If you’re reading this website I assume you’ve thought at least a little bit about building balsa planes.  It can be a lot of fun but it’s also a lot of work, so why would you go to all of the trouble to learn how to build a balsa plane when the market is full of affordable foam airplanes that you could just buy and fly?

The simple answer is because balsa planes fly better.  The goal of an airplane designer is to make a structure that weighs as little as possible while being as rigid as possible.  Balsa allows you to build a plane that is both light and strong.  If you have flown a foam RC plane, you will be pleasantly surprised by the superior performance of a well built balsa plane.

You can buy pre built balsa planes of course.  But pre built balsa planes are built by the lowest bidder, using low wage labor, cheap materials, and as little glue as possible.  If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Lazy Ace built from RCM plan, 2007

Back in the good old days model airplane builders would trade advice and building tips at the flying field or get information from hobby magazines.  Nowadays it can be difficult to connect with people who know how to build.  I hope this website can help neophytes to get started on the right track and to avoid frustration.

I’m not into fancy scale details, so I don’t have much to say about making scale panel lines or tiny rivets.  What I like best is what is referred to in the RC community as sport models.  On this website I feature my own building projects in articles telling new builders how to put a plane together easily and accurately.  If there’s anything in particular you’d like to talk about, just send me an email.  I welcome comments and questions.

When looking at my photos you may notice that my building area is not always clean.  In fact, when I look at my own photos sometimes I’m shocked at what a dump it is.  Because I’m giving the public a glimpse into my home I could clean the place up, get a new building table that isn’t cut to shreds, and vacuum the balsa dust every time I take a photo.  But I have decided to show you my shabby building table so you will know that you don’t need a pristine, dust free, expensive workshop to build a decent plane that flies.

I have quite a few products for sale, which you can see under “Buy Products” on the main menu.