diff --git a/include/osg/Geode b/include/osg/Geode
index 1a3a857eb..c09686892 100644
--- a/include/osg/Geode
+++ b/include/osg/Geode
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ class OSG_EXPORT Geode : public Node
 
         META_Node(osg, Geode);
 
+        virtual Geode* asGeode() { return this; }
+        virtual const Geode* asGeode() const { return this; }
         
         /** Add a \c Drawable to the \c Geode.
           * If \c drawable is not \c NULL and is not contained in the \c Geode
diff --git a/include/osg/Node b/include/osg/Node
index 2dc0a9967..f2be03e72 100644
--- a/include/osg/Node
+++ b/include/osg/Node
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ class NodeVisitor;
 class Group;
 class Transform;
 class Node;
+class Switch;
+class Geode;
 
 /** A vector of Nodes pointers which is used to describe the path from a root node to a descendant.*/
 typedef std::vector< Node* > NodePath;
@@ -96,6 +98,22 @@ class OSG_EXPORT Node : public Object
           * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const Transform*>(this).*/
         virtual const Transform* asTransform() const { return 0; }
 
+        /** Convert 'this' into a Switch pointer if Node is a Switch, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<Switch*>(this).*/
+        virtual Switch* asSwitch() { return 0; }
+
+        /** convert 'const this' into a const Switch pointer if Node is a Switch, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const Switch*>(this).*/
+        virtual const Switch* asSwitch() const { return 0; }
+
+        /** Convert 'this' into a Geode pointer if Node is a Geode, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<Geode*>(this).*/
+        virtual Geode* asGeode() { return 0; }
+
+        /** convert 'const this' into a const Geode pointer if Node is a Geode, otherwise return 0.
+          * Equivalent to dynamic_cast<const Geode*>(this).*/
+        virtual const Geode* asGeode() const { return 0; }
+
         /** Visitor Pattern : calls the apply method of a NodeVisitor with this node's type.*/
         virtual void accept(NodeVisitor& nv);
         /** Traverse upwards : calls parents' accept method with NodeVisitor.*/
diff --git a/include/osg/Switch b/include/osg/Switch
index e8c998f7a..d8c0ca431 100644
--- a/include/osg/Switch
+++ b/include/osg/Switch
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ class OSG_EXPORT Switch : public Group
         /** Copy constructor using CopyOp to manage deep vs shallow copy. */
         Switch(const Switch&,const CopyOp& copyop=CopyOp::SHALLOW_COPY);
 
+        virtual Switch* asSwitch() { return this; }
+        virtual const Switch* asSwitch() const { return this; }
+
+
         META_Node(osg, Switch);
 
         virtual void traverse(NodeVisitor& nv);