Mod reentry effects?

[AlternNocturn]

I've been thinking the past few days about the stock reentry effect in KSP. It's pretty good, but it's missing something. Perhaps a smoke trail or ablation sparks?

Then I started thinking even further, like what if we could use that same reentry effect as engine effects instead? Maybe combine it with the new particle system to make it look super-realistic. It would make one hell of a vacuum plume as well. Watching videos like

(@2:05) and

(volume warning) made me realize that I may be onto something with this.

Anyone up for the task? Would it even be possible?