  In preon models based on chiral gauge theories, we show that light composite
fermions can ensue as a result of gauging a subset of preons in a vector-like
manner. After demonstrating how this mechanism works in a toy example, we
construct a one generation model of quarks which admits a hierarchy between the
up and down quark masses as well as between these masses and the compositeness
scale. In simple extensions of this model to more generations we discuss the
challenges of obtaining any quark mixing. Some possible phenomenological
implications of scenarios where quarks and leptons which are heavier are also
less pointlike are also considered.
