbCopy(lpszPath, iPathBufferSize, szGotPath);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Release the pointer to the IPersistFile interface. 
+            ppf->Release();
+        }
+
+        // Release the pointer to the IShellLink interface. 
+        psl->Release();
+    }
+    return hres;
+}
+
+