diff --git a/client/src/components/Map3D.jsx b/client/src/components/Map3D.jsx
index c4eb514..4679e8e 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Map3D.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/Map3D.jsx
@@ -154,78 +154,194 @@ function TurtleModel({ turtle, isSelected, onClick }) {
   return (
     <group ref={groupRef} position={[position.x, position.y, position.z]} rotation={rotation} onClick={onClick}>
       <group>
-        {/* Shell (main body) */}
-        <mesh position={[0, 0.2, 0]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.8, 0.5, 0.9]} />
+        {/* Main shell body - rounded edges */}
+        <mesh position={[0, 0.2, 0]} castShadow>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.9, 0.6, 1.0]} />
           <meshStandardMaterial 
             color={color} 
             emissive={color}
-            emissiveIntensity={isSelected ? 0.4 : 0.2}
-            roughness={0.4}
+            emissiveIntensity={isSelected ? 0.5 : 0.25}
+            roughness={0.3}
+            metalness={0.2}
           />
         </mesh>
         
-        {/* Head */}
-        <mesh position={[0, 0.15, 0.55]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.5, 0.35, 0.3]} />
-          <meshStandardMaterial color={color} roughness={0.3} />
+        {/* Shell pattern - hexagonal plates */}
+        <mesh position={[0, 0.5, 0]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.5, 0.05, 0.6]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#333" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.6} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[-0.25, 0.5, 0.3]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.3, 0.05, 0.3]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#333" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.6} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[0.25, 0.5, 0.3]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.3, 0.05, 0.3]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#333" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.6} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[-0.25, 0.5, -0.3]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.3, 0.05, 0.3]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#333" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.6} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[0.25, 0.5, -0.3]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.3, 0.05, 0.3]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#333" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.6} />
         </mesh>
         
-        {/* Eyes */}
-        <mesh position={[-0.12, 0.2, 0.7]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.1, 0.1, 0.05]} />
-          <meshStandardMaterial color="#ffffff" emissive="#ffff00" emissiveIntensity={0.5} />
-        </mesh>
-        <mesh position={[0.12, 0.2, 0.7]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.1, 0.1, 0.05]} />
-          <meshStandardMaterial color="#ffffff" emissive="#ffff00" emissiveIntensity={0.5} />
+        {/* Head with visor */}
+        <mesh position={[0, 0.15, 0.6]} castShadow>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.55, 0.4, 0.35]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color={color} roughness={0.3} metalness={0.1} />
         </mesh>
         
-        {/* Legs */}
-        <mesh position={[-0.3, -0.15, 0.25]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.2, 0.2, 0.2]} />
-          <meshStandardMaterial color="#666" />
-        </mesh>
-        <mesh position={[0.3, -0.15, 0.25]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.2, 0.2, 0.2]} />
-          <meshStandardMaterial color="#666" />
-        </mesh>
-        <mesh position={[-0.3, -0.15, -0.25]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.2, 0.2, 0.2]} />
-          <meshStandardMaterial color="#666" />
-        </mesh>
-        <mesh position={[0.3, -0.15, -0.25]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.2, 0.2, 0.2]} />
-          <meshStandardMaterial color="#666" />
+        {/* Visor/Face plate */}
+        <mesh position={[0, 0.2, 0.78]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.45, 0.25, 0.02]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial 
+            color="#1a1a1a" 
+            emissive="#111" 
+            roughness={0.1} 
+            metalness={0.9}
+          />
         </mesh>
         
-        {/* Tail */}
-        <mesh position={[0, 0.1, -0.55]}>
-          <boxGeometry args={[0.15, 0.15, 0.2]} />
-          <meshStandardMaterial color={color} />
+        {/* Eyes/LED indicators */}
+        <mesh position={[-0.13, 0.22, 0.79]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.08, 0.08, 0.01]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial 
+            color="#00ff00" 
+            emissive={mode === 'mining' ? "#00ff00" : mode === 'returning' ? "#ffaa00" : "#00aaff"} 
+            emissiveIntensity={1.5}
+            toneMapped={false}
+          />
         </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[0.13, 0.22, 0.79]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.08, 0.08, 0.01]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial 
+            color="#00ff00" 
+            emissive={mode === 'mining' ? "#00ff00" : mode === 'returning' ? "#ffaa00" : "#00aaff"} 
+            emissiveIntensity={1.5}
+            toneMapped={false}
+          />
+        </mesh>
+        
+        {/* LED glow */}
+        <pointLight 
+          position={[0, 0.2, 0.85]} 
+          color={mode === 'mining' ? "#00ff00" : mode === 'returning' ? "#ffaa00" : "#00aaff"}
+          intensity={0.5} 
+          distance={2} 
+        />
+        
+        {/* Legs - more mechanical looking */}
+        <mesh position={[-0.32, -0.15, 0.3]} castShadow>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.18, 0.25, 0.18]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#555" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.7} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[0.32, -0.15, 0.3]} castShadow>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.18, 0.25, 0.18]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#555" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.7} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[-0.32, -0.15, -0.3]} castShadow>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.18, 0.25, 0.18]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#555" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.7} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[0.32, -0.15, -0.3]} castShadow>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.18, 0.25, 0.18]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#555" roughness={0.4} metalness={0.7} />
+        </mesh>
+        
+        {/* Feet */}
+        <mesh position={[-0.32, -0.35, 0.3]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.22, 0.08, 0.25]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#444" roughness={0.5} metalness={0.6} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[0.32, -0.35, 0.3]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.22, 0.08, 0.25]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#444" roughness={0.5} metalness={0.6} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[-0.32, -0.35, -0.3]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.22, 0.08, 0.25]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#444" roughness={0.5} metalness={0.6} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[0.32, -0.35, -0.3]}>
+          <boxGeometry args={[0.22, 0.08, 0.25]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#444" roughness={0.5} metalness={0.6} />
+        </mesh>
+        
+        {/* Tool/Mining arm - only show when mining */}
+        {mode === 'mining' && (
+          <>
+            <mesh position={[0, 0.1, 0.7]}>
+              <boxGeometry args={[0.1, 0.1, 0.3]} />
+              <meshStandardMaterial color="#888" metalness={0.8} roughness={0.2} />
+            </mesh>
+            <mesh position={[0, 0.1, 0.9]}>
+              <boxGeometry args={[0.15, 0.15, 0.1]} />
+              <meshStandardMaterial 
+                color="#ff6b00" 
+                emissive="#ff6b00" 
+                emissiveIntensity={0.5}
+                metalness={0.7}
+              />
+            </mesh>
+          </>
+        )}
+        
+        {/* Antenna */}
+        <mesh position={[0, 0.5, -0.2]}>
+          <cylinderGeometry args={[0.02, 0.02, 0.4, 8]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial color="#666" metalness={0.8} />
+        </mesh>
+        <mesh position={[0, 0.72, -0.2]}>
+          <sphereGeometry args={[0.06, 8, 8]} />
+          <meshStandardMaterial 
+            color="#ff0000" 
+            emissive="#ff0000" 
+            emissiveIntensity={0.8}
+          />
+        </mesh>
+        
+        {/* Ambient glow around turtle */}
+        <pointLight 
+          position={[0, 0.2, 0]} 
+          color={color}
+          intensity={isSelected ? 1 : 0.3} 
+          distance={3} 
+        />
       </group>
       
       {/* Selection indicator */}
       {isSelected && (
         <>
-          <mesh position={[0, 1.2, 0]}>
-            <coneGeometry args={[0.3, 0.5, 4]} />
-            <meshStandardMaterial color="#ffffff" emissive="#ffffff" emissiveIntensity={0.8} />
+          <mesh position={[0, 1.3, 0]}>
+            <coneGeometry args={[0.25, 0.4, 4]} />
+            <meshStandardMaterial 
+              color="#ffffff" 
+              emissive="#ffffff" 
+              emissiveIntensity={1.2}
+              transparent
+              opacity={0.8}
+            />
           </mesh>
           
-          {/* Selection ring */}
-          <mesh rotation={[-Math.PI / 2, 0, 0]} position={[0, -0.5, 0]}>
-            <ringGeometry args={[1, 1.2, 32]} />
-            <meshBasicMaterial color="#ffffff" side={THREE.DoubleSide} transparent opacity={0.5} />
+          {/* Animated selection ring */}
+          <mesh rotation={[-Math.PI / 2, 0, 0]} position={[0, -0.4, 0]}>
+            <ringGeometry args={[1.1, 1.3, 64]} />
+            <meshBasicMaterial 
+              color={color} 
+              side={THREE.DoubleSide} 
+              transparent 
+              opacity={0.6} 
+            />
           </mesh>
         </>
       )}
 
       {/* Turtle ID label */}
       <Text
-        position={[0, 1.5, 0]}
-        fontSize={0.4}
+        position={[0, 1.6, 0]}
+        fontSize={0.35}
         color="white"
         anchorX="center"
         anchorY="middle"