diff --git a/builder/modal-builder/src/template/app.py b/builder/modal-builder/src/template/app.py
index 1d4145d..ab6a1fb 100644
--- a/builder/modal-builder/src/template/app.py
+++ b/builder/modal-builder/src/template/app.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from config import config
 import modal
-from modal import Image, Mount, web_endpoint, Stub, asgi_app
+from modal import Image, Mount, web_endpoint, Stub, asgi_app, Volume
 import json
 import urllib.request
 import urllib.parse
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ web_app = FastAPI()
 print(config)
 print("deploy_test ", deploy_test)
 stub = Stub(name=config["name"])
+volume = modal.Volume.persisted("model-store")
+MODEL_DIR = "/comfyui/models/checkpoints/"
 # print(stub.app_id)
 
 if not deploy_test:
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@ if not deploy_test:
         .copy_local_file(f"{current_directory}/data/deps.json", "/")
 
         .run_commands("python install_deps.py")
+        .run_commands(f"rm -rf {MODEL_DIR}") # clear model dir so volume can mount, NOTE: could instead use the extra_model_paths
     )
 
 # Time to wait between API check attempts in milliseconds
@@ -154,7 +157,9 @@ image = Image.debian_slim()
 target_image = image if deploy_test else dockerfile_image
 
 
-@stub.function(image=target_image, gpu=config["gpu"])
+@stub.function(image=target_image, gpu=config["gpu"]
+               , volumes={MODEL_DIR: volume}
+               )
 def run(input: Input):
     import subprocess
     import time
@@ -235,7 +240,9 @@ async def bar(request_input: RequestInput):
     # pass
 
 
-@stub.function(image=image)
+@stub.function(image=image
+    , volumes={MODEL_DIR: volume}
+           )
 @asgi_app()
 def comfyui_api():
     return web_app
@@ -285,6 +292,7 @@ def spawn_comfyui_in_background():
     # to be on a single container.
     concurrency_limit=1,
     timeout=10 * 60,
+    volumes={MODEL_DIR: volume}
 )
 @asgi_app()
 def comfyui_app():
@@ -303,4 +311,4 @@ def comfyui_app():
         },
     )()
 
-    return make_simple_proxy_app(ProxyContext(config))
\ No newline at end of file
+    return make_simple_proxy_app(ProxyContext(config))
diff --git a/builder/modal-builder/src/template/data/insert_models.py b/builder/modal-builder/src/template/data/insert_models.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c6571d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/builder/modal-builder/src/template/data/insert_models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import modal
+import subprocess
+import requests
+
+stub = modal.Stub()
+
+# NOTE: volume name can be variable
+volume = modal.Volume.persisted("model-store")
+model_store_path = "/vol/models"
+MODEL_ROUTE = "models"
+image = (
+    modal.Image.debian_slim().apt_install("wget").pip_install("requests")
+)
+
+@stub.function(volumes={model_store_path: volume}, gpu="any", image=image, timeout=600)
+def download_model(model):
+    # wget https://civitai.com/api/download/models/{modelVersionId} --content-disposition
+    model_id = model['modelVersions'][0]['id']
+    download_url = f"https://civitai.com/api/download/models/{model_id}"
+    subprocess.run(["wget", download_url, "--content-disposition", "-P", model_store_path])
+    subprocess.run(["ls", "-la", model_store_path])
+    volume.commit()  
+
+# file is raw output from Civitai API https://github.com/civitai/civitai/wiki/REST-API-Reference
+
+@stub.function()
+def get_civitai_models(model_type: str, sort: str = "Highest Rated", page: int = 1):
+    """Fetch models from CivitAI API based on type."""
+    try:
+        response = requests.get(f"https://civitai.com/api/v1/models", params={"types": model_type, "page": page, "sort": sort})
+        response.raise_for_status()
+        return response.json()
+    except requests.RequestException as e:
+        print(f"Error fetching models: {e}")
+        return None
+
+@stub.local_entrypoint()
+def insert_model(type: str = "Checkpoint", sort = "Highest Rated", page: int = 1):
+    civitai_models = get_civitai_models.local(type, sort, page)
+    if civitai_models:
+        for _ in download_model.map(civitai_models['items'][1:]):
+            pass
+    else:
+        print("Failed to retrieve models.")
diff --git a/builder/modal-builder/src/template/data/install_deps.py b/builder/modal-builder/src/template/data/install_deps.py
index 3ff3ca3..6796417 100644
--- a/builder/modal-builder/src/template/data/install_deps.py
+++ b/builder/modal-builder/src/template/data/install_deps.py
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@ for package in packages:
     response = requests.request("POST", f"{root_url}/customnode/install", json=package, headers=headers)
     print(response.text)
 
-with open('models.json') as f:
-    models = json.load(f)
-
-for model in models:
-    response = requests.request("POST", f"{root_url}/model/install", json=model, headers=headers)
-    print(response.text)
+# with open('models.json') as f:
+#     models = json.load(f)
+#
+# for model in models:
+#     response = requests.request("POST", f"{root_url}/model/install", json=model, headers=headers)
+#     print(response.text)
 
 # Close the server
 server_process.terminate()
-print("Finished installing dependencies.")
\ No newline at end of file
+print("Finished installing dependencies.")