diff --git a/engine-c/openkknd b/engine-c/openkknd
index 1848619..4fa9fdf 100755
Binary files a/engine-c/openkknd and b/engine-c/openkknd differ
diff --git a/engine-c/src/render.c b/engine-c/src/render.c
index 1623418..32f50ef 100644
--- a/engine-c/src/render.c
+++ b/engine-c/src/render.c
@@ -158,6 +158,34 @@ void render_wrecks(Game *g) {
     }
 }
 
+/* Per-type live silhouette size (parity with snapshot SHOT_UNIT_SCALE kinds). */
+static int unit_screen_sz(UnitType t) {
+    switch (t) {
+    case UT_INFANTRY:  return 36;
+    case UT_MUTANT:    return 38;
+    case UT_JEEP:
+    case UT_BUGGY:     return 40;
+    case UT_FLAME:
+    case UT_MISSILE:
+    case UT_MEDIC:     return 42;
+    case UT_ARTILLERY:
+    case UT_HARVESTER: return 46;
+    case UT_TANK:      return 48;
+    case UT_BEAST:     return 50;
+    case UT_RAVAGER:   return 52;
+    default:           return 41;
+    }
+}
+
+/* Unrotated ground shadow disc (must sit under rotated unit tex). */
+static void draw_unit_shadow(SDL_Renderer *ren, int cx, int cy, int rad) {
+    SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(ren, 55, 48, 28, 200);
+    for (int j = -rad; j <= rad; j++) {
+        int half = (int)sqrtf((float)(rad * rad - j * j));
+        SDL_RenderDrawLine(ren, cx - half + 2, cy + j + 3, cx + half + 2, cy + j + 3);
+    }
+}
+
 void render_units(Game *g) {
     for (int i = 0; i < g->unit_count; i++) {
         Unit *u = &g->units[i];
@@ -166,36 +194,40 @@ void render_units(Game *g) {
             int tx = (int)(u->x / TILE), ty = (int)(u->y / TILE);
             if (!map_in_bounds(&g->map, tx, ty) || g->map.fog[ty*g->map.w + tx] != 2) continue;
         }
-        /* Match snapshot SHOT_UNIT_SCALE 1.45 → live silhouette ~41px */
-        int sz = 41;
+        int sz = unit_screen_sz(u->type);
+        int cx = (int)(u->x - g->cam.x), cy = (int)(u->y - g->cam.y);
+        /* Ground shadow before rotated body so units lift off sand. */
+        draw_unit_shadow(g->ren, cx, cy, sz / 4 + 4);
         SDL_Texture *tex = g->spr.unit[u->type][u->faction];
         draw_tex_world(g, tex, u->x, u->y, sz, sz, u->heading, 255);
-        /* selection ring */
+        /* selection ring — larger for heavy chassis */
         if (u->selected) {
-            int cx = (int)(u->x - g->cam.x), cy = (int)(u->y - g->cam.y);
+            int rad = (u->type == UT_TANK || u->type == UT_BEAST || u->type == UT_RAVAGER)
+                    ? sz / 2 + 4 : sz / 2 + 2;
             SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 120, 255, 120, 220);
             for (int a = 0; a < 360; a += 12) {
-                int px = cx + (int)(cosf(a*3.14159f/180)*22);
-                int py = cy + (int)(sinf(a*3.14159f/180)*22);
+                int px = cx + (int)(cosf(a * 3.14159f / 180) * rad);
+                int py = cy + (int)(sinf(a * 3.14159f / 180) * rad);
                 SDL_RenderDrawPoint(g->ren, px, py);
             }
         }
         /* health bar */
         if (u->hp < u->max_hp || u->selected) {
-            int cx = (int)(u->x - g->cam.x), by = (int)(u->y - g->cam.y) - 26;
-            int bw = 32;
-            SDL_Rect bg = { cx - bw/2, by, bw, 4 };
+            int by = cy - sz / 2 - 6;
+            int bw = sz - 8;
+            if (bw < 24) bw = 24;
+            SDL_Rect bg = { cx - bw / 2, by, bw, 4 };
             SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 50, 50, 50, 255);
             SDL_RenderFillRect(g->ren, &bg);
             float f = u->hp / u->max_hp;
             SDL_Color c = (u->faction == FACTION_SURVIVOR) ? (SDL_Color){55,235,55,255}
                                                           : (SDL_Color){255,40,255,255};
-            SDL_Rect fg = { cx - bw/2, by, (int)(bw * f), 4 };
+            SDL_Rect fg = { cx - bw / 2, by, (int)(bw * f), 4 };
             SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, c.r, c.g, c.b, 255);
             SDL_RenderFillRect(g->ren, &fg);
             /* cargo indicator for harvesters */
             if (u->type == UT_HARVESTER && u->cargo > 0) {
-                SDL_Rect cg = { cx - bw/2, by - 4, (int)(bw * u->cargo / 1000), 2 };
+                SDL_Rect cg = { cx - bw / 2, by - 4, (int)(bw * u->cargo / 1000), 2 };
                 SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(g->ren, 230, 190, 70, 255);
                 SDL_RenderFillRect(g->ren, &cg);
             }
diff --git a/engine-c/src/sprites.c b/engine-c/src/sprites.c
index f319e9f..5e34c82 100644
--- a/engine-c/src/sprites.c
+++ b/engine-c/src/sprites.c
@@ -182,65 +182,83 @@ SDL_Texture *sprites_make_unit(SDL_Renderer *r, UnitType t, Faction f) {
 }
 
 /* ---------------- building sprites ---------------- */
+/* Bright concrete pad + BT_* interiors (parity with snapshot draw_bld). */
 SDL_Texture *sprites_make_bld(SDL_Renderer *r, BuildingType t, Faction f) {
     int w = bld_def(t)->w, h = bld_def(t)->h;
     int W = w * TILE, H = h * TILE;
     SDL_Surface *s = new_surf(W, H);
     SDL_Color base = faction_color(f);
     SDL_Color dark = darken(base, 0.5f);
-    SDL_Color lite = lighten(base, 0.4f);
-    /* Bright sand pad + dark ridge outline (arid wasteland plate). */
-    SDL_Color wall = { 198, 168, 108, 255 };
-    SDL_Color wall2 = { 155, 128, 78, 255 };
-    const Uint8 ok = 28, og = 24, ob = 18;
+    SDL_Color lite = lighten(base, 0.35f);
+    const Uint8 ok = 22, og = 20, ob = 16;
+    const Uint8 wall = 205, wall2 = 175;
 
-    fill_rect(s, 0, 0, W, H, wall2.r, wall2.g, wall2.b, 255);
-    fill_rect(s, 2, 2, W - 4, H - 4, ok, og, ob, 255);
-    fill_rect(s, 4, 4, W - 8, H - 8, wall.r, wall.g, wall.b, 255);
-    ring(s, W/2, H/2, (W<H?W:H)/2 - 3, 2, dark.r, dark.g, dark.b, 255);
+    /* Bright concrete pad on arid sand */
+    fill_rect(s, 0, 0, W, H, ok, og, ob, 255);
+    fill_rect(s, 2, 2, W - 4, H - 4, 210, 185, 130, 255);
+    fill_rect(s, 4, 4, W - 8, H - 8, wall2, (Uint8)(wall2 - 18), (Uint8)(wall2 - 45), 255);
+    fill_rect(s, 5, 5, W - 10, H - 10, wall, (Uint8)(wall - 22), (Uint8)(wall - 55), 255);
+    fill_rect(s, 5, 5, W - 10, 6, (Uint8)(wall + 30), (Uint8)(wall + 10), (Uint8)(wall - 20), 255);
 
     switch (t) {
     case BT_BASE:
-        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/4, base.r, base.g, base.b, 255);
-        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/6, lite.r, lite.g, lite.b, 255);
-        line(s, W/2, H/2, W/2, 4, 200, 200, 60, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 5, 5, W - 10, H - 10, ok, og, ob, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 7, 7, W - 14, H - 14, base.r, base.g, base.b, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/4, lite.r, lite.g, lite.b, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/6, 255, 250, 180, 255);
+        line(s, W/2, H/2, W/2, 4, 220, 210, 80, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, W/2 - 2, 4, 4, H/3, 200, 180, 60, 255); /* antenna mast */
         break;
     case BT_WARFACTORY:
-        fill_rect(s, 8, 8, W-16, H-16, dark.r, dark.g, dark.b, 255);
-        fill_rect(s, 12, 12, W-24, 10, base.r, base.g, base.b, 255);
-        fill_rect(s, 12, H-24, W-24, 10, base.r, base.g, base.b, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 5, 5, W - 10, H - 10, ok, og, ob, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 7, 7, W - 14, H - 14, base.r, base.g, base.b, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 10, 10, W - 20, 12, lite.r, lite.g, lite.b, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 10, H - 24, W - 20, 12, lite.r, lite.g, lite.b, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, W/2 - 4, 8, 8, H - 16, 35, 35, 40, 255); /* bay door */
         break;
     case BT_REFINERY:
-        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/4, 120, 100, 60, 255);
-        ring(s, W/2, H/2, W/4 - 3, 3, 60, 50, 40, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/4 + 2, ok, og, ob, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/4, 200, 165, 85, 255);
+        ring(s, W/2, H/2, W/4 - 3, 3, 90, 70, 45, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 8, H - 14, W - 16, 8, 140, 110, 55, 255); /* base slab */
         break;
     case BT_POWER:
-        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/3, 80, 120, 160, 255);
-        line(s, W/2, 4, W/2, H-4, 220, 240, 255, 255);
-        line(s, 4, H/2, W-4, H/2, 220, 240, 255, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/3 + 1, ok, og, ob, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/3, 100, 160, 210, 255);
+        line(s, W/2, 4, W/2, H - 4, 230, 245, 255, 255);
+        line(s, 4, H/2, W - 4, H/2, 230, 245, 255, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, 4, 250, 252, 255, 255);
         break;
     case BT_TURRET:
-        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/3, dark.r, dark.g, dark.b, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 4, H - 10, W - 8, 8, 55, 50, 42, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/3 + 1, ok, og, ob, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/3, base.r, base.g, base.b, 255);
         disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/5, lite.r, lite.g, lite.b, 255);
-        line(s, W/2, H/2, W/2 + 12, H/2 - 12, 40, 40, 45, 255);
+        line(s, W/2, H/2, W/2 + 14, H/2 - 14, 30, 28, 24, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2 + 12, H/2 - 12, 2, 255, 200, 80, 255); /* barrel tip */
         break;
     case BT_WALL:
-        fill_rect(s, 2, 2, W-4, H-4, 70, 66, 60, 255);
-        line(s, 2, 2, W-2, H-2, 40, 38, 34, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 1, 1, W - 2, H - 2, ok, og, ob, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 2, 2, W - 4, H - 4, 175, 155, 120, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 3, 3, W - 6, 5, 210, 190, 150, 255);
+        line(s, 2, 2, W - 2, H - 2, 60, 52, 42, 255);
         break;
     case BT_REPAIR:
-        fill_rect(s, 8, 8, W-16, H-16, dark.r, dark.g, dark.b, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 7, 7, W - 14, H - 14, ok, og, ob, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 9, 9, W - 18, H - 18, base.r, base.g, base.b, 255);
         ring(s, W/2, H/2, W/4, 3, 120, 220, 120, 255);
         line(s, W/2 - 12, H/2, W/2 + 12, H/2, 120, 220, 120, 255);
         line(s, W/2, H/2 - 12, W/2, H/2 + 12, 120, 220, 120, 255);
         break;
     case BT_RESEARCH:
-        fill_rect(s, 8, 8, W-16, H-16, dark.r, dark.g, dark.b, 255);
-        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/5, 180, 150, 60, 255);
-        line(s, W/2, 6, W/2, H-6, 220, 220, 150, 255);
-        line(s, 6, H/2, W-6, H/2, 220, 220, 150, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 7, 7, W - 14, H - 14, ok, og, ob, 255);
+        fill_rect(s, 9, 9, W - 18, H - 18, base.r, base.g, base.b, 255);
+        disc(s, W/2, H/2, W/5, 210, 180, 80, 255);
+        line(s, W/2, 6, W/2, H - 6, 230, 230, 160, 255);
+        line(s, 6, H/2, W - 6, H/2, 230, 230, 160, 255);
         break;
     default:
+        (void)dark;
         break;
     }
     SDL_Texture *tex = SDL_CreateTextureFromSurface(r, s);