Check out this summary of another game engine's solution (not Ardor3D's… yet) to a very common problem.
ardor3d.com - This website is for sale! - ardor3d ardor Java engine jmonkeyengine jmonkey lwjgl jogl Resources and Information.
I think it would be great if we could get support for this sort of thing in jME… it would make a great many users and developers of jME very very VERY happy!