Component Entity Design: dynamically adding and removing member variables.

[bboy212]

I have been reading about component entity design and was wandering how to go about implementing it. I think I have an idea that might work but am confused about one thing. How do you add and remove components. Is it possible to create a new member variable from inside a member function? something like:

class thing
{
void addComponent1(component *toAdd)
{
component *Component1 = toAdd;
}
};

or would you have to have an array of components and just add and remove from that?
any tips on setting up a component entity design system would be greatly appreciated as I am looking for something new to tinker with.