diff --git a/scripts/focus-allocation-check.mjs b/scripts/focus-allocation-check.mjs
index e15538a2f..f256f7ef7 100644
--- a/scripts/focus-allocation-check.mjs
+++ b/scripts/focus-allocation-check.mjs
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
-import {
-  advanceSpriteFocus,
-} from '../src/data/focusDeemphasis.js';
-import {
-  applyAircraftBillboardTreatment,
-} from '../src/data/aircraftRecession.js';
+import { advanceSpriteFocus } from '../src/data/focusDeemphasis.js';
+import { aircraftTreatmentAlpha } from '../src/data/aircraftRecession.js';
+import { createIconSet } from '../src/data/iconSet.js';
 
 if (typeof global.gc !== 'function') {
   throw new Error('focus-allocation-check.mjs requires node --expose-gc');
@@ -66,17 +63,14 @@ const focusInput = {
   target,
 };
 
-const baseColor = { withAlpha: (alpha) => ({ alpha }) };
-const billboard = { scale: 1, color: { alpha: 1 } };
 const aircraftInput = {
-  billboard,
-  baseScale: 1,
   baseAlpha: 1,
-  baseColor,
   focusFactor: 1,
   cameraDistanceM: 100,
   cameraHeightM: 1000,
 };
+const icons = createIconSet({ capacity: 4 });
+const row = icons.add('sprite', {});
 
 const baseline = bytesPerCall(() => focusInput.nowMs);
 const focus = netOfLoopBaseline(
@@ -84,30 +78,22 @@ const focus = netOfLoopBaseline(
   baseline,
 );
 const aircraft = netOfLoopBaseline(
-  bytesPerCall(() => applyAircraftBillboardTreatment(aircraftInput).alpha),
+  bytesPerCall(() => aircraftTreatmentAlpha(aircraftInput)),
   baseline,
 );
 const productionSpriteTick = netOfLoopBaseline(
   bytesPerCall(() => {
-    // Match the hot civilian/military sprite path: the caller constructs fresh
-    // option literals, consumes the shared focus result immediately, and then
-    // constructs the composed aircraft-treatment options for the same sprite.
+    // Match the hot icon-set focus pass: the caller constructs a fresh option
+    // literal, consumes the shared focus result immediately and writes it to
+    // the row's focus column (the shader composes it with limb recession).
     const focusResult = advanceSpriteFocus(sprite, {
       screenPosition: focusInput.screenPosition,
       cameraDistance: focusInput.cameraDistance,
       nowMs: focusInput.nowMs,
       target,
     });
-    const treatment = applyAircraftBillboardTreatment({
-      billboard,
-      baseScale: aircraftInput.baseScale,
-      baseAlpha: aircraftInput.baseAlpha,
-      baseColor,
-      focusFactor: focusResult.factor,
-      cameraDistanceM: aircraftInput.cameraDistanceM,
-      cameraHeightM: aircraftInput.cameraHeightM,
-    });
-    return focusResult.factor + treatment.alpha;
+    icons.setFocus(row, focusResult.factor);
+    return focusResult.factor;
   }),
   baseline,
 );
@@ -118,22 +104,24 @@ assert.ok(
 );
 assert.ok(
   aircraft.roundedMedian <= PURE_CALL_BUDGET,
-  `applyAircraftBillboardTreatment allocated ${aircraft.rawMedian.toFixed(3)} B/call median`,
+  `aircraftTreatmentAlpha allocated ${aircraft.rawMedian.toFixed(3)} B/call median`,
 );
 assert.ok(
   productionSpriteTick.roundedMedian <= PRODUCTION_SPRITE_TICK_BUDGET,
   `production sprite tick allocated ${productionSpriteTick.rawMedian.toFixed(3)} B/call median`,
 );
 
-console.log(JSON.stringify({
-  callsPerTrial: CALLS,
-  trials: TRIALS,
-  budgets: {
-    pureCall: PURE_CALL_BUDGET,
-    productionSpriteTick: PRODUCTION_SPRITE_TICK_BUDGET,
-  },
-  loopBaseline: baseline,
-  advanceSpriteFocus: focus,
-  applyAircraftBillboardTreatment: aircraft,
-  productionSpriteTick,
-}));
+console.log(
+  JSON.stringify({
+    callsPerTrial: CALLS,
+    trials: TRIALS,
+    budgets: {
+      pureCall: PURE_CALL_BUDGET,
+      productionSpriteTick: PRODUCTION_SPRITE_TICK_BUDGET,
+    },
+    loopBaseline: baseline,
+    advanceSpriteFocus: focus,
+    aircraftTreatmentAlpha: aircraft,
+    productionSpriteTick,
+  }),
+);
diff --git a/scripts/package-boundaries.json b/scripts/package-boundaries.json
index 6c9f600a6..24d68eb72 100644
--- a/scripts/package-boundaries.json
+++ b/scripts/package-boundaries.json
@@ -1324,9 +1324,7 @@
       "src/data/iconSegment.js",
       "src/data/iconAtlas.js",
       "src/data/aircraftRecession.js",
-      "src/data/modelMirror.js",
-      "src/data/billboardMirror.js",
-      "src/layers/aircraft/visualState.js",
+      "src/data/modelRecord.js",
       "src/layers/flights/state.js",
       "src/layers/flights/testing.js",
       "src/layers/flights/tracking.js",
@@ -1395,9 +1393,7 @@
       "src/data/iconSegment.js",
       "src/data/iconAtlas.js",
       "src/data/aircraftRecession.js",
-      "src/data/modelMirror.js",
-      "src/data/billboardMirror.js",
-      "src/layers/aircraft/visualState.js",
+      "src/data/modelRecord.js",
       "src/layers/military/state.js",
       "src/layers/military/testing.js",
       "src/layers/military/tracking.js",
@@ -1440,7 +1436,7 @@
       "src/data/layerStateCoordinator.js",
       "src/data/layerStateTokenReservations.json",
       "src/data/modelVisualAnchor.js",
-      "src/data/modelMirror.js",
+      "src/data/modelRecord.js",
       "src/data/entityRecords.js",
       "src/data/aircraftModelLighting.js",
       "src/data/motionModel.js",
@@ -1470,7 +1466,6 @@
       "src/layers/vessels/queries.js",
       "src/layers/vessels/rendering.js",
       "src/data/entityRecords.js",
-      "src/data/billboardMirror.js",
       "src/data/iconSetPrimitive.js",
       "src/data/iconSet.js",
       "src/data/iconSegment.js",
@@ -1564,7 +1559,6 @@
       "src/data/iconSegment.js",
       "src/data/iconAtlas.js",
       "src/data/aircraftRecession.js",
-      "src/data/billboardMirror.js",
       "src/data/motionModel.js",
       "src/layers/firms/selection.js",
       "src/layers/firms/source.js",
@@ -1895,7 +1889,6 @@
       "src/layers/cctv/projection.js",
       "src/layers/cctv/videoPlayback.js",
       "src/layers/cctv/rendering.js",
-      "src/data/billboardMirror.js",
       "src/data/iconSetPrimitive.js",
       "src/data/iconSet.js",
       "src/data/iconSegment.js",
@@ -2376,7 +2369,6 @@
       "src/data/aircraftMeta.js",
       "src/data/aircraftNearbyPolicy.js",
       "src/data/aircraftRecession.js",
-      "src/data/billboardMirror.js",
       "src/data/aisLiveVessels.js",
       "src/data/alprCameras.js",
       "src/data/analystEngine.js",
@@ -2593,8 +2585,7 @@
       "src/layers/flights/policy.js",
       "src/layers/flights/queries.js",
       "src/layers/flights/rendering.js",
-      "src/data/modelMirror.js",
-      "src/layers/aircraft/visualState.js",
+      "src/data/modelRecord.js",
       "src/layers/flights/state.js",
       "src/layers/flights/testing.js",
       "src/layers/flights/tracking.js",
@@ -3352,7 +3343,6 @@
       "src/data/aircraftMeta.js",
       "src/data/aircraftNearbyPolicy.js",
       "src/data/aircraftRecession.js",
-      "src/data/billboardMirror.js",
       "src/data/cctvCards.js",
       "src/data/cctvFootprint.js",
       "src/data/cctvGizmo.js",
@@ -3514,8 +3504,7 @@
       "src/layers/flights/policy.js",
       "src/layers/flights/queries.js",
       "src/layers/flights/rendering.js",
-      "src/data/modelMirror.js",
-      "src/layers/aircraft/visualState.js",
+      "src/data/modelRecord.js",
       "src/layers/flights/state.js",
       "src/layers/flights/testing.js",
       "src/layers/flights/tracking.js",
diff --git a/src/data/aircraftIconLayer.js b/src/data/aircraftIconLayer.js
index 94040f0c2..b7c92809d 100644
--- a/src/data/aircraftIconLayer.js
+++ b/src/data/aircraftIconLayer.js
@@ -412,15 +412,14 @@ export function createAircraftIcons({
  * @param {string} layerId
  */
 export function aircraftIconTestSeams(state, parts, layerId) {
-  /** Give a test contact an icon row held at `billboard.position`, shown as
-   *  `billboard.show` says (hidden by default while tracked). */
-  function _seedIconForTest(icao24, billboard, tracked) {
+  /** Give a test contact an icon row held at `icon.position`, shown as
+   *  `icon.show` says (hidden by default while tracked). */
+  function _seedIconForTest(icao24, icon, tracked) {
     const set = state._icons;
     const row = set.add(icao24, { layer: layerId, id: icao24 });
-    if (billboard?.position)
-      writeHoldSegment(set.segments, row, billboard.position, 0);
+    if (icon?.position) writeHoldSegment(set.segments, row, icon.position, 0);
     set.segmentWritten(row);
-    set.setShown(row, billboard?.show ?? !tracked);
+    set.setShown(row, icon?.show ?? !tracked);
     return row;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/data/aircraftModelLayer.js b/src/data/aircraftModelLayer.js
index 55f9c4795..ef6160165 100644
--- a/src/data/aircraftModelLayer.js
+++ b/src/data/aircraftModelLayer.js
@@ -3,8 +3,12 @@ import { selectModelEligible } from './modelEligibility.js';
 import { horizonOccluder } from './iconOrientation.js';
 import { aircraftTreatmentAlpha } from './aircraftRecession.js';
 import { AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS } from './aircraftModelLighting.js';
-import { aircraftVisuals } from '../layers/aircraft/visualState.js';
-import { modelState, setModel } from './modelMirror.js';
+import {
+  createModelRecord,
+  modelIsRendering,
+  placeModel,
+  showModel,
+} from './modelRecord.js';
 
 /**
  * An aircraft layer's 3D models: the fleet regime and its gap-proof handoff
@@ -98,8 +102,8 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
   }
 
   /** World model matrix from a position + course heading (pitch/roll 0; ENU frame). Writes into
-   *  `result` (a shared scratch by default) and returns it. Push it with `setModel`, which copies
-   *  it into Core's mirror and the model's own matrix, so models never share one mutable matrix
+   *  `result` (a shared scratch by default) and returns it. Push it with `placeModel`, which copies
+   *  it into the model's record and its own matrix, so models never share one mutable matrix
    *  object. `Model.modelMatrix` is a plain field (not a cloning setter); Cesium
    *  clones it per frame in updateModelMatrix(). Sharing a single scratch made every model render at
    *  the LAST-written transform — all stacked on one plane — and, once the tracked model wrote the
@@ -187,14 +191,14 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
 
   function _driveFleetModelHandoff(
     icao24,
-    model,
+    record,
     row,
     pos,
     course,
     beforeShow,
   ) {
     const icons = state._icons;
-    if (!model) {
+    if (!record) {
       icons.setShown(row, true);
       return false;
     }
@@ -204,16 +208,15 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
       state._scratchGroundPos,
     );
     if (!displayPos) {
-      setModel(model, 'show', false); // no ground evidence → nothing safe to place a depth-tested model at
+      showModel(record, false); // no ground evidence → nothing safe to place a depth-tested model at
       icons.setShown(row, true);
       return false;
     }
     // The matrix is written BEFORE the readiness test on purpose: a model can flip
     // `ready` during scene update after this tick, and a first rendered frame on a
     // stale load-start matrix is the one-frame jump this ordering prevents.
-    setModel(
-      model,
-      'modelMatrix',
+    placeModel(
+      record,
       _modelMatrix(
         displayPos,
         course,
@@ -221,13 +224,13 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
         _headingOffsetDeg(state.records.data.get(icao24)?.klass),
       ),
     );
-    if (!model.ready) {
-      setModel(model, 'show', false); // not loaded yet → keep the 2D icon, no half-model flash
+    if (!record.model.ready) {
+      showModel(record, false); // not loaded yet → keep the 2D icon, no half-model flash
       icons.setShown(row, true);
       return false;
     }
     beforeShow?.();
-    if (!modelState(model).show) setModel(model, 'show', true);
+    if (!record.show) showModel(record, true);
     icons.setShown(row, false); // hand off ONLY once the model renders
     return true;
   }
@@ -265,33 +268,30 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
    *    null or still-loading tracked model from claiming a visual it is not
    *    drawing yet.
    * @param {string} icao24
-   * @param {Cesium.Model|null} [model] Resolved fleet model; null means absent.
+   * @param {import('./modelRecord.js').ModelRecord|null} [record] Resolved
+   *   fleet model record; null means absent.
    * @returns {boolean}
    */
 
-  function _modelOwnsVisual(icao24, model) {
+  function _modelOwnsVisual(icao24, record) {
     if (icao24 === state._trackedIcao) {
       return (
         parts.tracking._trackedModelRegimeActive() &&
-        _modelIsRendering(state._trackedModel)
+        modelIsRendering(state._trackedModel)
       );
     }
-    return _modelIsRendering(
-      model === undefined ? state._models.get(icao24) : model,
+    return modelIsRendering(
+      record === undefined ? state._models.get(icao24) : record,
     );
   }
 
-  /** A model is the visual only once it actually draws — loaded AND shown.
-   *
-   * `show` is sufficient evidence of a safe placement because only ONE site ever
-   * sets it true for a fleet model (`_driveFleetModelHandoff`, after the matrix is
-   * committed) and one for the tracked model (`_updateTrackedModel`, likewise);
-   * everything else — admission, an unresolved ground, a not-yet-ready glTF, the
-   * limb cull, a regime exit — only ever clears it. */
-
-  function _modelIsRendering(model) {
-    return !!model && model.ready === true && modelState(model)?.show === true;
-  }
+  // A model is the visual only once it actually draws, loaded AND shown
+  // (`modelIsRendering`). `show` is sufficient evidence of a safe placement
+  // because only ONE site ever sets it true for a fleet model
+  // (`_driveFleetModelHandoff`, after the matrix is committed) and one for the
+  // tracked model (`_updateTrackedModel`, likewise); everything else —
+  // admission, an unresolved ground, a not-yet-ready glTF, the limb cull, a
+  // regime exit — only ever clears it.
 
   /** Spec identity for a LOADED model: URL and scale together (same-URL classes
    *  differ by scale — airliner vs quadjet both ship airplane.glb). */
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
     const key = _specKeyFor(state.records.data.get(icao24)?.klass);
     const current = state._models.get(icao24);
     if (
-      (current && aircraftVisuals.read(current)?.specKey !== key) ||
+      (current && current.specKey !== key) ||
       (!current && state._modelPending.has(icao24))
     ) {
       _releaseModel(icao24);
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
     if (
       icao24 === state._trackedIcao &&
       state._trackedModel &&
-      aircraftVisuals.read(state._trackedModel)?.specKey !== key
+      state._trackedModel.specKey !== key
     ) {
       _releaseTrackedModel();
     }
@@ -340,9 +340,8 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
     if (!state._irReloadQueue) return;
     const batch = state._irReloadQueue.splice(0, policy.IR_RELOAD_BATCH);
     for (const icao of batch) {
-      const model = state._models.get(icao);
-      if (!model || aircraftVisuals.read(model)?.irBoost === state._irBoost)
-        continue; // already right state
+      const record = state._models.get(icao);
+      if (!record || record.irBoost === state._irBoost) continue; // already right state
       _releaseModel(icao);
     }
     if (state._irReloadQueue.length === 0) state._irReloadQueue = null;
@@ -435,16 +434,17 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
     // Keep the pick identity explicit on the resolved primitive. This also
     // protects injected/custom loaders that do not copy the creation option.
     model.id = icao24;
-    const visual = aircraftVisuals.write(model);
-    visual.specKey = specKey; // class-change sync compares against this
-    visual.irBoost = loadIrBoost; // boost-flip reload queue compares against this
+    const record = createModelRecord(model, {
+      specKey, // class-change sync compares against this
+      irBoost: loadIrBoost, // boost-flip reload queue compares against this
+    });
     // Admitted, not yet the visual. Cesium's default is show=true, which would let
     // an unplaced primitive claim ownership from the icon for the frames
     // between admission and the next fleet tick (and draw at the identity matrix,
     // i.e. the Earth's centre). The handoff turns it on once it has a matrix.
-    setModel(model, 'show', false);
+    showModel(record, false);
     state._modelCollection.add(model);
-    state._models.set(icao24, model);
+    state._models.set(icao24, record);
     state._planeModelLoaded = true; // GLB is cached now — the tracked entity's model can fade in its billboard
   }
 
@@ -452,17 +452,17 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
    *  Bumps the load generation so any in-flight load for this icao is rejected on completion. */
 
   function _releaseModel(icao24) {
-    const m = state._models.get(icao24);
+    const record = state._models.get(icao24);
     const pending = state._modelPending.has(icao24);
     // Only bump the generation when there's something to invalidate (an in-flight load or a
     // live model) — so removing never-modeled aircraft doesn't grow _modelGen.
-    if (m || pending) {
+    if (record || pending) {
       state._modelGen.set(icao24, (state._modelGen.get(icao24) || 0) + 1);
     }
-    if (m) {
+    if (record) {
       if (state._modelCollection && !state._modelCollection.isDestroyed()) {
         try {
-          state._modelCollection.remove(m);
+          state._modelCollection.remove(record.model);
         } catch {
           /* gone */
         }
@@ -492,9 +492,9 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
     for (const icao of state._modelPending)
       state._modelGen.set(icao, (state._modelGen.get(icao) || 0) + 1);
     if (state._modelCollection && !state._modelCollection.isDestroyed()) {
-      for (const m of state._models.values()) {
+      for (const record of state._models.values()) {
         try {
-          state._modelCollection.remove(m);
+          state._modelCollection.remove(record.model);
         } catch {
           /* gone */
         }
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
     if (state._trackedModel) {
       if (state._modelCollection && !state._modelCollection.isDestroyed()) {
         try {
-          state._modelCollection.remove(state._trackedModel);
+          state._modelCollection.remove(state._trackedModel.model);
         } catch {
           /* gone */
         }
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
       state._modelCollection &&
       !state._modelCollection.isDestroyed();
     if (!active) {
-      if (state._trackedModel) setModel(state._trackedModel, 'show', false);
+      if (state._trackedModel) showModel(state._trackedModel, false);
       return;
     }
     // Ask the frame-cached source directly. If the entity callback already ran,
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
       parts.motion._trackedDisplayPosition(state._trackedIcao) ||
       parts.icons._iconPosition(state._trackedIcao);
     if (!pos) {
-      if (state._trackedModel) setModel(state._trackedModel, 'show', false);
+      if (state._trackedModel) showModel(state._trackedModel, false);
       return;
     }
     if (
@@ -621,8 +621,11 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
           // Assign after resolution as well as in the creation options so the
           // standalone primitive always exposes the tracked aircraft pick id.
           m.id = state._trackedIcao;
-          aircraftVisuals.write(m).specKey = trackedKey; // class-change sync compares against this
-          setModel(m, 'show', false); // admitted, not yet the visual — the driver shows it once placed
+          const record = createModelRecord(m, {
+            specKey: trackedKey, // class-change sync compares against this
+            irBoost: trackedIrBoost,
+          });
+          showModel(record, false); // admitted, not yet the visual — the driver shows it once placed
           // Seed the world transform before the primitive enters the scene. A model
           // can become ready+shown between render phases; leaving Cesium's identity
           // default here produces a one-frame jump to the Earth's center.
@@ -636,9 +639,8 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
               state._scratchGroundPos,
             );
             if (displayPos)
-              setModel(
-                m,
-                'modelMatrix',
+              placeModel(
+                record,
                 _modelMatrix(
                   displayPos,
                   parts.motion._trackedDisplayCourse(),
@@ -648,7 +650,7 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
                 ),
               );
           }
-          state._trackedModel = m;
+          state._trackedModel = record;
           state._trackedModelLoading = false;
           // A good load retires this selection's failure budget — a contact that
           // recovers after a transient blip is not one attempt from giving up.
@@ -675,15 +677,14 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
         state._scratchGroundPos,
       );
       if (!displayPos) {
-        setModel(state._trackedModel, 'show', false); // no ground evidence → the billboard carries it
+        showModel(state._trackedModel, false); // no ground evidence → the icon carries it
         return;
       }
       const spec = _modelSpec(
         state.records.data.get(state._trackedIcao)?.klass,
       );
-      setModel(
+      placeModel(
         state._trackedModel,
-        'modelMatrix',
         _modelMatrix(
           displayPos,
           parts.motion._trackedDisplayCourse(),
@@ -691,8 +692,8 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
           spec.headingOffsetDeg ?? policy.MODEL_HEADING_OFFSET_DEG,
         ),
       );
-      if (!state._trackedModel.ready) return;
-      state._trackedModel.scale = trackedModelScaleForPixelCap({
+      if (!state._trackedModel.model.ready) return;
+      state._trackedModel.model.scale = trackedModelScaleForPixelCap({
         baseScale: spec.scale,
         nativeRadiusM: spec.nativeRadiusM,
         rangeM: Cesium.Cartesian3.distance(
@@ -703,7 +704,7 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
         fovyRad: state._viewer.camera.frustum.fovy,
         maximumPixelSize: policy.TRACKED_MODEL_MAX_PX,
       });
-      setModel(state._trackedModel, 'show', true);
+      showModel(state._trackedModel, true);
     }
   }
 
@@ -824,22 +825,22 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
       if (!parts.icons._aboveHorizon(row, position, occluder)) {
         // A model that crossed the limb would keep rendering through the
         // hidden globe at its last matrix; the icon's own cull is on the GPU.
-        const m = state._models.get(icao24);
-        if (m && modelState(m)?.show) setModel(m, 'show', false);
+        const hidden = state._models.get(icao24);
+        if (hidden?.show) showModel(hidden, false);
         continue;
       }
       _ensureModel(icao24);
-      const model = state._models.get(icao24);
+      const record = state._models.get(icao24);
       const cameraDistanceM = Cesium.Cartesian3.distance(camPos, position);
       _driveFleetModelHandoff(
         icao24,
-        model,
+        record,
         row,
         position,
         icons.course(row, tau),
         () => {
           applyAircraftModelTreatment({
-            model,
+            model: record.model,
             // IR boost must survive the per-tick treatment write — otherwise
             // any alpha change would repaint the ordinary tint over the hot
             // white. Boosted models also skip the recession fade: hot targets
@@ -871,7 +872,6 @@ export function createAircraftModels({
     _modelDisplayPosition,
     _driveFleetModelHandoff,
     _modelOwnsVisual,
-    _modelIsRendering,
     _specKeyFor,
     _syncModelToClass,
     _reloadModelsForIrBoost,
diff --git a/src/data/aircraftRecession.js b/src/data/aircraftRecession.js
index 77c7b160e..4f6b4cd9a 100644
--- a/src/data/aircraftRecession.js
+++ b/src/data/aircraftRecession.js
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 /**
- * Limb-relative recession for distant aircraft billboards.
+ * Limb-relative recession for distant aircraft: the factors icon sets apply in
+ * their shader (ICON_RECEDES) and models apply through their colour alpha.
  *
- * This multiplies the billboard's ordinary scale, which Cesium then composes
- * with the locked NearFarScalar. It never edits that scalar, culls a contact,
- * or allows alpha to reach zero.
+ * It multiplies an icon's ordinary scale, which composes with its locked
+ * NearFarScalar. It never edits that scalar, culls a contact, or allows alpha
+ * to reach zero.
  */
-import { billboardState, setBillboard } from './billboardMirror.js';
 
 export const DEFAULT_AIRCRAFT_RECESSION_PARAMS = Object.freeze({
   startLimbRatio: 0.5,
@@ -20,13 +20,6 @@ export const DEFAULT_AIRCRAFT_RECESSION_PARAMS = Object.freeze({
 
 let _params = { ...DEFAULT_AIRCRAFT_RECESSION_PARAMS };
 const _scratchFactors = { scale: 1, alpha: 1, limbRatio: null };
-const _treatmentResult = {
-  scale: 1,
-  alpha: 1,
-  scaleWrites: 0,
-  alphaWrites: 0,
-  factors: _scratchFactors,
-};
 
 function clamp(value, min, max) {
   return Math.min(max, Math.max(min, value));
@@ -178,71 +171,6 @@ export function aircraftRecessionFactors(
   );
 }
 
-/**
- * Production wire helper: compose base scale/alpha, focus emphasis, and limb
- * recession into one deadband-gated billboard write site.
- * @param {object} input
- * @param {object} input.billboard
- * @param {number} input.baseScale
- * @param {number} input.baseAlpha
- * @param {{withAlpha:(alpha:number)=>object}} input.baseColor
- * @param {number} input.focusFactor
- * @param {number} input.cameraDistanceM
- * @param {number} input.cameraHeightM
- * @param {Partial<typeof DEFAULT_AIRCRAFT_RECESSION_PARAMS>} [input.params]
- *
- * IMPORTANT: the returned object (including `factors`) is a module-owned
- * mutable singleton. Consume every needed property before the next call;
- * never retain it as a snapshot.
- * @returns {{scale:number,alpha:number,scaleWrites:number,alphaWrites:number,factors:object}}
- */
-export function applyAircraftBillboardTreatment({
-  billboard,
-  baseScale,
-  baseAlpha,
-  baseColor,
-  focusFactor,
-  cameraDistanceM,
-  cameraHeightM,
-  params,
-}) {
-  const tuning = resolvedParams(params);
-  const factors = aircraftRecessionFactorsResolved(
-    cameraDistanceM,
-    cameraHeightM,
-    tuning,
-    _scratchFactors,
-  );
-  const scale = baseScale * factors.scale;
-  const composedTreatment = Math.max(
-    tuning.combinedAlphaFloor,
-    clamp(focusFactor, 0, 1) * factors.alpha,
-  );
-  const alpha = baseAlpha * composedTreatment;
-  let scaleWrites = 0;
-  let alphaWrites = 0;
-  const pushedScale = billboardState(billboard)?.scale;
-  if (
-    !Number.isFinite(pushedScale) ||
-    Math.abs(pushedScale - scale) > tuning.writeEpsilon
-  ) {
-    setBillboard(billboard, 'scale', scale);
-    scaleWrites = 1;
-  }
-  if (
-    !Number.isFinite(billboard.color?.alpha) ||
-    Math.abs(billboard.color.alpha - alpha) > tuning.writeEpsilon
-  ) {
-    billboard.color = baseColor.withAlpha(alpha);
-    alphaWrites = 1;
-  }
-  _treatmentResult.scale = scale;
-  _treatmentResult.alpha = alpha;
-  _treatmentResult.scaleWrites = scaleWrites;
-  _treatmentResult.alphaWrites = alphaWrites;
-  return _treatmentResult;
-}
-
 /**
  * The alpha an aircraft draws with: base × max(combined floor, focus × limb
  * haze). Icon sets compose the same thing in their shader; models need it here.
diff --git a/src/data/aircraftRecession.test.mjs b/src/data/aircraftRecession.test.mjs
index 7173a36d2..0d8ab7986 100644
--- a/src/data/aircraftRecession.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/aircraftRecession.test.mjs
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@ import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import {
   DEFAULT_AIRCRAFT_RECESSION_PARAMS,
   aircraftRecessionFactors,
-  applyAircraftBillboardTreatment,
   applyAircraftModelTreatment,
   cameraLimbDistanceM,
+  aircraftTreatmentAlpha,
 } from './aircraftRecession.js';
-import { mirrorBillboard } from './billboardMirror.js';
 
 const params = { ...DEFAULT_AIRCRAFT_RECESSION_PARAMS };
 const cameraHeightM = 1_000_000;
@@ -67,72 +66,15 @@ test('globe-view transition eases to identity without a threshold pop', () => {
   assert.deepEqual(end, { scale: 1, alpha: 1, limbRatio: null });
 });
 
-test('aircraft billboard wire writes scale and alpha only for the far treatment', () => {
-  const color = { withAlpha: (alpha) => ({ alpha }) };
-  const near = mirrorBillboard({ scale: 1.2, color: { alpha: 0.8 } });
-  const nearResult = applyAircraftBillboardTreatment({
-    billboard: near,
-    baseScale: 1.2,
-    baseAlpha: 0.8,
-    baseColor: color,
-    focusFactor: 1,
-    cameraDistanceM: limb * 0.4,
-    cameraHeightM,
-    params,
-  });
-  assert.equal(nearResult.scaleWrites, 0);
-  assert.equal(nearResult.alphaWrites, 0);
-
-  const far = mirrorBillboard({ scale: 1.2, color: { alpha: 0.8 } });
-  const farResult = applyAircraftBillboardTreatment({
-    billboard: far,
-    baseScale: 1.2,
-    baseAlpha: 0.8,
-    baseColor: color,
-    focusFactor: 0.5,
-    cameraDistanceM: limb,
-    cameraHeightM,
-    params,
-  });
-  assert.equal(farResult.scaleWrites, 1);
-  assert.equal(farResult.alphaWrites, 1);
-  assert.ok(Math.abs(far.scale - (1.2 * 0.45)) < 1e-12);
-  assert.ok(Math.abs(far.color.alpha - (0.8 * 0.20)) < 1e-12);
-});
-
 test('combined focus and haze product is clamped at the composed alpha floor', () => {
-  const color = { withAlpha: (alpha) => ({ alpha }) };
-  const billboard = mirrorBillboard({ scale: 0.45, color: { alpha: 1 } });
-  const result = applyAircraftBillboardTreatment({
-    billboard,
-    baseScale: 1,
+  const alpha = aircraftTreatmentAlpha({
     baseAlpha: 1,
-    baseColor: color,
     focusFactor: 0.25,
     cameraDistanceM: limb,
     cameraHeightM,
     params,
   });
-  assert.equal(result.alpha, 0.20);
-  assert.equal(billboard.color.alpha, 0.20);
-});
-
-test('applyAircraftBillboardTreatment returns its documented module singleton', () => {
-  const color = { withAlpha: (alpha) => ({ alpha }) };
-  const billboard = mirrorBillboard({ scale: 1, color: { alpha: 1 } });
-  const input = {
-    billboard,
-    baseAlpha: 1,
-    baseColor: color,
-    focusFactor: 1,
-    cameraDistanceM: 0,
-    cameraHeightM,
-    params,
-  };
-  const first = applyAircraftBillboardTreatment({ ...input, baseScale: 1 });
-  const second = applyAircraftBillboardTreatment({ ...input, baseScale: 0.5 });
-  assert.strictEqual(first, second);
-  assert.equal(first.scale, 0.5, 'the prior reference reflects the next call');
+  assert.equal(alpha, 0.2);
 });
 
 test('ambient model presentation receives composed alpha without changing blend semantics', () => {
diff --git a/src/data/billboardMirror.js b/src/data/billboardMirror.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 138d6a5ad..000000000
--- a/src/data/billboardMirror.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,104 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * @module billboardMirror
- * @description Core's copy of what a layer pushed to its billboards, so the layer
- * reads its own state back from Core instead of from the renderer's objects.
- *
- * A layer adds billboards with {@link addBillboard}, writes the mirrored fields
- * with {@link setBillboard}, and reads them with {@link billboardState}. Fields
- * outside the mirror (image, colour, eye offset, …) are written to the billboard
- * directly. Colour stays out because the cyber-sonar theme writes it too and
- * tells the two writers apart by reading the live value.
- */
-import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
-import { createEntityStore } from './entityRecords.js';
-
-const mirrors = createEntityStore();
-
-/**
- * Mirrored fields with Cesium's defaults for a billboard added without them.
- * Width and height have none: unset, Cesium reports the loaded image's size,
- * which Core cannot know, so {@link addBillboard} requires them.
- */
-const DEFAULTS = Object.freeze({
-  show: true,
-  scale: 1,
-  rotation: 0,
-  width: undefined,
-  height: undefined,
-  scaleByDistance: undefined,
-});
-
-/** Cesium copies positions and scalers on write; the mirror keeps its own copy too. */
-function copyInto(record, field, value) {
-  if (field === 'position') {
-    // Cesium keeps its old position when handed none; so does the mirror. A
-    // billboard never given one has none here (Cesium would report the origin).
-    if (!value) return;
-    record.position = Cesium.Cartesian3.clone(value, record.position);
-  } else if (field === 'scaleByDistance') {
-    record.scaleByDistance = value
-      ? Cesium.NearFarScalar.clone(value, record.scaleByDistance)
-      : undefined;
-  } else {
-    record[field] = value;
-  }
-}
-
-function seed(billboard, source) {
-  const record = mirrors.write(billboard);
-  copyInto(record, 'position', source.position);
-  for (const [field, fallback] of Object.entries(DEFAULTS))
-    copyInto(record, field, source[field] ?? fallback);
-  return record;
-}
-
-/**
- * Add a billboard and remember what was pushed.
- * @param {Cesium.BillboardCollection} collection
- * @param {Object} options Billboard options, as for `collection.add`, with an
- *   explicit `width` and `height`.
- * @returns {Cesium.Billboard}
- */
-export function addBillboard(collection, options) {
-  if (!Number.isFinite(options?.width) || !Number.isFinite(options?.height))
-    throw new TypeError(
-      'A mirrored billboard needs an explicit width and height',
-    );
-  const billboard = collection.add(options);
-  seed(billboard, options);
-  return billboard;
-}
-
-/**
- * Start mirroring a billboard Core did not add itself (test seams), from its
- * current fields.
- * @param {Object} billboard
- * @returns {Object} The billboard.
- */
-export function mirrorBillboard(billboard) {
-  if (billboard && typeof billboard === 'object') seed(billboard, billboard);
-  return billboard;
-}
-
-/**
- * Write one mirrored field to the billboard and to Core's copy.
- * @param {Object} billboard
- * @param {'show'|'position'|'scale'|'rotation'|'width'|'height'|'scaleByDistance'} field
- * @param {*} value
- */
-export function setBillboard(billboard, field, value) {
-  copyInto(mirrors.write(billboard), field, value);
-  billboard[field] = value;
-}
-
-/**
- * Core's copy of a billboard's mirrored fields, or null when it has none (or
- * there is no billboard).
- * @param {Object|null|undefined} billboard
- * @returns {{ show: boolean, position?: Cesium.Cartesian3, scale: number,
- *   rotation: number, width?: number, height?: number,
- *   scaleByDistance?: Cesium.NearFarScalar }|null}
- */
-export function billboardState(billboard) {
-  return mirrors.read(billboard);
-}
diff --git a/src/data/billboardMirror.test.mjs b/src/data/billboardMirror.test.mjs
deleted file mode 100644
index 892bd04cf..000000000
--- a/src/data/billboardMirror.test.mjs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-import test from 'node:test';
-import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
-import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
-import {
-  addBillboard,
-  billboardState,
-  mirrorBillboard,
-  setBillboard,
-} from './billboardMirror.js';
-
-const SIZE = Object.freeze({ width: 20, height: 20 });
-
-function fakeCollection() {
-  return { add: (options) => ({ ...options }) };
-}
-
-test('an added billboard is mirrored with Cesium defaults for unset fields', () => {
-  const position = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(10, 20, 30);
-  const bb = addBillboard(fakeCollection(), { position, width: 20, height: 24 });
-  const state = billboardState(bb);
-  assert.equal(state.show, true);
-  assert.equal(state.scale, 1);
-  assert.equal(state.rotation, 0);
-  assert.equal(state.width, 20);
-  assert.equal(state.height, 24);
-  assert.ok(Cesium.Cartesian3.equals(state.position, position));
-  assert.notEqual(state.position, position, 'the mirror keeps its own copy');
-});
-
-test('writes reach both the billboard and the mirror', () => {
-  const bb = addBillboard(fakeCollection(), SIZE);
-  setBillboard(bb, 'show', false);
-  setBillboard(bb, 'scale', 0.5);
-  assert.equal(bb.show, false);
-  assert.equal(billboardState(bb).show, false);
-  assert.equal(billboardState(bb).scale, 0.5);
-});
-
-test('a reused scratch position does not move the mirror', () => {
-  const bb = addBillboard(fakeCollection(), SIZE);
-  const scratch = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(1, 2, 3);
-  setBillboard(bb, 'position', scratch);
-  const written = Cesium.Cartesian3.clone(scratch);
-  Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(50, 50, 50, undefined, scratch);
-  assert.ok(Cesium.Cartesian3.equals(billboardState(bb).position, written));
-});
-
-test('writing no position keeps the last one, as Cesium does', () => {
-  const position = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(1, 2, 3);
-  const bb = addBillboard(fakeCollection(), { ...SIZE, position });
-  setBillboard(bb, 'position', undefined);
-  assert.ok(Cesium.Cartesian3.equals(billboardState(bb).position, position));
-});
-
-test('the mirror answers from Core, not from the billboard', () => {
-  const bb = addBillboard(fakeCollection(), { ...SIZE, show: true });
-  bb.show = false; // a write that bypassed the mirror
-  assert.equal(billboardState(bb).show, true);
-});
-
-test('a billboard Core did not add can be mirrored from its fields', () => {
-  const bb = mirrorBillboard({ show: false, scale: 2 });
-  assert.equal(billboardState(bb).show, false);
-  assert.equal(billboardState(bb).scale, 2);
-  assert.equal(billboardState(bb).position, undefined, 'none was pushed');
-  assert.equal(billboardState(null), null);
-  assert.equal(mirrorBillboard(null), null);
-});
-
-test('a billboard without explicit dimensions is refused', () => {
-  // Unset, Cesium reports the image's size, which the mirror cannot know.
-  assert.throws(() => addBillboard(fakeCollection(), {}), TypeError);
-  assert.throws(() => addBillboard(fakeCollection(), { width: 20 }), TypeError);
-});
diff --git a/src/data/cockpitDetectionSubjects.test.mjs b/src/data/cockpitDetectionSubjects.test.mjs
index 8421267fc..79a95cb1b 100644
--- a/src/data/cockpitDetectionSubjects.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/cockpitDetectionSubjects.test.mjs
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ const LAYERS = [
       _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
         icao24,
         entity: null,
-        billboard: candidateBillboard(icao24),
-        billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+        icon: candidateBillboard(icao24),
+        iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
         viewer: candidateViewer(),
         tracked: false,
         meta: {
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ const LAYERS = [
       _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
         icao24,
         entity: null,
-        billboard: candidateBillboard(icao24),
-        billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+        icon: candidateBillboard(icao24),
+        iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
         viewer: candidateViewer(),
         tracked: false,
         meta: {
diff --git a/src/data/flights.test.mjs b/src/data/flights.test.mjs
index 487a9d538..0c911b8fa 100644
--- a/src/data/flights.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/flights.test.mjs
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ test('nonempty OpenSky payload with zero usable rows cannot prove share target a
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24: 'abc123',
     entity: withEntityRecord({}, { labelModel: { title: 'WARM', details: [] } }),
-    billboard: { show: false },
-    billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+    icon: { show: false },
+    iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
     viewer: { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} },
     meta: { rawLat: 30.2, rawLon: -97.7, onGround: false },
   });
@@ -229,16 +229,16 @@ test('a newly seen aircraft appears at its delayed position, not ahead of it', a
   // first displayed position is its fix projected back to that delayed time.
   // Creating the icon at the raw fix drew it ahead until the next fleet
   // tick, which then jumped it back about one delay of travel.
-  const billboardCollection = { show: false };
+  const iconLayer = { show: false };
   const viewer = { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} };
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24: 'seed00',
     entity: null,
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       show: false,
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(0, 0, 0),
     },
-    billboardCollection,
+    iconLayer,
     viewer,
     meta: { rawLat: 0, rawLon: 0, onGround: false },
     tracked: false,
@@ -317,13 +317,13 @@ test('flights poll refreshes tracked callsign/FL/kts and marks a missed poll STA
     color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
     show: false,
   };
-  const billboardCollection = { show: false, remove() {} };
+  const iconLayer = { show: false, remove() {} };
   const viewer = { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} };
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24,
     entity,
-    billboard,
-    billboardCollection,
+    icon: billboard,
+    iconLayer,
     viewer,
     meta: {
       callsign: 'OLD1',
@@ -473,8 +473,8 @@ test('real civil track path creates no native label and publishes every cached h
     _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24,
       entity: null,
-      billboard,
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: billboard,
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer,
       tracked: false,
       history: [
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ test('real civil track path creates no native label and publishes every cached h
     );
     _addFlightTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late001',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.5, 30.4, 9_000),
       },
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ test('real civil track path creates no native label and publishes every cached h
     );
     _addFlightTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late002',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.4, 30.5, 8_000),
       },
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ test('real civil track path creates no native label and publishes every cached h
     );
     _addFlightTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late003',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.3, 30.6, 7_000),
       },
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ test('real civil track path creates no native label and publishes every cached h
     assert.equal(_pendingFlightTrackingRestoreForTest(), 'late004');
     _addFlightTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late004',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.2, 30.7, 6_000),
       },
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ test('real civil track path creates no native label and publishes every cached h
     );
     _addFlightTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late005',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.1, 30.8, 5_000),
       },
@@ -732,12 +732,12 @@ function seedLabelContact({
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24: LABEL_ICAO,
     entity: null,
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       position: LABEL_POSITION,
       color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
       show: true,
     },
-    billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+    iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
     viewer: { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} },
     tracked,
     meta: {
@@ -940,12 +940,12 @@ test('civil tracked readout: a callsign-less enriched contact reads as its regis
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24: LABEL_ICAO,
     entity,
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       position: LABEL_POSITION,
       color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
       show: false,
     },
-    billboardCollection: { show: false, remove() {} },
+    iconLayer: { show: false, remove() {} },
     viewer: { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} },
     meta: {
       callsign: '  ',
@@ -1064,16 +1064,16 @@ test('a newly seen taxiing aircraft starts on the floor under its delayed positi
   _clearDisplayFloorStateForTest();
   _clearMeshFloorCellsForTest();
   setMeshFloorPreferred(true);
-  const billboardCollection = { show: false };
+  const iconLayer = { show: false };
   const viewer = { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} };
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24: 'seed00',
     entity: null,
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       show: false,
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(0, 0, 0),
     },
-    billboardCollection,
+    iconLayer,
     viewer,
     meta: { rawLat: 0, rawLon: 0, onGround: false },
     tracked: false,
@@ -1154,11 +1154,11 @@ test('far grounded contacts take turns on the floor; near ones refloor every tic
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24: 'seed00',
     entity: null,
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       show: false,
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(0, 0, 0),
     },
-    billboardCollection: { show: false },
+    iconLayer: { show: false },
     viewer,
     meta: { rawLat: 0, rawLon: 0, onGround: false },
     tracked: false,
diff --git a/src/data/focusAllocations.test.mjs b/src/data/focusAllocations.test.mjs
index 86f28db18..a76caf494 100644
--- a/src/data/focusAllocations.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/focusAllocations.test.mjs
@@ -23,6 +23,6 @@ test('converged focus treatment stays within the GC-bracketed allocation budget'
   assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stderr || result.stdout);
   const report = JSON.parse(result.stdout.trim());
   assert.ok(report.advanceSpriteFocus.roundedMedian <= 16, result.stdout);
-  assert.ok(report.applyAircraftBillboardTreatment.roundedMedian <= 16, result.stdout);
+  assert.ok(report.aircraftTreatmentAlpha.roundedMedian <= 16, result.stdout);
   assert.ok(report.productionSpriteTick.roundedMedian <= 212, result.stdout);
 });
diff --git a/src/data/militaryAwareness.test.mjs b/src/data/militaryAwareness.test.mjs
index 606dc8440..f159f0655 100644
--- a/src/data/militaryAwareness.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/militaryAwareness.test.mjs
@@ -889,8 +889,8 @@ test('Contacts activation adopts the production military tracked-subject descrip
     _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: id,
       entity: null,
-      billboard: { position, show: true },
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: { position, show: true },
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer: sourceViewer,
       meta: {
         callsign: 'RCH451 ',
@@ -971,8 +971,8 @@ test('Contacts activation adopts the production military tracked-subject descrip
     _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: id,
       entity: null,
-      billboard: { position, show: true },
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: { position, show: true },
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer: sourceViewer,
       meta: {},
       tracked: false,
@@ -998,8 +998,8 @@ test('production military tracked-subject label falls back to registration befor
     _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: id,
       entity: null,
-      billboard: { position, show: true },
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: { position, show: true },
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer: sourceViewer,
       meta: {
         callsign: '   ',
@@ -1051,8 +1051,8 @@ test('production military tracked-subject label falls back to registration befor
     _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: id,
       entity: null,
-      billboard: { position, show: true },
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: { position, show: true },
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer: sourceViewer,
       meta: {},
       tracked: false,
@@ -1097,8 +1097,8 @@ test('a cached Context subject re-reads its label when enrichment lands after se
     _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: id,
       entity: null,
-      billboard: { position, color: Cesium.Color.WHITE, show: true },
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: { position, color: Cesium.Color.WHITE, show: true },
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer: sourceViewer,
       meta,
     });
@@ -1185,8 +1185,8 @@ test('a cached Context subject re-reads its label when enrichment lands after se
     _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: id,
       entity: null,
-      billboard: { position, show: true },
-      billboardCollection: { show: false, remove() {} },
+      icon: { position, show: true },
+      iconLayer: { show: false, remove() {} },
       viewer: sourceViewer,
       meta: {},
       tracked: false,
@@ -1207,8 +1207,8 @@ test('Contacts activation adopts the production civilian tracked-subject descrip
     _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: id,
       entity: null,
-      billboard: { position, show: true },
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: { position, show: true },
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer: sourceViewer,
       meta: {
         callsign: 'DAL123 ',
@@ -1296,8 +1296,8 @@ test('Contacts activation adopts the production civilian tracked-subject descrip
     _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: id,
       entity: null,
-      billboard: { position, show: true },
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: { position, show: true },
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer: sourceViewer,
       meta: {},
       tracked: false,
diff --git a/src/data/militaryFlights.test.mjs b/src/data/militaryFlights.test.mjs
index 3ea1c5f69..ee840f70d 100644
--- a/src/data/militaryFlights.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/militaryFlights.test.mjs
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ test('nonempty adsb.lol payload with zero usable rows cannot prove share target
   _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24: 'ae1234',
     entity: withEntityRecord({}, { labelModel: { title: 'WARM', details: [] } }),
-    billboard: { show: false },
-    billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+    icon: { show: false },
+    iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
     viewer: { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} },
     meta: { rawLat: 31, rawLon: -97, onGround: false },
   });
@@ -190,13 +190,13 @@ test('military poll refreshes tracked callsign/altitude/kts and marks a missed p
     color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
     show: false,
   };
-  const billboardCollection = { show: false, remove() {} };
+  const iconLayer = { show: false, remove() {} };
   const viewer = { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} };
   _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24,
     entity,
-    billboard,
-    billboardCollection,
+    icon: billboard,
+    iconLayer,
     viewer,
     meta: {
       callsign: 'OLD2',
@@ -266,11 +266,11 @@ test('cached military snapshots retain their observation time and expose stale f
   _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24: 'ae01ce',
     entity: withEntityRecord({}, { labelModel: { title: 'RCH451', details: [] } }),
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97, 31, 8000),
       show: false,
     },
-    billboardCollection: { show: false, remove() {} },
+    iconLayer: { show: false, remove() {} },
     viewer,
     history,
     meta: { rawLat: 31, rawLon: -97, onGround: false },
@@ -408,8 +408,8 @@ test('real military track path creates no native label and publishes every cache
     _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24,
       entity: null,
-      billboard,
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      icon: billboard,
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer,
       tracked: false,
       history: [
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ test('real military track path creates no native label and publishes every cache
     );
     _addMilitaryTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late001',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-96.9, 31.1, 8_000),
       },
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ test('real military track path creates no native label and publishes every cache
     );
     _addMilitaryTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late002',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-96.8, 31.2, 7_000),
       },
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ test('real military track path creates no native label and publishes every cache
     );
     _addMilitaryTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late003',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.3, 30.6, 7_000),
       },
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ test('real military track path creates no native label and publishes every cache
     assert.equal(_pendingMilitaryTrackingRestoreForTest(), 'late004');
     _addMilitaryTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late004',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.2, 30.7, 6_000),
       },
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ test('real military track path creates no native label and publishes every cache
     );
     _addMilitaryTrackingCandidateForTest({
       icao24: 'late005',
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         ...billboard,
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-96.6, 31.4, 5_000),
       },
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ test('a callsign-less contact is findable by the tail number the app displays',
       rawLat: 40.71,
       rawLon: -74.01,
     },
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-74.01, 40.71, 167),
       color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
       show: true,
@@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ test('a registration never outranks another contact’s exact callsign', () => {
       rawLat: 31.0,
       rawLon: -97.0,
     },
-    billboard: billboardAt(-97.0, 31.0),
+    icon: billboardAt(-97.0, 31.0),
   });
   _addMilitaryTrackingCandidateForTest({
     icao24: 'ae0bb2',
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ test('a registration never outranks another contact’s exact callsign', () => {
       rawLat: 31.2,
       rawLon: -97.2,
     },
-    billboard: billboardAt(-97.2, 31.2),
+    icon: billboardAt(-97.2, 31.2),
   });
 
   assert.equal(
@@ -808,7 +808,7 @@ test('two contacts matching at the same strength resolve deterministically', ()
       rawLat: 32.0,
       rawLon: -98.0,
     },
-    billboard: billboardAt(-98.0, 32.0),
+    icon: billboardAt(-98.0, 32.0),
   });
   _addMilitaryTrackingCandidateForTest({
     icao24: 'aef001',
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ test('two contacts matching at the same strength resolve deterministically', ()
       rawLat: 32.1,
       rawLon: -98.1,
     },
-    billboard: billboardAt(-98.1, 32.1),
+    icon: billboardAt(-98.1, 32.1),
   });
 
   const first = militaryFlightsLayer.findByQuery('QQ7')?.icao24;
@@ -847,12 +847,12 @@ test('the military tracked descriptor publishes the reported vertical rate', ()
     _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
       icao24: 'ae7f01',
       entity: withEntityRecord({}, { labelModel: { title: 'TEST', details: [] } }),
-      billboard: {
+      icon: {
         position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.0, 31.0, 8_000),
         color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
         show: true,
       },
-      billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+      iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
       viewer: { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} },
       meta: {
         callsign: 'RCH512',
diff --git a/src/data/modelMirror.js b/src/data/modelMirror.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 8c318d82f..000000000
--- a/src/data/modelMirror.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * @module modelMirror
- * @description Core's copy of what a layer pushed to its 3D models, so the layer
- * reads its own placement back from Core instead of from the renderer's objects.
- *
- * A layer writes the mirrored fields with {@link setModel} and reads them with
- * {@link modelState}. What the renderer measures (`ready`, `computedScale`) is
- * still read from the model. Colour stays out for the same reason as on
- * billboards: the cyber-sonar theme writes it too and reads the live value.
- */
-import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
-import { createEntityStore } from './entityRecords.js';
-
-const mirrors = createEntityStore();
-
-/**
- * Core's record for `model`, made on first write with Cesium's defaults for a
- * model loaded without `show` or `modelMatrix` options (shown, at the identity).
- */
-function recordFor(model) {
-  const record = mirrors.write(model);
-  if (!record.modelMatrix) {
-    record.show = true;
-    record.modelMatrix = Cesium.Matrix4.clone(Cesium.Matrix4.IDENTITY);
-  }
-  return record;
-}
-
-/**
- * Start mirroring a model Core did not write itself (test seams), from its
- * current fields.
- * @param {Object} model
- * @returns {Object} The model.
- */
-export function mirrorModel(model) {
-  if (!model || typeof model !== 'object') return model;
-  const record = recordFor(model);
-  record.show = model.show ?? true;
-  if (model.modelMatrix)
-    Cesium.Matrix4.clone(model.modelMatrix, record.modelMatrix);
-  return model;
-}
-
-/**
- * Write one mirrored field to the model and to Core's copy. A matrix is copied
- * into both, so a shared scratch can be passed and reused straight after.
- * @param {Object} model
- * @param {'show'|'modelMatrix'} field
- * @param {*} value
- */
-export function setModel(model, field, value) {
-  if (field !== 'show' && field !== 'modelMatrix')
-    throw new TypeError(`The model mirror does not hold ${field}`);
-  const record = recordFor(model);
-  if (field === 'modelMatrix') {
-    Cesium.Matrix4.clone(value, record.modelMatrix);
-    // Cesium clones the model's own matrix each frame, so write into it in place.
-    if (model.modelMatrix) Cesium.Matrix4.clone(value, model.modelMatrix);
-    else model.modelMatrix = Cesium.Matrix4.clone(value);
-  } else {
-    record[field] = value;
-    model[field] = value;
-  }
-}
-
-/**
- * Core's copy of a model's mirrored fields, or null when nothing was written to
- * it yet (or there is no model).
- * @param {Object|null|undefined} model
- * @returns {{ show: boolean, modelMatrix: Cesium.Matrix4 }|null}
- */
-export function modelState(model) {
-  return mirrors.read(model);
-}
diff --git a/src/data/modelMirror.test.mjs b/src/data/modelMirror.test.mjs
deleted file mode 100644
index 611980032..000000000
--- a/src/data/modelMirror.test.mjs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,67 +0,0 @@
-import test from 'node:test';
-import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
-import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
-import { mirrorModel, modelState, setModel } from './modelMirror.js';
-
-function fakeModel() {
-  return { show: true, modelMatrix: Cesium.Matrix4.clone(Cesium.Matrix4.IDENTITY) };
-}
-
-test('a model has no mirror until Core writes to it', () => {
-  assert.equal(modelState(fakeModel()), null);
-  assert.equal(modelState(null), null);
-});
-
-test('the first write starts from Cesium defaults for the other fields', () => {
-  const model = fakeModel();
-  setModel(model, 'show', false);
-  assert.equal(model.show, false);
-  assert.equal(modelState(model).show, false);
-  assert.ok(Cesium.Matrix4.equals(modelState(model).modelMatrix, Cesium.Matrix4.IDENTITY));
-});
-
-test('a matrix is copied into both the model and the mirror, never shared', () => {
-  const model = fakeModel();
-  const own = model.modelMatrix;
-  const scratch = Cesium.Matrix4.fromTranslation(new Cesium.Cartesian3(1, 2, 3));
-  setModel(model, 'modelMatrix', scratch);
-  assert.equal(model.modelMatrix, own, "written into the model's own matrix");
-  assert.ok(Cesium.Matrix4.equals(model.modelMatrix, scratch));
-  assert.notEqual(modelState(model).modelMatrix, scratch);
-  Cesium.Matrix4.fromTranslation(new Cesium.Cartesian3(9, 9, 9), scratch);
-  assert.deepEqual(
-    Cesium.Matrix4.getTranslation(modelState(model).modelMatrix, new Cesium.Cartesian3()),
-    new Cesium.Cartesian3(1, 2, 3),
-    'reusing the scratch moves neither copy',
-  );
-  assert.ok(!Cesium.Matrix4.equals(model.modelMatrix, scratch));
-});
-
-test('the mirror answers from Core, not from the model', () => {
-  const model = fakeModel();
-  setModel(model, 'show', true);
-  model.show = false; // a write that bypassed the mirror
-  assert.equal(modelState(model).show, true);
-});
-
-test("a model without its own matrix yet gets a copy, not the caller's", () => {
-  const model = { show: true };
-  const matrix = Cesium.Matrix4.fromTranslation(new Cesium.Cartesian3(1, 2, 3));
-  setModel(model, 'modelMatrix', matrix);
-  assert.notEqual(model.modelMatrix, matrix);
-  assert.ok(Cesium.Matrix4.equals(model.modelMatrix, matrix));
-});
-
-test('a model Core did not write can be mirrored from its fields', () => {
-  const matrix = Cesium.Matrix4.fromTranslation(new Cesium.Cartesian3(4, 5, 6));
-  const model = mirrorModel({ show: false, modelMatrix: matrix });
-  assert.equal(modelState(model).show, false);
-  assert.ok(Cesium.Matrix4.equals(modelState(model).modelMatrix, matrix));
-  assert.notEqual(modelState(model).modelMatrix, matrix);
-  assert.equal(modelState(mirrorModel({})).show, true, 'Cesium shows by default');
-  assert.equal(mirrorModel(null), null);
-});
-
-test('fields outside the mirror are refused', () => {
-  assert.throws(() => setModel({}, 'scale', 2), TypeError);
-});
diff --git a/src/data/modelRecord.js b/src/data/modelRecord.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c10fc524f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/data/modelRecord.js
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+/**
+ * @module modelRecord
+ * @description A layer's own record of one 3D model it draws, held in the
+ * layer's maps under the contact's id, so the layer reads what it pushed back
+ * from itself instead of from the renderer's object.
+ *
+ * Write `show` and the placement with {@link showModel} and {@link placeModel};
+ * read them from the record. What the renderer measures (`ready`,
+ * `computedScale`) is still read from `record.model`. Colour stays out: the
+ * cyber-sonar theme writes it too and reads the live value.
+ */
+import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {object} ModelRecord
+ * @property {Cesium.Model} model
+ * @property {boolean} show Whether the layer last showed the model.
+ * @property {Cesium.Matrix4} matrix Where the layer last placed it.
+ * @property {string|null} specKey The model spec it was loaded for; a class
+ *   change reloads.
+ * @property {boolean|null} irBoost The IR boost it was loaded with; a flip
+ *   reloads.
+ * @property {number} bellyM Metres from the model origin to its belly, to sit
+ *   it on the ground.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * A record for a model the layer just made, from the options it made it with
+ * (Cesium's defaults when none: shown, at the identity).
+ * @param {Cesium.Model} model
+ * @param {{specKey?: string, irBoost?: boolean, bellyM?: number}} [fields]
+ * @returns {ModelRecord}
+ */
+export function createModelRecord(
+  model,
+  { specKey = null, irBoost = null, bellyM = 0 } = {},
+) {
+  return {
+    model,
+    show: model.show ?? true,
+    matrix: Cesium.Matrix4.clone(model.modelMatrix ?? Cesium.Matrix4.IDENTITY),
+    specKey,
+    irBoost,
+    bellyM,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Show or hide a model and record it.
+ * @param {ModelRecord} record
+ * @param {boolean} show
+ */
+export function showModel(record, show) {
+  record.show = show;
+  record.model.show = show;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Place a model and record where. The matrix is copied into both, so a shared
+ * scratch can be passed and reused straight after.
+ * @param {ModelRecord} record
+ * @param {Cesium.Matrix4} matrix
+ */
+export function placeModel(record, matrix) {
+  Cesium.Matrix4.clone(matrix, record.matrix);
+  const model = record.model;
+  // Cesium clones the model's own matrix each frame, so write into it in place.
+  if (model.modelMatrix) Cesium.Matrix4.clone(matrix, model.modelMatrix);
+  else model.modelMatrix = Cesium.Matrix4.clone(matrix);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Whether a record's model is what the user sees: loaded and shown.
+ * @param {ModelRecord|null|undefined} record
+ * @returns {boolean}
+ */
+export function modelIsRendering(record) {
+  return !!record && record.model.ready === true && record.show === true;
+}
diff --git a/src/data/modelScale.test.mjs b/src/data/modelScale.test.mjs
index e4f404ca8..39809abcf 100644
--- a/src/data/modelScale.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/modelScale.test.mjs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import {
   trailHeadStart,
   modelAnchorWorld,
 } from './modelVisualAnchor.js';
-import { mirrorModel } from './modelMirror.js';
+import { createModelRecord } from './modelRecord.js';
 
 const ROOT = path.resolve(path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)), '../..');
 
@@ -798,13 +798,13 @@ test('the trail anchor rides the rendered longitudinal axis at every heading', (
       position, hpr, Cesium.Ellipsoid.WGS84, undefined, new Cesium.Matrix4(),
     );
     for (const [url, anchor] of Object.entries(MODEL_TRAIL_ANCHOR_NATIVE)) {
-      const model = mirrorModel({
+      const record = createModelRecord({
         modelMatrix,
         computedScale: 1,
         sceneGraph: { components: { transform: rootTransform } },
       });
       const origin = Cesium.Matrix4.getTranslation(modelMatrix, new Cesium.Cartesian3());
-      const world = modelAnchorWorld(model, anchor, new Cesium.Cartesian3());
+      const world = modelAnchorWorld(record, anchor, new Cesium.Cartesian3());
       // Reference axes derived INDEPENDENTLY, from the ENU frame and the same
       // heading the matrix was built with — deliberately NOT through
       // modelAnchorWorld. Taking them through the function under test makes the
@@ -861,13 +861,13 @@ test('a hovering rotorcraft anchors aft of its own hull, whatever its heading',
   const anchor = MODEL_TRAIL_ANCHOR_NATIVE['/models/bell206.glb'];
   for (const headingDeg of [0, 137.5, 271.9]) {
     const hpr = new Cesium.HeadingPitchRoll(Cesium.Math.toRadians(headingDeg), 0, 0);
-    const model = mirrorModel({
+    const record = createModelRecord({
       modelMatrix: Cesium.Transforms.headingPitchRollToFixedFrame(
         position, hpr, Cesium.Ellipsoid.WGS84, undefined, new Cesium.Matrix4()),
       computedScale: 1,
     });
-    const origin = Cesium.Matrix4.getTranslation(model.modelMatrix, new Cesium.Cartesian3());
-    const world = modelAnchorWorld(model, anchor, new Cesium.Cartesian3());
+    const origin = Cesium.Matrix4.getTranslation(record.matrix, new Cesium.Cartesian3());
+    const world = modelAnchorWorld(record, anchor, new Cesium.Cartesian3());
     const enu = Cesium.Transforms.eastNorthUpToFixedFrame(origin, Cesium.Ellipsoid.WGS84, new Cesium.Matrix4());
     const ax = (i) => {
       const c = Cesium.Matrix4.getColumn(enu, i, new Cesium.Cartesian4());
diff --git a/src/data/modelVisualAnchor.js b/src/data/modelVisualAnchor.js
index a3bd92b64..c9fdf782f 100644
--- a/src/data/modelVisualAnchor.js
+++ b/src/data/modelVisualAnchor.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
-import { modelState } from './modelMirror.js';
 /**
  * Model-space visual centres measured from the shipped GLBs' scene-space AABBs.
  *
@@ -107,13 +106,16 @@ const _chainScratch = new Cesium.Matrix4();
  * here, so exactly one transform — Cesium's own — stands between the table and
  * the world, and there is no second convention to drift.
  *
- * @param {object} model Cesium Model (needs modelMatrix, computedScale, sceneGraph).
+ * @param {import('./modelRecord.js').ModelRecord} record The layer's record of
+ *   the model: where it placed it, and the Cesium Model (computedScale,
+ *   sceneGraph).
  * @param {readonly number[]} nativeAnchor Raw glTF `[x, y, z]` native-unit offset.
  * @param {{x:number,y:number,z:number}} result Mutable Cartesian-like result.
  * @returns {{x:number,y:number,z:number}|null} World position of the anchor.
  */
-export function modelAnchorWorld(model, nativeAnchor, result) {
-  const modelMatrix = modelState(model)?.modelMatrix;
+export function modelAnchorWorld(record, nativeAnchor, result) {
+  const modelMatrix = record?.matrix;
+  const model = record?.model;
   if (!modelMatrix || !nativeAnchor || !result) return null;
   const scale = Number.isFinite(model.computedScale) ? model.computedScale : 1;
   _anchorScratch.x = (nativeAnchor[0] || 0) * scale;
diff --git a/src/data/nearbyModelHandoff.test.mjs b/src/data/nearbyModelHandoff.test.mjs
index e540be618..ce3a6a2bc 100644
--- a/src/data/nearbyModelHandoff.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/nearbyModelHandoff.test.mjs
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ const LAYERS = [
       _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
         icao24: ICAO,
         entity: null,
-        billboard: contactBillboard(billboardShow),
-        billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+        icon: contactBillboard(billboardShow),
+        iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
         viewer: contactViewer(),
         tracked: false,
         models,
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ const LAYERS = [
       _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
         icao24: ICAO,
         entity: null,
-        billboard: contactBillboard(billboardShow),
-        billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+        icon: contactBillboard(billboardShow),
+        iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
         viewer: contactViewer(),
         tracked: false,
         models,
diff --git a/src/data/tr3bRegistry.test.mjs b/src/data/tr3bRegistry.test.mjs
index 89b64c733..f30b578fe 100644
--- a/src/data/tr3bRegistry.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/tr3bRegistry.test.mjs
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ test('a conversion survives a poll refresh, in both the billboard and the tracke
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24,
     entity,
-    billboard,
-    billboardCollection: { show: false, remove() {} },
+    icon: billboard,
+    iconLayer: { show: false, remove() {} },
     viewer,
     meta: {
       callsign: 'OLD1',
@@ -298,13 +298,13 @@ test('conversions are session-scoped and no lifecycle path clears them', async (
   _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24,
     entity: null,
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.7, 30.2, 9_000),
       color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
       image: aircraftIcon('tr3b'),
       show: true,
     },
-    billboardCollection: { show: false, remove() {} },
+    iconLayer: { show: false, remove() {} },
     viewer,
     tracked: false,
     meta: { callsign: 'OLD1', altitude: 9_000, klass: 'airliner', rawLat: 30.2, rawLon: -97.7 },
@@ -462,12 +462,12 @@ test('cockpit class filter matches a converted contact end to end', async () =>
   const seed = () => _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24,
     entity: null,
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.71, 30.21, 10_668),
       color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
       show: true,
     },
-    billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+    iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
     viewer: { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} },
     tracked: false,
     meta: { callsign: 'SWA696 ', altitude: 10_668, klass: 'airliner', onGround: false },
@@ -508,12 +508,12 @@ test('military records and detection cards agree with the conversion', () => {
   const seed = () => _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
     icao24,
     entity: null,
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.71, 30.21, 10_668),
       color: Cesium.Color.WHITE,
       show: true,
     },
-    billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+    iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
     viewer: { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} },
     tracked: false,
     meta: { callsign: 'RCH451', altitudeFt: 35_000, klass: 'quadjet', type: 'C-17A', onGround: false },
diff --git a/src/data/trackedModelRegime.test.mjs b/src/data/trackedModelRegime.test.mjs
index 09fd23e36..ba7c97681 100644
--- a/src/data/trackedModelRegime.test.mjs
+++ b/src/data/trackedModelRegime.test.mjs
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ import militaryFlightsLayer, {
 } from './militaryFlights.js';
 import { clearTr3bRegistry, setTr3b } from './tr3bRegistry.js';
 import { reportMeshFloorCell, _clearMeshFloorCellsForTest } from './groundFloor.js';
-import { setBillboard } from './billboardMirror.js';
 
 // Sample altitudes are expressed RELATIVE to the band rather than as absolute
 // offsets. The thresholds have already been retuned once (1_000_000 → 150_000
@@ -231,8 +230,8 @@ const LAYERS = [
       _setTrackedFlightRefreshStateForTest({
         icao24,
         entity: null,
-        billboard,
-        billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+        icon: billboard,
+        iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
         viewer,
         tracked,
         models,
@@ -256,8 +255,8 @@ const LAYERS = [
       _setTrackedMilitaryRefreshStateForTest({
         icao24,
         entity: null,
-        billboard,
-        billboardCollection: { show: true, remove() {} },
+        icon: billboard,
+        iconLayer: { show: true, remove() {} },
         viewer,
         tracked,
         models,
@@ -375,7 +374,7 @@ for (const fixture of LAYERS) {
         onGround: true,
         models: [[icao24, model]],
       });
-      setBillboard(billboard, 'show', false);
+      billboard.show = false;
 
       let ownsVisual = fixture.driveFleetModel({ icao24, position, course: 92 });
       assert.equal(ownsVisual, false, 'cold terrain cannot transfer ownership to 3D');
@@ -511,7 +510,7 @@ for (const fixture of LAYERS) {
         onGround: true,
         models: [[icao24, model]],
       });
-      setBillboard(billboard, 'show', false);
+      billboard.show = false;
 
       const atA = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(A_LON, LAT, 0);
       const atB = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(B_LON, LAT, 0);
@@ -646,7 +645,7 @@ for (const fixture of LAYERS) {
         0,
         1e-6,
       ), 'a hidden tracked model cannot steal the detection anchor');
-      setBillboard(billboard, 'show', false); // tracking hides the fleet sprite; the tracked entity remains the 2D owner
+      billboard.show = false; // tracking hides the fleet sprite; the tracked entity remains the 2D owner
       const loadingNearby = fixture.layer.getNearby(billboard.position, 1_000, 50)
         .find((object) => object.icao24 === (fixture.name === 'flights' ? 'a0f001' : 'b0f001'));
       assert.ok(loadingNearby, 'the tracked contact remains in proximity while its model loads');
@@ -685,7 +684,7 @@ for (const fixture of LAYERS) {
 
       viewer.tileset.tilesLoaded = false;
       sampledHeight = undefined;
-      setBillboard(billboard, 'position', Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.71, 30.21, -500));
+      billboard.position = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.71, 30.21, -500);
       fixture.driveTrackedModel();
       assert.equal(model.show, true,
         'a successful cached snap survives a poll-time vertical datum change');
@@ -695,7 +694,7 @@ for (const fixture of LAYERS) {
       // Taxi past the resample threshold with the tiles gone: the tracked model
       // holds its last measured floor rather than handing the operator's own
       // selection back to a 2D glyph for a retry backoff.
-      setBillboard(billboard, 'position', Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.709, 30.21, -500));
+      billboard.position = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.709, 30.21, -500);
       fixture.driveTrackedModel();
       assert.equal(model.show, true,
         'a taxi-invalidated tracked snap is HELD through the resample outage');
@@ -704,7 +703,7 @@ for (const fixture of LAYERS) {
       assert.equal(sampleCalls, 1, 'the hold costs no extra synchronous sample');
 
       // Past the drift bound the memory is released and the gate takes over.
-      setBillboard(billboard, 'position', Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.707, 30.21, -500));
+      billboard.position = Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-97.707, 30.21, -500);
       fixture.driveTrackedModel();
       assert.equal(model.show, false,
         'past HELD_SNAP_MAX_DRIFT_M the hold is released and the model is withheld');
diff --git a/src/layers/aircraft/visualState.js b/src/layers/aircraft/visualState.js
deleted file mode 100644
index b9b1f191c..000000000
--- a/src/layers/aircraft/visualState.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-import { createEntityStore } from '../../data/entityRecords.js';
-
-/**
- * What the aircraft layers (flights, military, local ADS-B) remember about the
- * models and billboards they draw, kept beside them rather than on them.
- * - `specKey`: the model spec a model was loaded for; a class change reloads.
- * - `irBoost`: the IR boost a model was loaded with; a flip reloads.
- * - `bellyM`: metres from the model origin to its belly, to sit it on the ground.
- * - `iconLarge`: whether a billboard shows the large icon raster.
- */
-export const aircraftVisuals = createEntityStore();
diff --git a/src/layers/flights/motion.js b/src/layers/flights/motion.js
index f8d76eb6c..88e2d8240 100644
--- a/src/layers/flights/motion.js
+++ b/src/layers/flights/motion.js
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ import {
   DISPLAY_CORRIDOR_CELL_BUDGET,
   DISPLAY_CORRIDOR_FAIR_SHARE,
 } from './policy.js';
-import { modelState } from '../../data/modelMirror.js';
 import { readEntityRecord } from '../../data/entityRecords.js';
 import {
   aircraftMotionRegime,
@@ -476,10 +475,10 @@ export function createMotion({
         flightState.records.data.get(flightState._trackedIcao)?.klass,
       );
       return modelVisualAnchor(
-        modelState(flightState._trackedModel).modelMatrix,
+        flightState._trackedModel.matrix,
         spec.visualCenterNative,
-        Number.isFinite(flightState._trackedModel.computedScale)
-          ? flightState._trackedModel.computedScale
+        Number.isFinite(flightState._trackedModel.model.computedScale)
+          ? flightState._trackedModel.model.computedScale
           : spec.scale,
         flightState._trackedVisualPos,
       );
@@ -505,7 +504,7 @@ export function createMotion({
     )
       return null;
     return Cesium.Matrix4.getTranslation(
-      modelState(flightState._trackedModel).modelMatrix,
+      flightState._trackedModel.matrix,
       flightState._scratchTrailClip,
     );
   }
@@ -520,8 +519,8 @@ export function createMotion({
     const spec = parts.rendering._modelSpec(
       flightState.records.data.get(flightState._trackedIcao)?.klass,
     );
-    const scale = Number.isFinite(flightState._trackedModel.computedScale)
-      ? flightState._trackedModel.computedScale
+    const scale = Number.isFinite(flightState._trackedModel.model.computedScale)
+      ? flightState._trackedModel.model.computedScale
       : spec.scale;
     return spec.nativeRadiusM * scale;
   }
diff --git a/src/layers/flights/queries.js b/src/layers/flights/queries.js
index 23f64b0c1..e74577ac6 100644
--- a/src/layers/flights/queries.js
+++ b/src/layers/flights/queries.js
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import {
   FLEET_DR_INTERVAL_MS,
 } from './policy.js';
 import { emergencyBroadcastPhrase } from '../../data/aircraftEmergency.js';
-import { modelState } from '../../data/modelMirror.js';
 
 export function createQueries({
   flightState,
@@ -440,8 +439,11 @@ export function createQueries({
         const isTracked = icao24 === flightState._trackedIcao;
         // Keep planes rendered as a 3D model (icon hidden) so the detection box
         // doesn't vanish on the 2D→3D handoff.
-        const model = flightState._models.get(icao24) ?? null;
-        const modelOwnsVisual = parts.rendering._modelOwnsVisual(icao24, model);
+        const record = flightState._models.get(icao24) ?? null;
+        const modelOwnsVisual = parts.rendering._modelOwnsVisual(
+          icao24,
+          record,
+        );
         if (!isTracked && !icons.shown(row) && !modelOwnsVisual) continue;
         const info = flightState.records.data.get(icao24);
         let object = flightState._detectionObjects.get(icao24);
@@ -470,10 +472,10 @@ export function createQueries({
             icons.position(row, tau, object._iconPos)
           : modelOwnsVisual
             ? modelVisualAnchor(
-                modelState(model).modelMatrix,
+                record.matrix,
                 spec.visualCenterNative,
-                Number.isFinite(model.computedScale)
-                  ? model.computedScale
+                Number.isFinite(record.model.computedScale)
+                  ? record.model.computedScale
                   : spec.scale,
                 object._weldPos || (object._weldPos = new Cesium.Cartesian3()),
               )
diff --git a/src/layers/flights/queries.test.mjs b/src/layers/flights/queries.test.mjs
index a2d1fff19..a0ab8c132 100644
--- a/src/layers/flights/queries.test.mjs
+++ b/src/layers/flights/queries.test.mjs
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ import { createRendering } from './rendering.js';
 import { createIcons } from './icons.js';
 import { createIconSet } from '../../data/iconSet.js';
 import { writeHoldSegment } from '../../data/iconSegment.js';
-import { mirrorModel, setModel } from '../../data/modelMirror.js';
+import {
+  createModelRecord,
+  placeModel,
+  showModel,
+} from '../../data/modelRecord.js';
 
 function fixture() {
   const info = {
@@ -109,7 +113,7 @@ test('candidate collection resolves models once and keeps handoffs live', (t) =>
   const get = t.mock.method(f.flightState._models, 'get');
   const [candidate] = f.queries.getDetectableObjects();
   assert.equal(get.mock.callCount(), 1);
-  const model = mirrorModel({
+  const record = createModelRecord({
     ready: false,
     show: true,
     modelMatrix: Cesium.Matrix4.fromTranslation(
@@ -120,25 +124,24 @@ test('candidate collection resolves models once and keeps handoffs live', (t) =>
     visualCenterNative: Cesium.Cartesian3.ZERO,
     scale: 1,
   });
-  f.flightState._models.set('abc123', model);
+  f.flightState._models.set('abc123', record);
   f.show(false);
   assert.deepEqual(f.queries.getDetectableObjects(), []);
-  model.ready = true;
+  record.model.ready = true;
   assert.equal(f.queries.getDetectableObjects()[0], candidate);
   assert.deepEqual(candidate.position, new Cesium.Cartesian3(10, 20, 30));
-  setModel(
-    model,
-    'modelMatrix',
+  placeModel(
+    record,
     Cesium.Matrix4.fromTranslation(new Cesium.Cartesian3(40, 50, 60)),
   );
   f.queries.getDetectableObjects();
   assert.deepEqual(candidate.position, new Cesium.Cartesian3(40, 50, 60));
-  setModel(model, 'show', false);
+  showModel(record, false);
   assert.deepEqual(f.queries.getDetectableObjects(), []);
   f.show(true);
   assert.deepEqual(f.queries.getDetectableObjects()[0].position, f.drawn());
   assert.equal(get.mock.callCount(), 6);
-  setModel(model, 'show', true);
+  showModel(record, true);
   assert.equal(f.parts.rendering._modelOwnsVisual('abc123'), true);
   assert.equal(get.mock.callCount(), 7);
 });
@@ -146,7 +149,7 @@ test('candidate collection resolves models once and keeps handoffs live', (t) =>
 test('tracked ownership and live anchors remain independent of fleet models', () => {
   const f = fixture();
   f.flightState._trackedIcao = 'abc123';
-  f.flightState._trackedModel = mirrorModel({ ready: true, show: true });
+  f.flightState._trackedModel = createModelRecord({ ready: true, show: true });
   f.parts.rendering._modelSpec = () => ({});
   let anchor = new Cesium.Cartesian3(10, 20, 30);
   f.parts.motion._trackedVisualCached = () => anchor;
@@ -158,16 +161,16 @@ test('tracked ownership and live anchors remain independent of fleet models', ()
   assert.equal(f.queries.getDetectableObjects()[0].position, anchor);
   for (const tracked of [
     null,
-    mirrorModel({ ready: false, show: true }),
-    mirrorModel({ ready: true, show: false }),
+    createModelRecord({ ready: false, show: true }),
+    createModelRecord({ ready: true, show: false }),
   ]) {
     f.flightState._trackedModel = tracked;
     assert.equal(
-      f.parts.rendering._modelOwnsVisual('abc123', mirrorModel({ ready: true, show: true })),
+      f.parts.rendering._modelOwnsVisual('abc123', createModelRecord({ ready: true, show: true })),
       false,
     );
   }
-  f.flightState._trackedModel = mirrorModel({ ready: true, show: true });
+  f.flightState._trackedModel = createModelRecord({ ready: true, show: true });
   f.parts.tracking._trackedModelRegimeActive = () => false;
   assert.equal(f.parts.rendering._modelOwnsVisual('abc123', null), false);
 });
diff --git a/src/layers/flights/snapshotRenderer.js b/src/layers/flights/snapshotRenderer.js
index 17260ec93..4e8d9f751 100644
--- a/src/layers/flights/snapshotRenderer.js
+++ b/src/layers/flights/snapshotRenderer.js
@@ -239,8 +239,8 @@ export function createFlightSnapshotRenderer({
     sampleMeshFloorCells(flightState._viewer?.scene, floorWarmPoints, {
       excludeObjects: [
         ...icons._iconIds(),
-        ...flightState._models.values(),
-        flightState._trackedModel,
+        ...[...flightState._models.values()].map((record) => record.model),
+        flightState._trackedModel?.model,
       ].filter(Boolean),
       viewerLat: viewerLatDeg,
       viewerLon: viewerLonDeg,
diff --git a/src/layers/flights/testing.js b/src/layers/flights/testing.js
index 06a1b9061..efbdd1ce1 100644
--- a/src/layers/flights/testing.js
+++ b/src/layers/flights/testing.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
 import { CYAN_TRANSPARENT } from './policy.js';
-import { mirrorModel } from '../../data/modelMirror.js';
+import { createModelRecord } from '../../data/modelRecord.js';
 import { createIconSet } from '../../data/iconSet.js';
 import { aircraftIconTestSeams } from '../../data/aircraftIconLayer.js';
 
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ export function createTesting({
    * @param {string} state.icao24
    * @param {object} state.entity
    * @param {object} state.meta
-   * @param {{position?: Cesium.Cartesian3, show?: boolean}} [state.billboard]
+   * @param {{position?: Cesium.Cartesian3, show?: boolean}} [state.icon]
    *   Where the contact's icon is held, and whether it is shown.
-   * @param {{show?: boolean}} [state.billboardCollection] Layer visibility.
+   * @param {{show?: boolean}} [state.iconLayer] Layer visibility.
    * @param {object} state.viewer
    * @param {Array<Object>} [state.history=[]]
    * @param {boolean} [state.tracked=true]
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ export function createTesting({
     icao24,
     entity,
     meta,
-    billboard,
-    billboardCollection,
+    icon,
+    iconLayer,
     viewer,
     history = [],
     tracked = true,
@@ -76,13 +76,13 @@ export function createTesting({
     flightState._icons = createIconSet({
       epoch: parts.icons._displayTime(new Cesium.JulianDate()),
     });
-    flightState._icons.show = billboardCollection?.show ?? true;
+    flightState._icons.show = iconLayer?.show ?? true;
     flightState._grounded.clear();
     flightState._floorPinned.clear();
-    _seedIconForTest(icao24, billboard, tracked);
+    _seedIconForTest(icao24, icon, tracked);
     flightState._models.clear();
     for (const [key, model] of models)
-      flightState._models.set(key, mirrorModel(model));
+      flightState._models.set(key, createModelRecord(model));
     flightState._detectionObjects = new Map();
     flightState.records.data = new Map([[icao24, meta]]);
     flightState._positionHistory = new Map([[icao24, history]]);
@@ -125,10 +125,10 @@ export function createTesting({
   function _addFlightTrackingCandidateForTest({
     icao24,
     meta,
-    billboard,
+    icon,
     history = [],
   }) {
-    _seedIconForTest(icao24, billboard, false);
+    _seedIconForTest(icao24, icon, false);
     flightState.records.data.set(icao24, meta);
     flightState._positionHistory.set(icao24, history);
   }
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ export function createTesting({
 
   async function _ensureFleetModelForTest(icao24) {
     await parts.rendering._ensureModel(icao24);
-    return flightState._models.get(icao24) || null;
+    return flightState._models.get(icao24)?.model ?? null;
   }
   /** Run the fleet tick's grounded floor pass once, at `renderTime`. */
 
diff --git a/src/layers/flights/tracking.js b/src/layers/flights/tracking.js
index 99c2ab7e2..d1ad04150 100644
--- a/src/layers/flights/tracking.js
+++ b/src/layers/flights/tracking.js
@@ -1193,7 +1193,8 @@ export function createTracking({
           const rawPick =
             typeof picked.id === 'string' ? picked.id : picked.primitive?.id;
           if (
-            picked.primitive === flightState._trackedModel ||
+            (flightState._trackedModel &&
+              picked.primitive === flightState._trackedModel.model) ||
             rawPick === flightState._trackedIcao
           )
             return;
diff --git a/src/layers/localAdsb/models.js b/src/layers/localAdsb/models.js
index 84ae5677b..c89a052f0 100644
--- a/src/layers/localAdsb/models.js
+++ b/src/layers/localAdsb/models.js
@@ -15,8 +15,11 @@ import {
   MODEL_PROX_KEEP_M,
 } from '../flights/policy.js';
 import { AIRCRAFT_ENVIRONMENT_MAP_OPTIONS } from '../../data/aircraftModelLighting.js';
-import { aircraftVisuals } from '../aircraft/visualState.js';
-import { setModel } from '../../data/modelMirror.js';
+import {
+  createModelRecord,
+  placeModel,
+  showModel,
+} from '../../data/modelRecord.js';
 
 const specKey = (spec) => `${spec.url}@${spec.scale}`;
 
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
 }) {
   const collection = new Cesium.PrimitiveCollection();
   viewer.scene.primitives.add(collection);
-  /** @type {Map<string, object>} id -> admitted model */
+  /** @type {Map<string, import('../../data/modelRecord.js').ModelRecord>} id -> admitted model */
   const models = new Map();
   /** @type {Map<string, number>} id -> generation of an in-flight load */
   const pending = new Map();
@@ -64,10 +67,10 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
 
   function release(id) {
     pending.delete(id);
-    const model = models.get(id);
-    if (!model) return;
+    const record = models.get(id);
+    if (!record) return;
     models.delete(id);
-    if (!collection.isDestroyed()) collection.remove(model);
+    if (!collection.isDestroyed()) collection.remove(record.model);
     groundSnap?.forget?.(id);
   }
 
@@ -81,7 +84,7 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
     const spec = civilAircraftModelSpec(marker.klass);
     const key = specKey(spec);
     const current = models.get(id);
-    if (current && aircraftVisuals.read(current)?.specKey === key) return;
+    if (current?.specKey === key) return;
     if (current) release(id);
     if (pending.has(id) || models.size + pending.size >= cap) return;
     const loadGeneration = generation;
@@ -116,13 +119,14 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
       return;
     }
     model.id = id;
-    const visual = aircraftVisuals.write(model);
-    visual.specKey = key;
-    visual.bellyM = spec.bellyM;
+    const record = createModelRecord(model, {
+      specKey: key,
+      bellyM: spec.bellyM,
+    });
     // Admitted, not yet the visual: placement turns it on.
-    setModel(model, 'show', false);
+    showModel(record, false);
     collection.add(model);
-    models.set(id, model);
+    models.set(id, record);
   }
 
   function regime(preferences) {
@@ -171,11 +175,11 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
 
   function placement(id, marker) {
     if (!marker.onGround) return marker.position;
-    const model = models.get(id);
+    const record = models.get(id);
     // The vertical sample must hit the tile skin, not this aircraft's own
     // billboard or model.
     const height = groundSnap?.heightFor?.(viewer, id, marker.position, () =>
-      [marker.entity, model].filter(Boolean),
+      [marker.entity, record?.model].filter(Boolean),
     );
     if (!Number.isFinite(height)) return null;
     const carto = Cesium.Cartographic.fromCartesian(
@@ -186,7 +190,7 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
     return Cesium.Cartesian3.fromRadians(
       carto.longitude,
       carto.latitude,
-      height + (aircraftVisuals.read(model)?.bellyM || 0),
+      height + (record?.bellyM || 0),
       Cesium.Ellipsoid.WGS84,
       scratchGround,
     );
@@ -221,12 +225,12 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
       }
       const occluder = horizonOccluder(viewer.camera);
       for (const [id, marker] of markers) {
-        const model = models.get(id);
+        const record = models.get(id);
         marker.modelOwnsVisual = false;
-        if (!model || !marker.position) continue;
+        if (!record || !marker.position) continue;
         const position = placement(id, marker);
         if (!position || !occluder.isPointVisible(marker.position)) {
-          setModel(model, 'show', false);
+          showModel(record, false);
           continue;
         }
         scratchHpr.heading = Cesium.Math.toRadians(
@@ -234,9 +238,8 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
         );
         scratchHpr.pitch = 0;
         scratchHpr.roll = 0;
-        setModel(
-          model,
-          'modelMatrix',
+        placeModel(
+          record,
           Cesium.Transforms.headingPitchRollToFixedFrame(
             position,
             scratchHpr,
@@ -245,11 +248,11 @@ export function createLocalAdsbModels({
             scratchMatrix,
           ),
         );
-        if (!model.ready) {
-          setModel(model, 'show', false);
+        if (!record.model.ready) {
+          showModel(record, false);
           continue;
         }
-        setModel(model, 'show', true);
+        showModel(record, true);
         marker.modelOwnsVisual = true;
       }
       for (const id of [...models.keys()]) if (!markers.has(id)) release(id);
diff --git a/src/layers/military/motion.js b/src/layers/military/motion.js
index 36c068531..5f48967bc 100644
--- a/src/layers/military/motion.js
+++ b/src/layers/military/motion.js
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import {
   COURSE_SLEW_DT_MAX_SEC,
   COURSE_MAX_DPS,
 } from './policy.js';
-import { modelState } from '../../data/modelMirror.js';
 import { readEntityRecord } from '../../data/entityRecords.js';
 import {
   aircraftMotionRegime,
@@ -340,10 +339,10 @@ export function createMotion({
         flightState.records.data.get(flightState._trackedIcao)?.klass,
       );
       return modelVisualAnchor(
-        modelState(flightState._trackedModel).modelMatrix,
+        flightState._trackedModel.matrix,
         spec.visualCenterNative,
-        Number.isFinite(flightState._trackedModel.computedScale)
-          ? flightState._trackedModel.computedScale
+        Number.isFinite(flightState._trackedModel.model.computedScale)
+          ? flightState._trackedModel.model.computedScale
           : spec.scale,
         flightState._trackedVisualPos,
       );
@@ -367,7 +366,7 @@ export function createMotion({
     )
       return null;
     return Cesium.Matrix4.getTranslation(
-      modelState(flightState._trackedModel).modelMatrix,
+      flightState._trackedModel.matrix,
       flightState._scratchTrailClip,
     );
   }
@@ -382,8 +381,8 @@ export function createMotion({
     const spec = parts.rendering._modelSpec(
       flightState.records.data.get(flightState._trackedIcao)?.klass,
     );
-    const scale = Number.isFinite(flightState._trackedModel.computedScale)
-      ? flightState._trackedModel.computedScale
+    const scale = Number.isFinite(flightState._trackedModel.model.computedScale)
+      ? flightState._trackedModel.model.computedScale
       : spec.scale;
     return spec.nativeRadiusM * scale;
   }
diff --git a/src/layers/military/ownership.test.mjs b/src/layers/military/ownership.test.mjs
index 2741ea83d..90379cdb0 100644
--- a/src/layers/military/ownership.test.mjs
+++ b/src/layers/military/ownership.test.mjs
@@ -181,11 +181,11 @@ test('a newly seen military contact appears at its delayed position, not ahead o
     icao24: 'seed00',
     entity: null,
     meta: { rawLat: 0, rawLon: 0, onGround: false },
-    billboard: {
+    icon: {
       show: false,
       position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(0, 0, 0),
     },
-    billboardCollection: { show: false },
+    iconLayer: { show: false },
     viewer: { camera: { positionCartographic: null }, scene: {} },
     tracked: false,
   });
@@ -246,8 +246,8 @@ test('a vanished military contact fades while position-less rows keep theirs', a
     icao24: 'seed00',
     entity: null,
     meta: { rawLat: 0, rawLon: 0, onGround: false },
-    billboard: { show: false, position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(0, 0) },
-    billboardCollection: { show: true, add: (options) => ({ ...options }) },
+    icon: { show: false, position: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(0, 0) },
+    iconLayer: { show: true, add: (options) => ({ ...options }) },
     viewer,
     tracked: false,
   });
diff --git a/src/layers/military/queries.js b/src/layers/military/queries.js
index e2908fbb9..8e4710a6e 100644
--- a/src/layers/military/queries.js
+++ b/src/layers/military/queries.js
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import {
 } from '../../data/contactMatch.js';
 import { LANDED_ALT_MAX_FT, LANDED_SPEED_MAX_MPS } from './policy.js';
 import { emergencyBroadcastPhrase } from '../../data/aircraftEmergency.js';
-import { modelState } from '../../data/modelMirror.js';
 
 export function createQueries({
   flightState,
@@ -450,7 +449,7 @@ export function createQueries({
         const isTracked = icao24 === flightState._trackedIcao;
         // Keep planes rendered as a 3D model (icon hidden) so the detection box
         // doesn't vanish on the 2D→3D handoff.
-        const model = flightState._models.get(icao24);
+        const record = flightState._models.get(icao24);
         const modelOwnsVisual = parts.rendering._modelOwnsVisual(icao24);
         if (!isTracked && !icons.shown(row) && !modelOwnsVisual) continue;
         const info = flightState.records.data.get(icao24);
@@ -479,10 +478,10 @@ export function createQueries({
             icons.position(row, tau, object._iconPos)
           : modelOwnsVisual
             ? modelVisualAnchor(
-                modelState(model).modelMatrix,
+                record.matrix,
                 spec.visualCenterNative,
-                Number.isFinite(model.computedScale)
-                  ? model.computedScale
+                Number.isFinite(record.model.computedScale)
+                  ? record.model.computedScale
                   : spec.scale,
                 object._weldPos || (object._weldPos = new Cesium.Cartesian3()),
               )
diff --git a/src/layers/military/snapshotRenderer.js b/src/layers/military/snapshotRenderer.js
index f1ad8f182..442b4794e 100644
--- a/src/layers/military/snapshotRenderer.js
+++ b/src/layers/military/snapshotRenderer.js
@@ -186,8 +186,8 @@ export function createMilitarySnapshotRenderer({
       sampleMeshFloorCells(flightState._viewer?.scene, _floorWarmPoints, {
         excludeObjects: [
           ...icons._iconIds(),
-          ...flightState._models.values(),
-          flightState._trackedModel,
+          ...[...flightState._models.values()].map((record) => record.model),
+          flightState._trackedModel?.model,
         ].filter(Boolean),
         viewerLat: viewerCarto
           ? Cesium.Math.toDegrees(viewerCarto.latitude)
diff --git a/src/layers/military/testing.js b/src/layers/military/testing.js
index b67ab7299..02268cccb 100644
--- a/src/layers/military/testing.js
+++ b/src/layers/military/testing.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import * as Cesium from 'cesium';
 import { AMBER_TRANSPARENT, TRACKED_ICON_COLOR } from './policy.js';
-import { mirrorModel } from '../../data/modelMirror.js';
+import { createModelRecord } from '../../data/modelRecord.js';
 import { createIconSet } from '../../data/iconSet.js';
 import { aircraftIconTestSeams } from '../../data/aircraftIconLayer.js';
 
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ export function createTesting({
    * @param {string} state.icao24
    * @param {object} state.entity
    * @param {object} state.meta
-   * @param {{position?: Cesium.Cartesian3, show?: boolean}} [state.billboard]
+   * @param {{position?: Cesium.Cartesian3, show?: boolean}} [state.icon]
    *   Where the contact's icon is held, and whether it is shown.
-   * @param {{show?: boolean}} [state.billboardCollection] Layer visibility.
+   * @param {{show?: boolean}} [state.iconLayer] Layer visibility.
    * @param {object} state.viewer
    * @param {Array<Object>} [state.history=[]]
    * @param {boolean} [state.tracked=true]
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ export function createTesting({
     icao24,
     entity,
     meta,
-    billboard,
-    billboardCollection,
+    icon,
+    iconLayer,
     viewer,
     history = [],
     tracked = true,
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@ export function createTesting({
     flightState._icons = createIconSet({
       epoch: parts.icons._displayTime(new Cesium.JulianDate()),
     });
-    flightState._icons.show = billboardCollection?.show ?? true;
-    _seedIconForTest(icao24, billboard, tracked);
+    flightState._icons.show = iconLayer?.show ?? true;
+    _seedIconForTest(icao24, icon, tracked);
     flightState._models.clear();
     for (const [key, model] of models)
-      flightState._models.set(key, mirrorModel(model));
+      flightState._models.set(key, createModelRecord(model));
     flightState._detectionObjects = new Map();
     flightState.records.data = new Map([[icao24, meta]]);
     flightState._positionHistory = new Map([[icao24, history]]);
@@ -93,10 +93,10 @@ export function createTesting({
   function _addMilitaryTrackingCandidateForTest({
     icao24,
     meta,
-    billboard,
+    icon,
     history = [],
   }) {
-    _seedIconForTest(icao24, billboard, false);
+    _seedIconForTest(icao24, icon, false);
     flightState.records.data.set(icao24, meta);
     flightState._positionHistory.set(icao24, history);
   }
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ export function createTesting({
 
   async function _ensureFleetModelForTest(icao24) {
     await parts.rendering._ensureModel(icao24);
-    return flightState._models.get(icao24) || null;
+    return flightState._models.get(icao24)?.model ?? null;
   }
 
   return {
diff --git a/src/layers/military/tracking.js b/src/layers/military/tracking.js
index 99a8de205..b61b03f71 100644
--- a/src/layers/military/tracking.js
+++ b/src/layers/military/tracking.js
@@ -1098,7 +1098,8 @@ export function createTracking({
           const rawPick =
             typeof picked.id === 'string' ? picked.id : picked.primitive?.id;
           if (
-            picked.primitive === flightState._trackedModel ||
+            (flightState._trackedModel &&
+              picked.primitive === flightState._trackedModel.model) ||
             rawPick === flightState._trackedIcao
           )
             return;