diff --git a/port/PyAssimp/pyassimp/core.py b/port/PyAssimp/pyassimp/core.py
index 29550eb35..f035b35e5 100644
--- a/port/PyAssimp/pyassimp/core.py
+++ b/port/PyAssimp/pyassimp/core.py
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ if sys.version_info < (2,6):
 
 import ctypes
 import os
-import numpy
+
+try: import numpy
+except: numpy = None
 
 import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger("pyassimp")
@@ -33,12 +35,30 @@ _assimp_lib = AssimpLib()
 
 def make_tuple(ai_obj, type = None):
     res = None
+
+    #notes:
+    # ai_obj._fields_ = [ ("attr", c_type), ... ]
+    # getattr(ai_obj, e[0]).__class__ == float
+
     if isinstance(ai_obj, structs.Matrix4x4):
-        res = numpy.array([getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_]).reshape((4,4))
+        if numpy:
+            res = numpy.array([getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_]).reshape((4,4))
+            #import pdb;pdb.set_trace()
+        else:
+            res = [getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_]
+            res = [res[i:i+4] for i in xrange(0,16,4)]
     elif isinstance(ai_obj, structs.Matrix3x3):
-        res = numpy.array([getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_]).reshape((3,3))
+        if numpy:
+            res = numpy.array([getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_]).reshape((3,3))
+        else:
+            res = [getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_]
+            res = [res[i:i+3] for i in xrange(0,9,3)]
     else:
-        res = numpy.array([getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_])
+        if numpy:
+            res = numpy.array([getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_])
+        else:
+            res = [getattr(ai_obj, e[0]) for e in ai_obj._fields_]
+
     return res
 
 # It is faster and more correct to have an init function for each assimp class
@@ -135,9 +155,14 @@ def _init(self, target = None, parent = None):
 
                 try:
                     if obj._type_ in structs.assimp_structs_as_tuple:
-                        setattr(target, name, numpy.array([make_tuple(obj[i]) for i in range(length)], dtype=numpy.float32))
+                        if numpy:
+                            setattr(target, name, numpy.array([make_tuple(obj[i]) for i in range(length)], dtype=numpy.float32))
 
-                        logger.debug(str(self) + ": Added an array of numpy arrays (type "+ str(type(obj)) + ") as self." + name)
+                            logger.debug(str(self) + ": Added an array of numpy arrays (type "+ str(type(obj)) + ") as self." + name)
+                        else:
+                            setattr(target, name, [make_tuple(obj[i]) for i in range(length)])
+                            
+                            logger.debug(str(self) + ": Added a list of lists (type "+ str(type(obj)) + ") as self." + name)
 
                     else:
                         setattr(target, name, [obj[i] for i in range(length)]) #TODO: maybe not necessary to recreate an array?
@@ -292,7 +317,10 @@ def release(scene):
 
 def _finalize_texture(tex, target):
     setattr(target, "achformathint", tex.achFormatHint)
-    data = numpy.array([make_tuple(getattr(tex, "pcData")[i]) for i in range(tex.mWidth * tex.mHeight)])
+    if numpy:
+        data = numpy.array([make_tuple(getattr(tex, "pcData")[i]) for i in range(tex.mWidth * tex.mHeight)])
+    else:
+        data = [make_tuple(getattr(tex, "pcData")[i]) for i in range(tex.mWidth * tex.mHeight)]
     setattr(target, "data", data)
 
 def _finalize_mesh(mesh, target):
@@ -308,11 +336,18 @@ def _finalize_mesh(mesh, target):
 
     def fill(name):
         mAttr = getattr(mesh, name)
-        if mAttr:
-            data = numpy.array([make_tuple(getattr(mesh, name)[i]) for i in range(nb_vertices)], dtype=numpy.float32)
-            setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), data)
+        if numpy:
+            if mAttr:
+                data = numpy.array([make_tuple(getattr(mesh, name)[i]) for i in range(nb_vertices)], dtype=numpy.float32)
+                setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), data)
+            else:
+                setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), numpy.array([], dtype="float32"))
         else:
-            setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), numpy.array([], dtype="float32"))
+            if mAttr:
+                data = [make_tuple(getattr(mesh, name)[i]) for i in range(nb_vertices)]
+                setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), data)
+            else:
+                setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), [])
 
     def fillarray(name):
         mAttr = getattr(mesh, name)
@@ -322,7 +357,10 @@ def _finalize_mesh(mesh, target):
             if mSubAttr:
                 data.append([make_tuple(getattr(mesh, name)[index][i]) for i in range(nb_vertices)])
 
-        setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), numpy.array(data, dtype=numpy.float32))
+        if numpy:
+            setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), numpy.array(data, dtype=numpy.float32))
+        else:
+            setattr(target, name[1:].lower(), data)
 
     fill("mNormals")
     fill("mTangents")
@@ -332,7 +370,10 @@ def _finalize_mesh(mesh, target):
     fillarray("mTextureCoords")
     
     # prepare faces
-    faces = numpy.array([f.indices for f in target.faces], dtype=numpy.int32)
+    if numpy:
+        faces = numpy.array([f.indices for f in target.faces], dtype=numpy.int32)
+    else:
+        faces = [f.indices for f in target.faces]
     setattr(target, 'faces', faces)