diff --git a/newelement.py b/newelement.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..356a4d01fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newelement.py
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import sys
+import re
+import os
+
+if len(sys.argv) != 2:
+	sys.exit('needs an element name as an argument')
+
+name = sys.argv[1].upper()
+path = 'src/simulation/elements/' + name + '.cpp'
+
+if os.path.isfile(path):
+	sys.exit('element already exists')
+
+with open("generator.py") as f:
+	exec(compile(f.read(), "generator.py", 'exec'))
+
+max_id = 0
+with open('generated/ElementClasses.h', 'r') as classes:
+	for pt in re.findall('#define PT_\\S+ (\\d+)', classes.read()):
+		pt_id = int(pt)
+		if max_id < pt_id:
+			max_id = pt_id
+
+with open(path, 'w') as elem:
+	elem.write(r"""#include "simulation/ElementCommon.h"
+//#TPT-Directive ElementClass Element_{0} PT_{0} {1}
+Element_{0}::Element_{0}()
+{{
+	Identifier = "DEFAULT_PT_{0}";
+	Name = "{0}";
+	Colour = PIXPACK(0xFFFFFF);
+	MenuVisible = 1;
+	MenuSection = SC_SPECIAL;
+	Enabled = 1;
+
+	// element properties here
+
+	Update = &Element_{0}::update;
+	Graphics = &Element_{0}::graphics;
+}}
+
+//#TPT-Directive ElementHeader Element_{0} static int update(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS)
+int Element_{0}::update(UPDATE_FUNC_ARGS)
+{{
+	// update code here
+
+	return 0;
+}}
+
+//#TPT-Directive ElementHeader Element_{0} static int graphics(GRAPHICS_FUNC_ARGS)
+int Element_{0}::graphics(GRAPHICS_FUNC_ARGS)
+{{
+	// graphics code here
+	// return 1 if nothing dymanic happens here
+
+	return 0;
+}}
+
+Element_{0}::~Element_{0}() {{}}
+""".format(name, str(max_id + 1)))
+	elem.close()
+
+with open("generator.py") as f:
+	exec(compile(f.read(), "generator.py", 'exec'))
diff --git a/vsproject.py b/vsproject.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755