diff --git a/game/reconstructed/btl4gau2.cpp b/game/reconstructed/btl4gau2.cpp
index 6343d06..2efbc25 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/btl4gau2.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/btl4gau2.cpp
@@ -822,32 +822,227 @@ void
 //###########################################################################
 //###########################################################################
 
+// forward: the tiled-blit helper is defined lower in this TU (FUN_004c2ec4).
+static void DrawPortBackground(GraphicsView *view, L4Warehouse *warehouse,
+							   int x, int y, const char *tile);
+
+// ---- FUN_004c79c8 : draw the three status-label cells (+ optional top erase box).
+// Each cell blits its label .pcc, or blanks the cell.  Absolute cell rectangles are
+// the binary's exact coords (part_014.c:1127-1166).
+static void
+	DrawStatusCells(GraphicsView *view, L4Warehouse *warehouse,
+					int topBox, const char *A, const char *B, const char *C)
+{
+	if (topBox)												// :1131-1135
+	{
+		view->SetColor(0);
+		view->MoveToAbsolute(0x97, 0x80);
+		view->DrawFilledRectangleToAbsolute(0x17d, 0x13b);
+	}
+	if (A == NULL) { view->SetColor(0); view->MoveToAbsolute(0x15a, 0x145);	// :1136-1140
+		view->DrawFilledRectangleToAbsolute(0x17f, 0x159); }
+	else { view->SetColor(0xff); DrawPortBackground(view, warehouse, 0x15a, 0x145, A); }
+	if (B == NULL) { view->SetColor(0); view->MoveToAbsolute(0x85, 0x58);	// :1145-1149
+		view->DrawFilledRectangleToAbsolute(0x17f, 0x7c); }
+	else { view->SetColor(0xff); DrawPortBackground(view, warehouse, 0x85, 0x58, B); }
+	if (C == NULL) { view->SetColor(0); view->MoveToAbsolute(0x2a, 0x34);	// :1154-1160
+		// raw uses an extra GraphicsView vtbl+0x4c(99,10) compound-blank; a plain
+		// fill at the same cell is the faithful-enough substitute (marked).
+		view->DrawFilledRectangleToAbsolute(0x9f, 0x2d); }
+	else { view->SetColor(0xff); DrawPortBackground(view, warehouse, 0x2a, 0x34, C); }
+}
+
+// CFG shape (L4GAUGE.CFG:4595): mode, int screen(1..12), then 7 .pcc names
+// (font + 6 labels).  9 params.
+MethodDescription
+	PrepEngrScreen::methodDescription =
+	{
+		"prepEngr",
+		PrepEngrScreen::Make,
+		{
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeModeMask, NULL },	// p[0] mode (ModeMFD*Eng*)
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeInteger,  NULL },	// p[1] screen number 1..12
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeString,   NULL },	// p[2] font    helv42.pcc  -> statusImage[0]
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeString,   NULL },	// p[3] escnd.pcc           -> statusImage[1]
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeString,   NULL },	// p[4] edmg.pcc            -> statusImage[2]
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeString,   NULL },	// p[5] bteslev.pcc         -> statusImage[3]
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeString,   NULL },	// p[6] bteunjm.pcc         -> statusImage[4]
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeString,   NULL },	// p[7] espeed.pcc          -> statusImage[5]
+			{ ParameterDescription::typeString,   NULL },	// p[8] btesrnge.pcc        -> statusImage[6]
+			PARAMETER_DESCRIPTION_END
+		}
+	};
+
 //
-// @004c7b30 -- Make.  DAT_0051936c is the engineer-screen number; must be 1..12
-// or "PrepEngr: screen number out of range <n>" is warned.  Allocates (0x90)
-// and constructs with seven status-image names (DAT_005193b0..00519548).
+// @004c7b30 -- Make.  Validate the screen number (p[1], 1..12) then construct.
+// The GraphicGaugeBackground base ctor self-registers with the renderer, so the
+// gauge's BecameActive fires whenever its Eng screen is selected.  We `new` the
+// object (real compiled size) rather than operator new(0x90) -- the 2007 base
+// isn't byte-exact, and nothing reads this object at raw offsets.
 //
-// @004c7bf0 -- ctor (vtable PTR_FUN_0051a06c).  Derives from the non-graphic
-// Gauge group (FUN_004440d4) -- it owns no GraphicsView, only a child-gauge
-// chain at +0x24.  Interns and BitMapCache-AddRefs the seven status pixmaps
-// (this[0x1D..0x23]); stores mech (this[0x1B]) and screen number (this[0x1C]).
+Logical
+	PrepEngrScreen::Make(
+		int				display_port_index,
+		Vector2DOf<int>	/*position -- PrepEngr draws at absolute coords*/,
+		Entity			*entity,
+		GaugeRenderer	*gauge_renderer
+	)
+{
+	ParameterDescription *p = methodDescription.parameterList;
+
+	int screen = p[1].data.integer;
+	if (screen < 1 || screen > 12)						// :1182
+	{
+		DEBUG_STREAM << "PrepEngr: screen number out of range " << screen << "\n";	// :1183
+		return False;
+	}
+
+	new PrepEngrScreen(									// FUN_00402298(0x90) in the binary
+		p[0].data.modeMask,								// mode (ModeMFD*Eng*)
+		(L4GaugeRenderer *)gauge_renderer,
+		0,											// owner_ID (raw hard-wires 0)
+		display_port_index,								// graphics_port_number
+		entity,										// mech
+		screen,										// screen number
+		p[2].data.string, p[3].data.string, p[4].data.string,
+		p[5].data.string, p[6].data.string, p[7].data.string,
+		p[8].data.string,
+		"PrepEngr");
+	return True;
+}
+
 //
-// @004c7d14 -- dtor: release + free the seven images, tear down the child chain
-// (FUN_0044ae0c), Gauge-group dtor (FUN_00443f7c).
+// @004c7bf0 -- ctor.  GraphicGaugeBackground base (mode/renderer/0/port/"PrepEngr");
+// store screen + mech; copy the 7 image names and pre-load (AddRef) each from the
+// bitmap cache.
 //
-// @004c7e48 -- Execute.  Walk the mech's critical-subsystem roster
-// (mech+0x124 count, mech+0x128 array).  For each subsystem that (a) is a
-// Generator-derived weapon (IsDerivedFrom 0x50f4bc) and (b) belongs to the
-// selected screen (subsys+0x1dc == screenNumber), draw its label and -- via
-// NumericDisplay (FUN_004700bc/0047043 0) -- its temperature and a HeatSink
-// read-out, then dispatch on ClassID to lay out the weapon's status bitmaps
-// (FUN_004c79c8 = draw three labelled status cells):
-//      0xBC3 Sensor           -> one cell + ammo bitmap (this[0x23])
-//      0xBC6                  -> two cells (this[0x22],this[0x20])
-//      0xBC8/0xBD4 Emitter/PPC -> three cells (this[0x1E..0x20])
-//      0xBCD/0xBD0 Proj/Missile -> one cell (this[0x21])
-//      0xBCE GaussRifle       -> warn "Gauss rifle not yet supported", one cell
+PrepEngrScreen::PrepEngrScreen(
+	ModeMask mode_mask, L4GaugeRenderer *renderer_in, unsigned int owner_ID,
+	int graphics_port_number, Entity *mech_in, int screen_number,
+	const char *img0, const char *img1, const char *img2, const char *img3,
+	const char *img4, const char *img5, const char *img6,
+	const char *identification_string
+):
+	GraphicGaugeBackground(mode_mask, renderer_in, owner_ID,		// FUN_004440d4
+		graphics_port_number, identification_string)
+{
+	screenNumber = screen_number;					// @0x6C (:1216)
+	mech         = mech_in;							// @0x70 (:1215)
+
+	const char  *src[7] = { img0, img1, img2, img3, img4, img5, img6 };
+	L4Warehouse *warehouse = (L4Warehouse *)renderer_in->warehousePointer;	// renderer+0x4c
+	for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++)						// :1217-1238
+	{
+		if (src[i] != NULL) {
+			statusImage[i] = new char[strlen(src[i]) + 1];	// nameCopy (FUN_004700ac)
+			strcpy(statusImage[i], src[i]);
+			warehouse->bitMapBin.Get(statusImage[i]);		// FUN_00442aec pre-load/AddRef
+		} else {
+			statusImage[i] = NULL;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 //
+// @004c7d14 -- dtor.  Release the 7 pre-loaded images + free their name copies;
+// the localView + base dtor run implicitly (do NOT emit explicit base-dtor calls).
+//
+PrepEngrScreen::~PrepEngrScreen()
+{
+	L4Warehouse *warehouse = (L4Warehouse *)renderer->warehousePointer;
+	for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++)						// :1254-1274
+	{
+		if (statusImage[i] != NULL) {
+			warehouse->bitMapBin.Release(statusImage[i]);	// FUN_00442c12
+			delete[] statusImage[i];
+			statusImage[i] = NULL;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+//
+// @004c7e48 -- BecameActive.  Find the subsystem assigned to this screen and paint
+// its labels (roster + aux-screen read via the databinding-safe accessors + the
+// PoweredSubsystem bridge, exactly like VehicleSubSystems::Make).  NON-inactivating
+// (a real paint; does not chain the base) -> the paint-on-activation contract.
+//
+void
+	PrepEngrScreen::BecameActive()
+{
+	if (mech == NULL)  return;
+	L4Warehouse *warehouse = (L4Warehouse *)renderer->warehousePointer;
+	const char  *font      = statusImage[0];			// helv42.pcc
+
+	int count = mech->GetSubsystemCount();				// mech+0x124
+	for (int i = 1; i < count; i++)						// skip slot 0 (controls mapper)
+	{
+		Subsystem *sub = mech->GetSubsystem(i);			// mech+0x128[i]
+		if (sub == NULL)  continue;
+
+		int  auxScreen = 0, placement = -1;  char label64[64];  label64[0] = '\0';
+		if (!BTGetSubsystemAuxScreen(sub, &auxScreen, &placement, label64))	// filter + sub+0x1dc
+			continue;									// not a PoweredSubsystem-derived weapon
+		if (auxScreen != screenNumber)					// :1309
+			continue;
+
+		// ---- numeric #1 : the screen number, 2 digits @(0xE9,0x176)  (:1310-1313)
+		{
+			NumericDisplay num(warehouse, 0xe9, 0x176, font, 2,
+				NumericDisplay::unsignedFormat, 0, 0xff);		// FUN_004700bc
+			num.Draw(&localView, (Scalar)screenNumber);			// FUN_00470430
+		}
+
+		// ---- numeric #2 : linked heat-sink number, 1 digit @(0x15E,5)  (:1315-1321)
+		// BEST-EFFORT (marked): the resolved sink's +0x1D4 index is a raw offset on
+		// a not-byte-exact object -> guarded (NULL link / read 0).
+		int hsNumber = 0;
+		void *hsLink = AttributePointerOf(sub, "HeatSink");			// FUN_0041bfc0
+		void *hs     = (hsLink != NULL) ? ResolveLink(hsLink) : NULL;	// FUN_00417ab4
+		if (hs != NULL)
+			hsNumber = *(int *)((char *)hs + 0x1d4);
+		{
+			NumericDisplay num(warehouse, 0x15e, 5, font, 1,
+				NumericDisplay::unsignedFormat, 0, 0xff);
+			num.Draw(&localView, (Scalar)hsNumber);
+		}
+
+		// ---- subsystem label bitmap @(0x125,0x172)  (:1322-1329).  The binary draws
+		// the .pcc name at sub+0x224; the aux-screen bridge's label64 is the
+		// databinding-safe equivalent (BEST-EFFORT).
+		if (label64[0] != '\0') {
+			localView.SetColor(0xff);
+			DrawPortBackground(&localView, warehouse, 0x125, 0x172, label64);
+		}
+
+		// ---- type-specific label cells (switch on ClassID, :1330-1357)
+		switch (sub->GetClassID())							// sub+4
+		{
+		case 0xBC3:		// Sensor
+			DrawStatusCells(&localView, warehouse, 1, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+			localView.SetColor(0xff);
+			DrawPortBackground(&localView, warehouse, 0xb8, 0x8c, statusImage[6]);	// btesrnge
+			return;
+		case 0xBC6:		// Myomers
+			DrawStatusCells(&localView, warehouse, 0, NULL, statusImage[5], statusImage[3]);
+			return;
+		case 0xBC8:		// Emitter
+		case 0xBD4:		// PPC
+			DrawStatusCells(&localView, warehouse, 0, statusImage[1], statusImage[2], statusImage[3]);
+			return;
+		case 0xBCD:		// ProjectileWeapon
+		case 0xBD0:		// MissileLauncher
+			DrawStatusCells(&localView, warehouse, 1, NULL, NULL, statusImage[4]);
+			return;
+		case 0xBCE:		// GaussRifle -- not yet supported
+			DEBUG_STREAM << "PrepEngr: Gauss rifle not yet supported\n";	// :1353
+			DrawStatusCells(&localView, warehouse, 1, NULL, NULL, statusImage[3]);
+			return;
+		default:
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 
 
 //###########################################################################
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/btl4gau2.hpp b/game/reconstructed/btl4gau2.hpp
index 9235dfd..8bf1fa7 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/btl4gau2.hpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/btl4gau2.hpp
@@ -290,35 +290,39 @@
 
 
 	//#######################################################################
-	// PrepEngrScreen -- builds the per-weapon "engineering" status screen.
-	// @004c7b30 Make / @004c7bf0 ctor / @004c7d14 dtor.  vtable PTR_FUN_0051a06c.
-	// Derives from the non-graphic Gauge group (FUN_004440d4) and interns seven
-	// status pixmaps (this[0x1D..0x23]).  Make validates DAT_0051936c (engineer
-	// screen number, must be 1..12; warns "PrepEngr: screen number out of range").
-	// Execute @004c7e48 walks the mech's critical-subsystem roster (mech+0x124
-	// count / mech+0x128 array) and, for each weapon on the selected screen,
-	// renders its label & ammo via NumericDisplay, dispatching on subsystem
-	// ClassID (0xBC3 Sensor, 0xBC6, 0xBC8/0xBD4 Emitter/PPC, 0xBCD/0xBD0
-	// Projectile/Missile, 0xBCE GaussRifle -- "Gauss rifle not yet supported").
+	// PrepEngrScreen (config keyword "prepEngr") -- the per-engineering-screen
+	// STATIC LABEL overlay.  @004c7b30 Make / @004c7bf0 ctor / @004c7d14 dtor /
+	// @004c7e48 BecameActive.  vtable PTR_FUN_0051a06c.
+	//
+	// A GraphicGaugeBackground (paint-on-activation, NOT an Execute gauge -- the
+	// same base/vtable shape as the engine's BackgroundBitmap: only the dtor +
+	// BecameActive slots are overridden).  Interns 7 status .pcc's (font + 6
+	// labels) and, when its MFD-Eng screen (1..12) activates, paints the labels
+	// for the ONE subsystem whose auxScreenNumber == this screen, dispatched by
+	// the subsystem's ClassID.  Was a MISLABELED stub (base Gauge, Execute, and
+	// mech/screenNumber SWAPPED) with no methodDescription -> "prepEngr" was
+	// parse-skipped (12 CFG calls never built).
 	//#######################################################################
 	class PrepEngrScreen :
-		public Gauge							// non-graphic Gauge group (FUN_004440d4)
+		public GraphicGaugeBackground
 	{
 	public:
+		static MethodDescription methodDescription;								// "prepEngr"
 		static Logical Make(int, Vector2DOf<int>, Entity *, GaugeRenderer *);	// @004c7b30
 		PrepEngrScreen(							// @004c7bf0
-			GaugeRate, ModeMask, L4GaugeRenderer *, int screen_number,
-			Entity *mech, int graphics_port_number,
-			const char *img0, const char *img1, const char *img2,
+			ModeMask, L4GaugeRenderer *, unsigned int owner_ID,
+			int graphics_port_number, Entity *mech, int screen_number,
+			const char *img0/*font*/, const char *img1, const char *img2,
 			const char *img3, const char *img4, const char *img5,
-			const char *img6, const char *identification_string);
+			const char *img6, const char *identification_string = "PrepEngr");
 		~PrepEngrScreen();						// @004c7d14
-		void	Execute();						// @004c7e48
+		void	BecameActive();					// @004c7e48  (the paint slot -- NOT Execute)
 	protected:
-		Entity	*mech;							// @0x6C  this[0x1B]
-		int		screenNumber;					// @0x70  this[0x1C]
-		char	*statusImage[7];				// @0x74  this[0x1D..0x23]
-		// child gauges chained in the base Gauge group at +0x24
+		int		screenNumber;					// @0x6C  this[0x1B]  (FIX: was mech)
+		Entity	*mech;							// @0x70  this[0x1C]  (FIX: was screenNumber)
+		char	*statusImage[7];				// @0x74  this[0x1D..0x23]  (interned .pcc names)
+		// sizeof == 0x90 (Make alloc); no offset locks (2007 GraphicGaugeBackground
+		// base not byte-identical; every read is via named members / safe accessors).
 	};
 
 
diff --git a/game/reconstructed/btl4grnd.cpp b/game/reconstructed/btl4grnd.cpp
index 87f96f5..3dfb806 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/btl4grnd.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/btl4grnd.cpp
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ MethodDescription
 			&PilotList::methodDescription,				// "pilotList" -- Comm KILLS/DEATHS pilot roster
 			&GeneratorCluster::methodDescription,		// "GeneratorCluster" -- the 4 generator engineering panels (buttons 9-12)
 			&SectorDisplay::methodDescription,			// "sectorDisplay" -- radar SECTOR X/Z read-out (Secondary overlay)
+			&PrepEngrScreen::methodDescription,			// "prepEngr" -- per-Eng-screen static label overlay (12x)
 			&BTL4ChainToPrevious
 		};
 
diff --git a/scratchpad/prep_gauge.png b/scratchpad/prep_gauge.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0886c5a
Binary files /dev/null and b/scratchpad/prep_gauge.png differ