rails model subclassing -> multi table inheritance or polymorphism

Here is my setup, followed by an explanation of what I am trying to accomplish. ``` class Layer < ActiveRecord::Base has_and_belongs_to_many :components end class Component < ActiveRecord::Base has_and_belongs_to_many :layers end class ImageComponent < Component # I want this table to inherit from the Component table # I should be able to add image-specific fields to this table end class VideoComponent < Component # I want this table to inherit from the Component table # I should be able to add video-specific fields to this table end ``` What I want to be able to do: ``` layer.components << ImageComponent.create layer.components << VideoComponent.create ``` In practice, I realize that `ImageComponent` and `VideoComponent` will actually have to inherit from `ActiveRecord::Base`. Is there any way to nicely implement model subclassing in Rails? Right now I have my `Component` model setup to be `polymorphic` such that `ImageComponent` and `VideoComponent` each `has_one :component, as: :componentable`. This adds a layer of annoyance and ugliness to my code though: ``` image_component = ImageComponent.create component = Component.create component.componentable = image_component layer.components << component ``` I guess a simple way to explain this is that I want to implement a habtm relationship between Layers and Components. I have multiple types of Components (i.e. ImageComponent, VideoComponent) that each have the same base structure but different fields associated with them. Any suggestions on ways this can be accomplished? I feel that I am missing something because my code feels hackish.