diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/creator/asset_inventory/browser/recent/recents_browser_section.gd b/mirror-godot-app/creator/asset_inventory/browser/recent/recents_browser_section.gd
index 260ddab5..69d36ec7 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/creator/asset_inventory/browser/recent/recents_browser_section.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/creator/asset_inventory/browser/recent/recents_browser_section.gd
@@ -152,7 +152,8 @@ func _generate_new_slot(recent_asset: Dictionary) -> BaseAssetSlot:
 	slot.slot_activated.connect(_asset_browser.asset_slot_activated)
 	slot.slot_special_action.connect(_asset_browser.use_slot_asset)
 	_id_to_slot_map[recent_asset["id"]] = slot
-	_slots_flow_container.add_child(slot)
+	if slot.get_parent() == null:
+		_slots_flow_container.add_child(slot)
 	return slot
 
 
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/player/cameras/camera_manager.tscn b/mirror-godot-app/player/cameras/camera_manager.tscn
index 41c66928..fbd08201 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/player/cameras/camera_manager.tscn
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/player/cameras/camera_manager.tscn
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=6 format=3 uid="uid://brbtsnjio4p2m"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=5 format=3 uid="uid://brbtsnjio4p2m"]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://player/cameras/camera_manager.gd" id="1_sgi5b"]
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://g08bytt518wj" path="res://player/cameras/head/player_head_camera.tscn" id="2_h612i"]
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://h5gnmb66fkgi" path="res://player/cameras/free/free_camera.tscn" id="4_35k1r"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://player/cameras/placement_preview.gd" id="5_h3wxg"]
-[ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://clraq8sj7pby6" path="res://player/cameras/voxel_viewer/camera_voxel_viewer.tscn" id="6_n4xo0"]
 
 [node name="CameraManager" type="Node"]
 script = ExtResource("1_sgi5b")
@@ -23,14 +22,13 @@ audio_listener_enable_3d = true
 size = Vector2i(2560, 1440)
 render_target_update_mode = 4
 
-[node name="PlayerHeadCamera" parent="SubViewportContainer/SubViewport" instance=ExtResource("2_h612i")]
+[node name="PlayerHeadCamera" parent="SubViewportContainer/SubViewport" node_paths=PackedStringArray("_camera") instance=ExtResource("2_h612i")]
+_camera = NodePath("CameraRecoilOffset/ThirdPersonCameraArm/ThirdPersonCamera")
 
-[node name="FreeCamera" parent="SubViewportContainer/SubViewport" instance=ExtResource("4_35k1r")]
+[node name="FreeCamera" parent="SubViewportContainer/SubViewport" node_paths=PackedStringArray("_camera") instance=ExtResource("4_35k1r")]
+_camera = NodePath("Camera")
 
 [node name="PlacementPreview" type="Node3D" parent="SubViewportContainer/SubViewport"]
 script = ExtResource("5_h3wxg")
 
 [node name="JoltDebugGeometry3D" type="JoltDebugGeometry3D" parent="SubViewportContainer/SubViewport"]
-
-[node name="CameraVoxelViewer" parent="." node_paths=PackedStringArray("camera_manager") instance=ExtResource("6_n4xo0")]
-camera_manager = NodePath("..")
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/player/equipable/equipable_controller.gd b/mirror-godot-app/player/equipable/equipable_controller.gd
index 69b3d9f6..23cddd90 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/player/equipable/equipable_controller.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/player/equipable/equipable_controller.gd
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ func _load_equipable_by_asset_id(asset_id: String) -> void:
 	if asset_id != _current_asset_id:
 		# It is possible that another call to this method changed the current equipable.
 		return
+	if file_promise.is_error():
+		push_error("Failed to download asset: ", file_promise.get_error_message())
+		equipable_changed.emit(null)
 	var file_result = file_promise.get_result()
 	if file_result is Node3D and file_result.has_meta(&"MIRROR_equipable"):
 		_setup_equipped_item(file_result)
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/prefabs/autoload/zone/collision_shape_generator/collision_shape_generator.gd b/mirror-godot-app/prefabs/autoload/zone/collision_shape_generator/collision_shape_generator.gd
index a3f36789..a42d0074 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/prefabs/autoload/zone/collision_shape_generator/collision_shape_generator.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/prefabs/autoload/zone/collision_shape_generator/collision_shape_generator.gd
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ func generate_shape_for_meshes(body: JBody3D, in_meshes: Array[MeshInstance3D],
 			if is_concave:
 				var tms: ConcavePolygonShape3D = mesh.mesh.create_trimesh_shape()
 				shape = JMeshShape3D.new()
+				if tms == null:
+					push_error("invalid physics shape")
+					continue
 				shape.faces = tms.get_faces()
 			else:
 				var cps: ConvexPolygonShape3D = mesh.mesh.create_convex_shape(false, false)
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/util_funcs.gd b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/util_funcs.gd
index 83e2bc75..42c6cde0 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/util_funcs.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/util_funcs.gd
@@ -248,27 +248,6 @@ static func looks_like_json(value) -> bool:
 	return has_braces or has_brackets
 
 
-## Loads a GLTF file from the disk as a node object.
-static func load_gltf_file_as_node(path: String) -> Variant:
-	var state: GLTFState = GLTFState.new()
-	if Zone.is_host():
-		# Discard the textures when on the server
-		state.set_handle_binary_image(GLTFState.HANDLE_BINARY_DISCARD_TEXTURES)
-	var doc: GLTFDocument = GLTFDocument.new()
-	var err = doc.append_from_file(path, state, 8)
-	if err:
-		push_error(str(err))
-		return null
-	var node: Node = doc.generate_scene(state)
-	if not is_instance_valid(node):
-		print_debug("generate_scene failed from path:", path)
-		return null
-	# Disallow importing a model with an empty root node name.
-	if node.name == &"":
-		node.name = &"Model"
-	return node
-
-
 ## Converts a GLTF document (including all its external dependencies ) to a GLB byte array.
 ## See https://github.com/the-mirror-megaverse/mirror-godot-app/pull/261 for why
 static func convert_gltf_to_glb_data(path: String) -> PackedByteArray:
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/zone/client.gd b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/zone/client.gd
index aa251009..aa0cd760 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/zone/client.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/zone/client.gd
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ func _client_on_game_ui_space_loaded() -> void:
 
 ## connect_to_server
 func connect_to_server(server_addr: Variant, port: Variant) -> bool:
+	GameUI.loading_ui.populate_status("Opening connection to server")
+	print("Opening connection to server at ", Time.get_datetime_string_from_system())
 	if server_addr.is_empty():
 		return false
 	client_peer = ENetMultiplayerPeer.new()
@@ -162,7 +164,8 @@ func _client_on_connected_to_server() -> void:
 	print("----------------------------------------")
 	print("ClientPeer: Connected to a server... waiting for server to grant access")
 	print("----------------------------------------")
-
+	GameUI.loading_ui.populate_status("Client socket open")
+	print("Client connection opened at " + Time.get_datetime_string_from_system())
 	Analytics.track_event_client(AnalyticsEvent.TYPE.SPACE_JOIN_ATTEMPT_SUCCESS, {"spaceId": _queued_space_id})
 	Zone.change_to_space_scene()
 	# TODO: Instead of true, determine if the player has creator permissions for the space.
@@ -175,18 +178,22 @@ func _client_on_connected_to_server() -> void:
 	var jwt = Firebase.Auth.get_jwt()
 	var user_id = JWT.get_user_id_from_jwt(jwt, "test123")
 	var client_version: String = str(Util.get_version_string())
+	GameUI.loading_ui.populate_status("Requesting client spawn...")
+	print("Sending client init to server at " + Time.get_datetime_string_from_system())
 	Zone.send_data_to_server([Packet.TYPE.CLIENT_INIT, jwt, client_version])
 	PlayerData.acknowledge_local_user_id(user_id)
 
 	# note: GDScript cannot understand Zone definition unless passed via a variable in the stack.
 	var zone_autoload = Zone
-	TMSceneSync.start_sync(zone_autoload)
+	# TODO: gordon look here this is a bit fishy. Why start syncing things before all objects exist?
+	# TMSceneSync.start_sync(zone_autoload)
 
 	# wait for the space to be in a loaded enough condition to join.
 	# play servers load all objects before finishing
 	# wait for the first spawn to complete too
 	while not is_space_loaded():
 		await get_tree().create_timer(0.5).timeout
+
 	join_server_complete.emit()
 
 
@@ -438,6 +445,8 @@ func start_join_localhost() -> void:
 
 
 func start_join_zone_by_space_id(space_id: String) -> void:
+	print("Join requested at ", Time.get_datetime_string_from_system())
+	GameUI.loading_ui.populate_status("Joining space")
 	_is_joining_play_space = false
 	join_server_start.emit()
 	if space_id == _LOCALHOST:
@@ -449,6 +458,7 @@ func start_join_zone_by_space_id(space_id: String) -> void:
 
 
 func start_join_play_space_by_space_id(space_id: String) -> void:
+	GameUI.loading_ui.populate_status("Joining space")
 	join_server_start.emit()
 	_disconnect_from_server_peer()
 	_is_joining_play_space = true # after disconnect so flag is not cleared
@@ -544,7 +554,7 @@ func _join_new_server_locally(space_id: String) -> bool:
 		var firebase_auth = str(Firebase.Auth.auth.refreshtoken)
 		# For debugging this allows you to grab breakpoints from the server "--remote-debug", "tcp://127.0.0.1:6008"]
 		# If enabled it could cause join time to be much longer when booting server
-		var arguments = ["--server", "--space", space_id, "--mode", "edit", "--uuid", "localhost", "--server_login", firebase_auth, "--headless"] # "--remote-debug", "tcp://127.0.0.1:6008"]
+		var arguments = ["--server", "--space", space_id, "--mode", "edit", "--uuid", "localhost", "--server_login", firebase_auth, "--headless", "--remote-debug", "tcp://127.0.0.1:6007"]
 		pid = OS.create_process(OS.get_executable_path(), arguments, true)
 		start_join_localhost()
 		return true
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/zone/server.gd b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/zone/server.gd
index 8b4848f4..1990165e 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/zone/server.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/autoload/zone/server.gd
@@ -534,6 +534,7 @@ func _all_files_downloaded() -> bool:
 
 
 func _init_player(peer_id, jwt, client_version) -> void:
+	print("Received client init on server at " + Time.get_datetime_string_from_system())
 	# TODO: This only decodes the JWT, but it needs to validated via Firebase SDK (probs via the NestJS server for ease)
 	# TODO: Kick the player if JWT validating fails
 	var user_id = JWT.get_user_id_from_jwt(jwt, "test123")
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/net/file_cache.gd b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/net/file_cache.gd
index 7de7a125..cc627247 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/net/file_cache.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/net/file_cache.gd
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 class_name FileCache
 extends Node
 
-signal threaded_model_loaded(cache_key: String, node: Node)
-
 const _STORAGE_CACHE_FILENAME: String = "cache.json"
 
 var _storage_cache: Dictionary = {}
@@ -22,18 +20,6 @@ func _init() -> void:
 	_setup_storage_directory()
 
 
-
-func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
-	_manage_queue()
-
-
-## Manages the threaded model loading queue.
-func _manage_queue() -> void:
-	if _model_load_queue.size() == 0:
-		return
-	_thread_load_model(_model_load_queue.pop_front())
-
-
 ## Returns true if the cache file exists on the disk.
 func cached_file_exists(cache_key: String) -> bool:
 	cache_key = cache_key.uri_decode()
@@ -96,6 +82,8 @@ func _save_stored_files_cache() -> void:
 
 ## Saves a bytes file to the cache location on disk and adds it to the cache library.
 func save_bytes_file_to_cache(cache_key: String, file_name: String, file_data: PackedByteArray) -> void:
+	if FileAccess.file_exists(file_name):
+		return
 	var saved = save_bytes_file(file_name, file_data)
 	if not saved:
 		return
@@ -129,7 +117,7 @@ func try_load_cached_file(cache_key: String) -> Variant:
 	if not FileAccess.file_exists(file_path):
 		return null
 	if Util.path_is_model(file_path):
-		return TMFileUtil.load_gltf_file_as_node(file_path, Zone.is_host())
+		return load_gltf_thread_task(file_path)
 	elif Util.path_is_image(file_path):
 		return Util.load_image(file_path)
 	elif Util.path_is_scene(file_path):
@@ -140,37 +128,39 @@ func try_load_cached_file(cache_key: String) -> Variant:
 		return TMFileUtil.load_json_file(file_path)
 	return null
 
-
-func load_model_threaded(cache_key: String) -> Promise:
-	for m in _model_load_queue:
-		if m.key == cache_key:
-			return m.promise
+# in memory cache
+var _cached_pairs = {}
+var mutex: Mutex = Mutex.new()
+func load_gltf_thread_task(cache_key: String) -> Promise:
+	mutex.lock()
+	if _cached_pairs.has(cache_key):
+		print("Cache found... not loading twice")
+		return _cached_pairs[cache_key].promise
 	var pair = KeyPromisePair.new()
 	pair.key = cache_key
 	pair.promise = Promise.new()
+	_cached_pairs[pair.key] = pair
 
-	# TODO: Fix multithreaded model loading, newer engine versions
-	# complain about this not being on the main thread.
-	# queue for later when needed
-	if cached_file_exists(pair.key):
-		_model_load_queue.append(pair)
-		return pair.promise
-
-#	_model_load_thread.start(_thread_load_model.bind(pair))
-	_thread_load_model(pair)
-	return pair.promise
-
-
-func _thread_load_model(pair: KeyPromisePair) -> void:
 	if not cached_file_exists(pair.key):
 		pair.promise.set_error("File does not exists, cannot load.")
 		return
 	var file_name: String = _storage_cache.get(pair.key, "")
 	var file_path: String = get_file_path(file_name)
-	var node = TMFileUtil.load_gltf_file_as_node(file_path, Zone.is_host())
-	_model_loaded.call_deferred(pair, node)
+	var task_id = WorkerThreadPool.add_task(func():
+		var node = TMFileUtil.load_gltf_file_as_node(file_path, Zone.is_host())
+		call_thread_safe("_cached_file_is_loaded", pair, node)
+	)
 
+	mutex.unlock()
+	return pair.promise
 
-func _model_loaded(pair: KeyPromisePair, node: Node) -> void:
-	threaded_model_loaded.emit(pair.key, node)
+## THIS MUST BE ON THE MAIN THREAD
+func _cached_file_is_loaded(pair, node):
+	mutex.lock()
+	print("Node name: ", node.get_name())
+	if node == null:
+		push_error("Can't load GLTF")
+		pair.promise.set_error("Failed to load mesh, ignoring and skipping")
+		return
 	pair.promise.set_result(node)
+	mutex.unlock()
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/net/file_client.gd b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/net/file_client.gd
index 86a69ac5..252e25f3 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/scripts/net/file_client.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/scripts/net/file_client.gd
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func get_file(url: String, priority: Enums.DownloadPriority = Enums.DownloadPrio
 		promise.set_result(files.get(url))
 		return promise
 	if Util.path_is_model(url) and _file_cache.cached_file_exists(url):
-		var promise = _file_cache.load_model_threaded(url)
+		var promise = _file_cache.load_gltf_thread_task(url)
 		promise.connect_func_to_fulfill(_on_loaded_model_threaded.bind(url, promise))
 		return promise
 	var cached_file = _file_cache.try_load_cached_file(url)
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func get_file(url: String, priority: Enums.DownloadPriority = Enums.DownloadPrio
 ## so the model gets uniquely generated from a GLTFDocument.
 ## TODO: Assess storing GLTFDocument in memory and generating node from that instead of entire file read.
 func get_model_instance_promise(url: String) -> Promise:
-	return _file_cache.load_model_threaded(url)
+	return _file_cache.load_gltf_thread_task(url)
 
 
 func _promise_fulfill_successful(request: Dictionary, promise: Promise) -> void:
diff --git a/mirror-godot-app/ui/game/loading_ui.gd b/mirror-godot-app/ui/game/loading_ui.gd
index bf05a91a..851a3c6e 100644
--- a/mirror-godot-app/ui/game/loading_ui.gd
+++ b/mirror-godot-app/ui/game/loading_ui.gd
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ func _on_join_server_start() -> void:
 	show()
 
 func _on_join_server_complete() -> void:
+	GameUI.loading_ui.populate_status("")
+	print("Loading UI has been closed at: ", Time.get_datetime_string_from_system())
 	hide()
 	_progress_animation.stop()