Welcome to the Balsa Kit Research Service!
If you're balsa curious or want help finding a kit that inspires you to make some sawdust, just add a post to the end of this thread - I'm happy to help out and there are some very smart guys who chime in here too!
To get you started, here's my bookmark list of currently operating kit manufacturers that I've either bought from recently, or have on my wish list.
Ordered from, built, and absolutely love.... excellent kit quality, instructions, support, etc. I keep pictures of their planes in my wallet (right behind the wife and daughter).
If you're looking for a first balsa kit to build, you won't go wrong with one of these!
https://willynillies.com - new manufacturer in 2019 doing laser kits of 1/2 A and ACE designs!
https://www.stevensaero.com/
http://lainesplanes.com/
http://www.balsabuilder.com
Ordered from and would buy from again... quality very high!
https://jhaerospace.com/ - great designs & kits from an active FliteTest community member!
http://www.radicalrc.com/ (Would recommend as a 2nd or 3rd kit.)
http://www.manzanolaser.com/ (Would recommend for the 4th or 5th kit)
http://retrorc.us.com/
https://www.towerhobbies.com/ (Sig, Dumas, & Great Planes are all good quality brands here - design methods sometimes a little dated i.e. not many self-jigging models)
http://hobbyexpress.com/
https://www.andyclancydesigns.com/
Have a kit or two on my wish list or in my build pile but I haven't actually tried them yet.
https://flightpoint.co neat looking laser cut gliders new glider kit manufacturer on the scene in 2021!!
https://sonoranlaserart.com/ nice laser cut gliders
https://microbirds.com cool little gliders and electrics!
https://skybench.com all about the gliders!
http://www.bmjrmodels.com
https://www.fokkerc.com/ Giant scale warbirds!
https://www.moustachemodelworks.com/ - new Giant Scale kit manufacturer on the scene in 2019!!
http://oldschoolmodels.com
http://www.balsaworkbench.com - laser cut short kits of classic designs
http://store.laser-design-services.com
https://www.sarikhobbies.com - based in the UK with an AMAZING selection of kits!
https://hangaronekits.com
https://www.carolinacustomkits.com
http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/
https://www.vintagemodelcompany.com
http://www.bridiairplanes.com
http://www.nationalbalsa.com/
http://www.bsdmicrorc.com
http://www.micronwings.com
http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/
http://lasercutplanes.com
http://brodak.com
http://iflyherr.com/
http://alienaircraft.com/
http://shop.balsausa.com
http://www.eurekaaircraft.com
https://www.greatflyerrc.com
https://www.guillow.com free flight rubber focused
https://www.peck-polymers.com/ free flight rubber focused
https://www.benbucklevintage.com/ built and shipping from the UK
http://btemodels.com
In my experience with small kit companies (such as RetroRC or Laines), if something you want is out of stock just email and ask - they will cut based on demand as a lot of little companies don't have room or capital to have a lot of extra inventory sitting around.
Vintage Kit Sellers
https://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?g=flying-balsa-model-kits&mat=balsa
http://www.thebestthings.com/rc_model_planes.htm (I've ordered several times from this guy - fast shipper with accurate with descriptions)
https://www.flyboyzblog.com/store/
Out of Business??
http://www.mountainmodels.com/ - sadly out of business, but if you can find his kits they are excellent!
http://www.nanoplanes.net/ no longer making kits but have released free balsa & depron plans of their Shark line of speedsters
http://hakits.co.uk/ potentially one kit - no online store, phone in order only
http://www.parkscalemodels.com/shop/ - Sadly Zeke is shutting down his business as of 3/21/2021. I really enjoyed building my Mini Drake, but others have had difficulties with confusing directions - I recommend researching build threads before making purchase decisions.
http://lazer-works.com/index.html - owner retired in December 2021 - cut files are up for sale if someone else would like to take up the business
On the other end of the market are places like Hobby King or Banggood whose kits I've both used, and won't inflict upon myself again for a while. If you go for one of these expect the instructions will be useless or just plain wrong, at least some parts won't fit without modifications, and you'll get absolutely no support.
Once notable exception is the new HobbyKing Spacewalker kit that Wilsonman just built in 2017 - this could be HK turning a corner with their kit production & support.
I'm hoping others will chime in with updates or other manufacturers I don't know about too.
Can't find a kit you want? Try downloading some plans instead!
https://outerzone.co.uk/
https://aerofred.com/
Happy building!
If you're balsa curious or want help finding a kit that inspires you to make some sawdust, just add a post to the end of this thread - I'm happy to help out and there are some very smart guys who chime in here too!
To get you started, here's my bookmark list of currently operating kit manufacturers that I've either bought from recently, or have on my wish list.
Ordered from, built, and absolutely love.... excellent kit quality, instructions, support, etc. I keep pictures of their planes in my wallet (right behind the wife and daughter).
If you're looking for a first balsa kit to build, you won't go wrong with one of these!https://willynillies.com - new manufacturer in 2019 doing laser kits of 1/2 A and ACE designs!
https://www.stevensaero.com/
http://lainesplanes.com/
http://www.balsabuilder.com
Ordered from and would buy from again... quality very high!
https://jhaerospace.com/ - great designs & kits from an active FliteTest community member!
http://www.radicalrc.com/ (Would recommend as a 2nd or 3rd kit.)
http://www.manzanolaser.com/ (Would recommend for the 4th or 5th kit)
http://retrorc.us.com/
https://www.towerhobbies.com/ (Sig, Dumas, & Great Planes are all good quality brands here - design methods sometimes a little dated i.e. not many self-jigging models)
http://hobbyexpress.com/
https://www.andyclancydesigns.com/
Have a kit or two on my wish list or in my build pile but I haven't actually tried them yet.
https://flightpoint.co neat looking laser cut gliders new glider kit manufacturer on the scene in 2021!!
https://sonoranlaserart.com/ nice laser cut gliders
https://microbirds.com cool little gliders and electrics!
https://skybench.com all about the gliders!
http://www.bmjrmodels.com
https://www.fokkerc.com/ Giant scale warbirds!
https://www.moustachemodelworks.com/ - new Giant Scale kit manufacturer on the scene in 2019!!
http://oldschoolmodels.com
http://www.balsaworkbench.com - laser cut short kits of classic designs
http://store.laser-design-services.com
https://www.sarikhobbies.com - based in the UK with an AMAZING selection of kits!
https://hangaronekits.com
https://www.carolinacustomkits.com
http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/
https://www.vintagemodelcompany.com
http://www.bridiairplanes.com
http://www.nationalbalsa.com/
http://www.bsdmicrorc.com
http://www.micronwings.com
http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/
http://lasercutplanes.com
http://brodak.com
http://iflyherr.com/
http://alienaircraft.com/
http://shop.balsausa.com
http://www.eurekaaircraft.com
https://www.greatflyerrc.com
https://www.guillow.com free flight rubber focused
https://www.peck-polymers.com/ free flight rubber focused
https://www.benbucklevintage.com/ built and shipping from the UK
http://btemodels.com
In my experience with small kit companies (such as RetroRC or Laines), if something you want is out of stock just email and ask - they will cut based on demand as a lot of little companies don't have room or capital to have a lot of extra inventory sitting around.
Vintage Kit Sellers
https://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?g=flying-balsa-model-kits&mat=balsa
http://www.thebestthings.com/rc_model_planes.htm (I've ordered several times from this guy - fast shipper with accurate with descriptions)
https://www.flyboyzblog.com/store/
Out of Business??
http://www.mountainmodels.com/ - sadly out of business, but if you can find his kits they are excellent!
http://www.nanoplanes.net/ no longer making kits but have released free balsa & depron plans of their Shark line of speedsters
http://hakits.co.uk/ potentially one kit - no online store, phone in order only
http://www.parkscalemodels.com/shop/ - Sadly Zeke is shutting down his business as of 3/21/2021. I really enjoyed building my Mini Drake, but others have had difficulties with confusing directions - I recommend researching build threads before making purchase decisions.
http://lazer-works.com/index.html - owner retired in December 2021 - cut files are up for sale if someone else would like to take up the business
On the other end of the market are places like Hobby King or Banggood whose kits I've both used, and won't inflict upon myself again for a while. If you go for one of these expect the instructions will be useless or just plain wrong, at least some parts won't fit without modifications, and you'll get absolutely no support.
Once notable exception is the new HobbyKing Spacewalker kit that Wilsonman just built in 2017 - this could be HK turning a corner with their kit production & support.
I'm hoping others will chime in with updates or other manufacturers I don't know about too.
Can't find a kit you want? Try downloading some plans instead!
https://outerzone.co.uk/
https://aerofred.com/
Happy building!
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