diff --git a/src/models.rs b/src/models.rs
index 8139f19..caad243 100644
--- a/src/models.rs
+++ b/src/models.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2025 <COPYRIGHT HOLDER>. All rights reserved.
 
 //! Model discovery, selection, and downloading logic for PolyScribe.
+
+use std::any::Any;
 use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::env;
 use std::fs::{File, create_dir_all};
@@ -16,7 +18,7 @@ use serde::Deserialize;
 use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 use indicatif::{ProgressBar, ProgressStyle, MultiProgress};
 use atty::Stream;
-
+use clap::builder::Str;
 // --- Model downloader: list & download ggml models from Hugging Face ---
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
@@ -395,50 +397,116 @@ fn format_model_list(models: &[ModelEntry]) -> String {
 }
 
 fn prompt_select_models_two_stage(models: &[ModelEntry]) -> Result<Vec<ModelEntry>> {
-    // Replaced by cliclack-based multiselect; keep function to preserve signature but delegate.
-    prompt_select_models_cliclack(models)
-}
-
-fn prompt_select_models_cliclack(models: &[ModelEntry]) -> Result<Vec<ModelEntry>> {
+    // Non-interactive: pick a sensible default or exit cleanly
     if crate::is_no_interaction() || !crate::stdin_is_tty() {
-        // Non-interactive: do not prompt, return empty selection to skip
+        // Prefer the default English base model (e.g., "base.en")
+        if let Some(default) = models.iter().find(|m| m.base == "base" && m.subtype == "en") {
+            ilog!("Non-Interactive: selecting default model {}", default.name);
+            return Ok(vec![default.clone()]);
+        }
+        // Fallback: any 'base' family model
+        if let Some(fallback) = models.iter().find(|m| m.base == "base") {
+            ilog!("Non-Interactive: selecting default model {}", fallback.name);
+            return Ok(vec![fallback.clone()]);
+        }
+        // Nothing sensible to pick
+        wlog!("No interactive selection possible and no default model found; skipping model selection.");
         return Ok(Vec::new());
     }
 
-    // Build grouped, aligned labels for selection items (include base prefix for grouping).
-    let mut item_labels: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
-    let mut item_model_indices: Vec<usize> = Vec::new();
-
-    // Compute widths for alignment
-    let name_width = models.iter().map(|m| m.name.len()).max().unwrap_or(0);
-    let base_width = models.iter().map(|m| m.base.len()).max().unwrap_or(0);
+    // Know Whisper base families in preferred ordering
+    let mut known_order: Vec<&str> = vec!["tiny", "small", "base", "medium", "large"];
+    // Collect available bases from the incoming list
+    use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet};
 
+    let mut bases_available: BTreeSet<String> = BTreeSet::new();
+    let mut by_base: BTreeMap<String, Vec<(usize, &ModelEntry)>> = BTreeMap::new();
     for (i, m) in models.iter().enumerate() {
+        bases_available.insert(m.base.clone());
+        by_base.entry(m.base.clone()).or_default().push((i, m));
+    }
+
+    // Filter known_order by what is available; append any unknown bases at the end (sorted)
+    let mut base_choices: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    for base in &known_order {
+        if bases_available.contains(*base) {
+            base_choices.push((*base).to_string());
+        }
+    }
+    for b in &bases_available {
+        if !known_order.iter().any(|k| k == b) {
+            base_choices.push(b.clone());
+        }
+    }
+    if base_choices.is_empty() {
+        wlog!("No models available to select from.");
+        return Ok(Vec::new());
+    }
+
+    // Build select items for bases
+    let base_prompt = "Choose a base model family";
+    let base_items: Vec<(String, String, String)> = base_choices
+        .iter()
+        .map(|b| {
+            let count = by_base.get(b).map(|v| v.len()).unwrap_or(0);
+            let label = format!("{b} ({count} variants)");
+            (b.clone(), label, String::new())
+        })
+        .collect();
+
+    let selected_base = match cliclack::select::<String>(base_prompt).items(&base_items).interact() {
+        Ok(val) => val,
+        Err(e) => {
+            wlog!("Selection canceled or failed: {}", e);
+            return Ok(Vec::new());
+        }
+    };
+
+    // Second stage: multiselect among the chosen base's variants
+    let Some(variants) = by_base.get(&selected_base) else {
+        wlog!("No variants found for base '{}'.", selected_base);
+        return Ok(Vec::new());
+    };
+
+    // Sort variants by subtype then name for stable presentation
+    let mut variants_sorted = variants.clone();
+    variants_sorted.sort_by(|a, b| {
+        let (_, ma) = a;
+        let (_, mb) = b;
+        ma.subtype.cmp(&mb.subtype)
+            .then(ma.name.cmp(&mb.name))
+            .then(ma.repo.cmp(&mb.repo))
+    });
+
+    // Build multiselect items where value is the original index into 'models'
+    let name_width = variants_sorted.iter()
+        .map(|(_, m)| m.name.len())
+        .max()
+        .unwrap_or(0);
+
+    let prompt = format!(
+        "select {base} variant(s) (↑/↓ move, space toggle, enter confirm)", base = selected_base
+    );
+
+    let mut items: Vec<(usize, String, String)> = Vec::with_capacity(variants_sorted.len());
+    for (idx, m) in variants_sorted.iter() {
         let label = format!(
-            "{base:<bw$}: {name:<nw$} [{repo} | {size}]",
-            base = m.base,
-            bw = base_width,
+            "{name:<nw$} [{repo} | {size}]",
             name = m.name,
             nw = name_width,
             repo = m.repo,
             size = human_size(m.size)
         );
-        item_labels.push(label);
-        item_model_indices.push(i);
+        items.push((*idx, label, String::new()));
     }
 
-    // Use cliclack multiselect builder with (value, label, help) tuples.
-    let prompt = "Select Whisper model(s) to download (↑/↓ move, space toggle, enter confirm)";
-    let mut items: Vec<(usize, String, String)> = Vec::with_capacity(item_labels.len());
-    for (idx, label) in item_labels.iter().cloned().enumerate() {
-        items.push((item_model_indices[idx], label, String::new()));
-    }
-    match cliclack::multiselect::<usize>(prompt)
-        .items(&items)
-        .interact()
-    {
+    match cliclack::multiselect::<usize>(&prompt).items(&items).interact() {
         Ok(selected_indices) => {
-            let mut chosen: Vec<ModelEntry> = Vec::new();
+            if selected_indices.is_empty() {
+                ilog!("No variants selected; nothing to download.");
+                return Ok(Vec::new());
+            }
+            let mut chosen: Vec<ModelEntry> = Vec::with_capacity(selected_indices.len());
             for mi in selected_indices {
                 if let Some(m) = models.get(mi) {
                     chosen.push(m.clone());
@@ -447,7 +515,6 @@ fn prompt_select_models_cliclack(models: &[ModelEntry]) -> Result<Vec<ModelEntry
             Ok(chosen)
         }
         Err(e) => {
-            // If interaction fails (e.g., not a TTY), return empty to gracefully skip
             wlog!("Selection canceled or failed: {}", e);
             Ok(Vec::new())
         }