diff --git a/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.cpp b/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.cpp
index da73bfb371..54cc3b4cdb 100644
--- a/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.cpp
@@ -360,6 +360,10 @@ void StaticModelRenderer::render(float alpha) {
     _model->render(alpha);
 }
 
+bool StaticModelRenderer::findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction, float& distance) const {
+    return _model->findRayIntersection(origin, direction, distance);
+}
+
 void StaticModelRenderer::applyTranslation(const glm::vec3& translation) {
     _model->setTranslation(translation);
 }
diff --git a/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.h b/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.h
index c605205244..2af3262d15 100644
--- a/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.h
+++ b/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.h
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ public:
     virtual void init(Spanner* spanner);
     virtual void simulate(float deltaTime);
     virtual void render(float alpha);
+    virtual bool findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction, float& distance) const;
 
 private slots:
 
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.cpp
index 047faf5e71..d64cbc7d94 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.cpp
@@ -1177,9 +1177,9 @@ AttributeValue MetavoxelVisitation::getInheritedOutputValue(int index) const {
 const float DEFAULT_GRANULARITY = 0.01f;
 
 Spanner::Spanner() :
+    _renderer(NULL),
     _granularity(DEFAULT_GRANULARITY),
-    _lastVisit(0),
-    _renderer(NULL) {
+    _lastVisit(0) {
 }
 
 void Spanner::setBounds(const Box& bounds) {
@@ -1247,6 +1247,10 @@ void SpannerRenderer::render(float alpha) {
     // nothing by default
 }
 
+bool SpannerRenderer::findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction, float& distance) const {
+    return false;
+}
+
 Transformable::Transformable() : _scale(1.0f) {
 }
 
@@ -1359,6 +1363,12 @@ void StaticModel::setURL(const QUrl& url) {
     }
 }
 
+bool StaticModel::findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction, float& distance) const {
+    // delegate to renderer, if we have one
+    return _renderer ? _renderer->findRayIntersection(origin, direction, distance) :
+        Spanner::findRayIntersection(origin, direction, distance);
+}
+
 QByteArray StaticModel::getRendererClassName() const {
     return "StaticModelRenderer";
 }
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.h
index 80ff431172..c5ac570876 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.h
@@ -444,6 +444,8 @@ signals:
 
 protected:
     
+    SpannerRenderer* _renderer;
+    
     /// Returns the name of the class to instantiate in order to render this spanner.
     virtual QByteArray getRendererClassName() const;
 
@@ -452,7 +454,6 @@ private:
     Box _bounds;
     float _granularity;
     int _lastVisit; ///< the identifier of the last visit
-    SpannerRenderer* _renderer;
     
     static int _visit; ///< the global visit counter
 };
@@ -468,6 +469,7 @@ public:
     virtual void init(Spanner* spanner);
     virtual void simulate(float deltaTime);
     virtual void render(float alpha);
+    virtual bool findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction, float& distance) const;
 };
 
 /// An object with a 3D transform.
@@ -550,6 +552,8 @@ public:
     void setURL(const QUrl& url);
     const QUrl& getURL() const { return _url; }
 
+    virtual bool findRayIntersection(const glm::vec3& origin, const glm::vec3& direction, float& distance) const;
+    
 signals:
 
     void urlChanged(const QUrl& url);
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.cpp
index a7c0302a9c..9d7aa35c31 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.cpp
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ Resource::Resource(const QUrl& url, bool delayLoad) :
     _reply(NULL),
     _attempts(0) {
     
-    if (!url.isValid()) {
+    if (!(url.isValid() && ResourceCache::getNetworkAccessManager())) {
         _startedLoading = _failedToLoad = true;
         return;
     }