diff --git a/public/base.glb b/public/base.glb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d2d2df
Binary files /dev/null and b/public/base.glb differ
diff --git a/src/levelDeserializer.ts b/src/levelDeserializer.ts
index 1ca44d7..d3b3d73 100644
--- a/src/levelDeserializer.ts
+++ b/src/levelDeserializer.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import {
 import { FireProceduralTexture } from "@babylonjs/procedural-textures";
 import {createSphereLightmap} from "./sphereLightmap";
 import { GameConfig } from "./gameConfig";
+import buildStarBase from "./starBase";
 import { MaterialFactory } from "./materialFactory";
 import debugLog from './debug';
 
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ export class LevelDeserializer {
         debugLog('Deserializing level:', this.config.difficulty);
 
         // Create entities
-        const startBase = this.createStartBase();
+        const startBase = await this.createStartBase();
         const sun = this.createSun();
         const planets = this.createPlanets();
         const asteroids = await this.createAsteroids(scoreObservable);
@@ -76,33 +77,14 @@ export class LevelDeserializer {
     /**
      * Create the start base from config
      */
-    private createStartBase(): AbstractMesh {
+    private async createStartBase(): Promise<AbstractMesh> {
         const config = this.config.startBase;
+        const position = this.arrayToVector3(config.position);
 
-        const mesh = MeshBuilder.CreateCylinder("startBase", {
-            diameter: config.diameter,
-            height: config.height,
-            tessellation: 72
-        }, this.scene);
+        // Call the buildStarBase function to load and configure the base
+        const baseMesh = await buildStarBase(position);
 
-        mesh.position = this.arrayToVector3(config.position);
-
-        const material = new StandardMaterial("startBaseMaterial", this.scene);
-        if (config.color) {
-            material.diffuseColor = new Color3(config.color[0], config.color[1], config.color[2]);
-        } else {
-            material.diffuseColor = new Color3(1, 1, 0); // Default yellow
-        }
-        mesh.material = material;
-
-        // Only create physics if enabled in config
-        const gameConfig = GameConfig.getInstance();
-        if (gameConfig.physicsEnabled) {
-            const agg = new PhysicsAggregate(mesh, PhysicsShapeType.CONVEX_HULL, { mass: 0 }, this.scene);
-            agg.body.setMotionType(PhysicsMotionType.ANIMATED);
-        }
-
-        return mesh;
+        return baseMesh;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/starBase.ts b/src/starBase.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92c934a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/starBase.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import {
+    AbstractMesh,
+    PhysicsAggregate,
+    PhysicsMotionType,
+    PhysicsShapeType,
+    SceneLoader,
+    Vector3
+} from "@babylonjs/core";
+import {DefaultScene} from "./defaultScene";
+import {GameConfig} from "./gameConfig";
+import {debug} from "openai/core";
+import debugLog from "./debug";
+
+/**
+ * Create and load the star base mesh
+ * @param position - Position for the star base
+ * @returns Promise resolving to the loaded star base mesh
+ */
+export default async function buildStarBase(position: Vector3): Promise<AbstractMesh> {
+    const scene = DefaultScene.MainScene;
+
+    // Load the base model
+    const importMesh = await SceneLoader.ImportMeshAsync(null, "./", "base.glb", scene);
+    const baseMesh = importMesh.meshes[0].getChildMeshes()[0];
+    debugLog('Star base mesh loaded:', baseMesh);
+    baseMesh.id = "starBase";
+    baseMesh.name = "starBase";
+    baseMesh.position = position;
+    debugLog('Ship Bounds radius', baseMesh.getBoundingInfo().boundingSphere.radiusWorld);
+    // Create physics if enabled
+    const config = GameConfig.getInstance();
+    if (config.physicsEnabled) {
+        const agg = new PhysicsAggregate(baseMesh, PhysicsShapeType.MESH, {
+            mass: 0
+        }, scene);
+        agg.body.setMotionType(PhysicsMotionType.STATIC);
+    }
+
+    return baseMesh;
+}
\ No newline at end of file