diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameListItem.java b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameListItem.java
index b3050fcf6..3c539a9b5 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameListItem.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GameListItem.java
@@ -462,6 +462,7 @@ public class GameListItem extends LinearLayout
         }
         long m_rowid;
         GameListItem m_item;
+        int m_nTries = 0;
     }
     private static LinkedBlockingQueue<ThumbQueueElem> s_queue
         = new LinkedBlockingQueue<>();
@@ -489,6 +490,11 @@ public class GameListItem extends LinearLayout
                         ThumbQueueElem elem;
                         try {
                             elem = s_queue.take();
+                            if ( 0 < elem.m_nTries ) {
+                                // This is a second pass. give whatever caused
+                                // failure time to go away
+                                Thread.sleep(200);
+                            }
                         } catch ( InterruptedException ie ) {
                             Log.w( TAG, "interrupted; killing s_thumbThread" );
                             break;
@@ -501,16 +507,22 @@ public class GameListItem extends LinearLayout
                             thumb = GameUtils.loadMakeBitmap( activity, rowid );
                         }
 
-                        final GameListItem item = elem.m_item;
-                        final Bitmap ft = thumb;
-                        activity.runOnUiThread( new Runnable() {
-                                public void run() {
-                                    ImageView iview = item.m_thumb;
-                                    if ( null != iview ) {
-                                        iview.setImageBitmap( ft );
+                        if ( null == thumb ) {
+                            if ( ++elem.m_nTries < 3 ) {
+                                s_queue.add( elem );
+                            }
+                        } else {
+                            final GameListItem item = elem.m_item;
+                            final Bitmap ft = thumb;
+                            activity.runOnUiThread( new Runnable() {
+                                    public void run() {
+                                        ImageView iview = item.m_thumb;
+                                        if ( null != iview ) {
+                                            iview.setImageBitmap( ft );
+                                        }
                                     }
-                                }
-                            });
+                                });
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             });
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_uc.xml b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_uc.xml
deleted file mode 100644
index 4738487ca..000000000
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/drawable/ic_uc.xml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-<vector android:height="96dp" android:viewportHeight="512"
-    android:viewportWidth="512" android:width="96dp" xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
-    <path android:fillColor="#FF000000" android:pathData="M440,228.246l14.06,3.515a8.005,8.005 0,0 0,5.519 -0.605l32,-16a8,8 0,0 0,3.85 -10.126l-19.113,-47.782 3.645,-36.451a7.997,7.997 0,0 0,-0.805 -4.374l-16,-32a7.999,7.999 0,0 0,-6.023 -4.342l-56,-8a8.015,8.015 0,0 0,-2.124 -0.019L344,78.938v-27.043A35.894,35.894 0,0 0,274.054 40.543l-1.046,3.136 -14.665,14.664A8.001,8.001 0,0 0,264 72h16L280,88a31.792,31.792 0,0 0,3.575 14.669l-40.012,26.675a7.998,7.998 0,0 0,-2.718 3.078l-32,64a8.005,8.005 0,0 0,-0.812 4.303l7.788,85.67 -14.373,7.739 -19.791,-19.791a8.002,8.002 0,0 0,-9.626 -1.289l-13.395,7.654a127.825,127.825 0,0 0,-59.81 76.276l-1.984,6.944a51.601,51.601 0,0 0,-13.614 2.562l-12.583,4.194a35.471,35.471 0,0 1,-27.261 -1.937l-15.807,-7.903A8,8 0,0 0,16 368L16,488a8,8 0,0 0,8 8L312,496a8.001,8.001 0,0 0,7.692 -5.802l31.657,-110.8 15.122,-22.684 9.938,29.815a8.014,8.014 0,0 0,1.249 2.348l80,104A8,8 0,0 0,464 496h24a8,8 0,0 0,7.397 -11.046L440,350.417L440,228.246ZM477.838,204.137 L455.069,215.521 425.94,208.239a8,8 0,0 0,-5.938 0.831l-24.32,14.031 -7.546,-11.319L411.793,199.044a8.006,8.006 0,0 0,3.797 -4.514l7.132,-21.396 5.813,-3.875 3.514,31.625A8.001,8.001 0,0 0,440 208h24a7.999,7.999 0,0 0,7.96 -7.204l0.908,-9.084ZM241.089,312.289L232.687,295.485l141.299,-76.084 7.808,11.712ZM270.983,213.452 L292.951,202.469L312.177,234.511l-52.108,28.058ZM294.381,114.694a31.969,31.969 0,0 0,48.8 -19.529L352,94.063L352,130.584l-30.073,12.029L294.157,114.843ZM314.343,157.657a8,8 0,0 0,8.628 1.77l40,-16A7.999,7.999 0,0 0,368 136L368,92.063l5.3,-0.663 27.207,47.613 7.167,28.666L401.414,186.46 326.28,226.917l-23.264,-38.774 -29.702,-59.404 7.266,-4.844ZM417.558,141.247 L425.142,138.719 426.546,151.355 421.008,155.047ZM463.81,121.508L456.76,192h-9.6l-6.911,-62.199 15.113,-25.188ZM399.929,88.071l43.012,6.145L426.662,121.346l-14.97,4.99L390.5,89.25ZM285.657,53.657a8.007,8.007 0,0 0,1.932 -3.127l1.644,-4.927A19.894,19.894 0,0 1,328 51.895L328,56L283.313,56ZM328,72L328,88a16,16 0,0 1,-32 0L296,72ZM254.205,141.478 L259.897,137.683 285.267,188.422 264.351,198.88 234.468,180.951ZM224.173,201.542l3.119,-6.237 27.648,16.589 -13.489,60.7L231.137,278.147ZM114.212,361.38a111.911,111.911 0,0 1,52.362 -66.779l8.09,-4.623 19.679,19.68a8,8 0,0 0,9.45 1.387l14.8,-7.969 8.612,17.225 -15.203,8.771a7.999,7.999 0,0 0,-3.763 8.87l6.443,25.773L214.11,364a112.252,112.252 0,0 1,-100.646 -0.003ZM32,480L32,380.944l4.229,2.114a51.374,51.374 0,0 0,39.478 2.806l12.582,-4.194a35.804,35.804 0,0 1,28.636 2.661l44.959,24.978a35.751,35.751 0,0 1,13.278 12.844l3.047,5.078a51.603,51.603 0,0 0,51.653 24.585,35.872 35.872,0 0,1 34.763,15.542L273.052,480ZM227.599,435.976a35.635,35.635 0,0 1,-35.67 -16.978l-3.047,-5.077a51.779,51.779 0,0 0,-19.229 -18.599l-6.144,-3.414c0.09,0 0.179,0.004 0.269,0.004a128.43,128.43 0,0 0,57.487 -13.603l6.312,-3.155a7.998,7.998 0,0 0,4.184 -9.096l-6.536,-26.146L313.26,289.125l-24.779,68.141a8.036,8.036 0,0 0,-0.466 2.235l-6.52,104.32 -3.559,-5.339A51.971,51.971 0,0 0,227.599 435.976ZM337.344,371.563a8.014,8.014 0,0 0,-1.036 2.239L305.966,480h-9.45l7.396,-118.35 30.894,-84.956L424,225.237L424,275.471l-36.116,21.669a8.005,8.005 0,0 0,-2.54 2.423ZM476.055,480h-8.115l-76.776,-99.809 -13.447,-40.343 19.942,-29.914L424,294.13L424,352a8.006,8.006 0,0 0,0.603 3.046Z"/>
-</vector>
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/layout/game_list_item.xml b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/layout/game_list_item.xml
index 8d038950c..6d2d35847 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/layout/game_list_item.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/layout/game_list_item.xml
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@
         </RelativeLayout>
 
         <ImageView android:id="@+id/thumbnail"
-                   android:src="@drawable/ic_uc"
                    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                    android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|center_horizontal"
diff --git a/xwords4/android/img_src/uc.svg b/xwords4/android/img_src/uc.svg
deleted file mode 100644
index ba5118023..000000000
--- a/xwords4/android/img_src/uc.svg
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0"?>
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" id="outline" viewBox="0 0 512 512" width="512" height="512"><path d="M440,228.24609l14.05957,3.51465a8.00478,8.00478,0,0,0,5.51855-.60547l32-16a8.00029,8.00029,0,0,0,3.84961-10.126l-19.11279-47.78223,3.645-36.45117a7.99681,7.99681,0,0,0-.80469-4.374l-16-32a7.99926,7.99926,0,0,0-6.02343-4.3418l-56-8a8.015,8.015,0,0,0-2.124-.01856L344,78.9375v-27.043A35.89421,35.89421,0,0,0,274.05371,40.543l-1.0459,3.13574-14.665,14.66406A8.00066,8.00066,0,0,0,264,72h16V88a31.79215,31.79215,0,0,0,3.57471,14.66895l-40.01221,26.6748a7.99763,7.99763,0,0,0-2.71777,3.07813l-32,64a8.00531,8.00531,0,0,0-.81153,4.30273l7.78809,85.66992-14.37305,7.73926-19.791-19.791a8.00152,8.00152,0,0,0-9.626-1.28906l-13.39453,7.6543a127.82537,127.82537,0,0,0-59.80957,76.27637l-1.98438,6.94433a51.60075,51.60075,0,0,0-13.61425,2.56152l-12.583,4.19434a35.471,35.471,0,0,1-27.26074-1.93652l-15.80665-7.90332A7.99951,7.99951,0,0,0,16,368V488a8.00039,8.00039,0,0,0,8,8H312a8.00054,8.00054,0,0,0,7.69238-5.80176l31.65723-110.7998,15.12207-22.6836,9.93848,29.81543a8.01375,8.01375,0,0,0,1.249,2.34766l80,104A8.00015,8.00015,0,0,0,464,496h24a7.99987,7.99987,0,0,0,7.39746-11.0459L440,350.417V228.24609Zm37.83789-24.10937-22.76855,11.38476-29.12891-7.28222a8.00008,8.00008,0,0,0-5.93848.83105l-24.32007,14.03076-7.54565-11.31884L411.793,199.044a8.00572,8.00572,0,0,0,3.79687-4.51368l7.13184-21.39648,5.81323-3.87549,3.51392,31.62549A8.00054,8.00054,0,0,0,440,208h24a7.99881,7.99881,0,0,0,7.96-7.2041l.90845-9.08374Zm-236.749,108.15234L232.687,295.48535l141.29932-76.084,7.80786,11.71191Zm29.89453-98.83691,21.96777-10.9834L312.17651,234.511l-52.10766,28.05786Zm23.39746-98.75806a31.9685,31.9685,0,0,0,48.80029-19.5293L352,94.0625V130.584l-30.07324,12.0293L294.15723,114.843Zm19.96191,42.96314a8.00019,8.00019,0,0,0,8.62793,1.7705l40-16A7.99873,7.99873,0,0,0,368,136V92.0625l5.3-.6626,27.20727,47.61255,7.16651,28.66626L401.41406,186.46,326.28,226.91675l-23.26441-38.77417-29.7019-59.40381,7.26636-4.84424Zm103.21485-16.41016,7.584-2.52832,1.40405,12.63623-5.53808,3.6919Zm46.252-19.73926L456.75977,192h-9.59961l-6.91065-62.199,15.11255-25.18775ZM399.92871,88.07129l43.01172,6.14453L426.66235,121.346l-14.97046,4.99023L390.49976,89.25ZM285.65723,53.65723a8.00738,8.00738,0,0,0,1.93164-3.127l1.64355-4.92675A19.89417,19.89417,0,0,1,328,51.89453V56H283.31348ZM328,72V88a16,16,0,0,1-32,0V72Zm-73.79492,69.47754,5.69189-3.79468,25.36988,50.7395-20.91626,10.458-29.88233-17.92944ZM224.17285,201.542l3.11865-6.23706,27.64795,16.58887-13.48877,60.70044L231.137,278.14746ZM114.21191,361.37988a111.91061,111.91061,0,0,1,52.36231-66.77929l8.08984-4.62305,19.67871,19.67969a8.00026,8.00026,0,0,0,9.4502,1.38672l14.80005-7.96924,8.6123,17.22461-15.20337,8.771a7.99882,7.99882,0,0,0-3.76269,8.87012l6.44336,25.77344L214.11035,364a112.2521,112.2521,0,0,1-100.64648-.00293ZM32,480V380.94434l4.22852,2.11425a51.37429,51.37429,0,0,0,39.47753,2.80567l12.582-4.19434a35.80373,35.80373,0,0,1,28.63574,2.66113l44.959,24.97754a35.751,35.751,0,0,1,13.27832,12.84375l3.04688,5.07813a51.60349,51.60349,0,0,0,51.65332,24.585,35.87241,35.87241,0,0,1,34.76269,15.542L273.05176,480Zm195.59863-44.02441a35.635,35.635,0,0,1-35.66992-16.97754l-3.04687-5.07715a51.77949,51.77949,0,0,0-19.22852-18.59863l-6.14429-3.41358c.0896.00049.17945.0044.26929.0044a128.43035,128.43035,0,0,0,57.4873-13.60254l6.31153-3.15528a7.99817,7.99817,0,0,0,4.18359-9.0957l-6.53613-26.14551L313.26,289.125l-24.77856,68.14062a8.03576,8.03576,0,0,0-.46583,2.23536l-6.52,104.32031-3.55909-5.33887A51.971,51.971,0,0,0,227.59863,435.97559ZM337.34375,371.5625a8.01379,8.01379,0,0,0-1.03613,2.23926L305.96582,480h-9.4502l7.39649-118.34961,30.89355-84.956L424,225.23657V275.4707l-36.11621,21.66895a8.00472,8.00472,0,0,0-2.54,2.42285ZM476.05469,480h-8.11524l-76.77636-99.80859-13.44727-40.34327,19.94238-29.91357L424,294.12988V352a8.00562,8.00562,0,0,0,.60254,3.0459Z"/></svg>