Balsa Model Plane Kits for sale
Maircraft Curtiss Goshawk - Solid Wood Model Airplane, 1/48, S18
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good++
$22
Maircraft was originally founded in the early or mid 1930s by Gordon Christoph and went by the name Aircraft Model Company. The company produced a typical line of solid 'profile cut' kits that required the usual high talent levels for carving and finishing. A former Comet Model Airplane & Supply Co. salesman, Jack Mair, bought the company in the early 1940s and renamed it Maircraft. This company was one of the handful of solid kit producers who issued models in a consistent 1/48 scale during the 1930s and 1940s (others included Hawk and Dyna-Model). This lead to one of the most desirable and rare model kits ever produced in the USA - the wood/plastic 1/48 United DC-3 model issued immediately after World War 2. Other than the P-61 and a few other Maircraft offerings, most were simple kits that sold for the low price of about 35 cents and gave the owners many hours of pleasurable work. This kit features a full size 3-view plans with instructions steps and templates, 2D cut fuselage and wings, other wooden parts, and a factory sealed envelope of small parts. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes instructions.
Maircraft Taylorcraft - Solid Wood Model Airplane, 1/48, S-17
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$26
Maircraft was originally founded in the early or mid 1930s by Gordon Christoph and went by the name Aircraft Model Company. The company produced a typical line of solid 'profile cut' kits that required the usual high talent levels for carving and finishing. A former Comet Model Airplane & Supply Co. salesman, Jack Mair, bought the company in the early 1940s and renamed it Maircraft. This company was one of the handful of solid kit producers who issued models in a consistent 1/48 scale during the 1930s and 1940s (others included Hawk and Dyna-Model). This lead to one of the most desirable and rare model kits ever produced in the USA - the wood/plastic 1/48 United DC-3 model issued immediately after World War 2. Other than the P-61 and a few other Maircraft offerings, most were simple kits that sold for the low price of about 35 cents and gave the owners many hours of pleasurable work. This kit features a full size plan with instructions steps, fuselage that is about 70% cut, profile cut wings and tail feather, strut material and fully formed wheels. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes instructions.
Maircraft Heinkel He-51 - Solid Wood Model Airplane, 1/48, S-9
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$22
Maircraft was originally founded in the early or mid 1930s by Gordon Christoph and went by the name Aircraft Model Company. The company produced a typical line of solid 'profile cut' kits that required the usual high talent levels for carving and finishing. A former Comet Model Airplane & Supply Co. salesman, Jack Mair, bought the company in the early 1940s and renamed it Maircraft. This company was one of the handful of solid kit producers who issued models in a consistent 1/48 scale during the 1930s and 1940s (others included Hawk and Dyna-Model). This lead to one of the most desirable and rare model kits ever produced in the USA - the wood/plastic 1/48 United DC-3 model issued immediately after World War 2. Other than the P-61 and a few other Maircraft offerings, most were simple kits that sold for the low price of about 35 cents and gave the owners many hours of pleasurable work. This kit features a full size plan with instructions steps, fuselage, wings and tail that are 2D profile cut, clear material for the windshield, fully formed wheels and insignia on the plans. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes instructions.
Aircraft Vultee Vanguard - Solid Aircraft Model, 1/48, S7
Wood and Metal Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$24
High quality, solid wooden model from the 1930s features all hardwood parts (no balsa), 3D cut fuselage, 2D profile cut wings, two sheet of printwood, fully formed wooden wheels, full color insignia and quality three view plans with text building instructions. Never started and complete. This model is rare in that it is from Gordon Christoph's Aircraft Model Company. This company was founded in the early 1930s. Jack Mair, a former Comet Model Airplane & Supply Co. salesman bought the company in the early 1940s and renamed it Maircraft. Mair continued with the same logo and 1/48 scale and went on to make one of the rarest and valuable 1/48 scale wooden kits ever - the Maircraft DC-3. The company went out of business just as production began on the DC-3, which was in 1947.
Model Airways Sopwith Camel F1 - Skeleton Kit, 1/16, MA1030
Wood and Metal Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$165
Amazing model builds a skeletal Camel with over 220 laser cut hardwood (basswood and plywood) parts, over 200 cast Britannia metal, copper, aluminum, steel, brass and rubber parts and over 70 Britannia metal castings for the Clerget engine alone. It is a model in itself and is complete with all cylinders, distributor, magneto and crankcase. Other details include turnbuckles, guy wires, compression bar, pulleys, wire support brackets, struts, flight instruments, tires and much more. Includes several sheets of full size plans and very detailed instructions. Completed wingspan is 21 inches. Never started. All parts are still in the factory sealed bags and containers. Includes all plans and instructions. Please note that shipping insurance is required for this kit.
Sterling Ansaldo S.V.A. 5 That Drops Leaflets in Flight - 19 Inch Wingspan R/C / Freeflight / Control Line Aircraft - (SVA-5), A18-249
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed VG
$72
Still factory sealed and very rare in this condition. This 19 inch wingspan kit is designed for free flight with 'easy conversion to control line or R/C flying.' Includes an innovative system for automatically dropping 'propaganda leaflets' in flight. Sterling was a famous manufacturer dating back to the 1930/40s flying model craze. Although they continued to produce kits for decades after the flying model slump following World War II, they eventually fell victim to the general lack of interest in modeling that occurred in the early 1980s. I always considered Sterling kits to be deluxe kits as they featured color decals, high-grade die cut balsa, vacuform plastic detail parts, plastic wheels (if required), finished wire landing gear, rubber motor and plastic prop, full size plans with instruction details and full instructions for conversion to RC or control line.
Easy Built Models Fairchild PT-19 Trainer - 35 inch Wingspan for Free Flight or R/C Conversion, FF-6
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$39
Large-scale big wingspan issue. High quality modern kit made in the finest tradition of the stick and tissue flyers. Features high quality printed balsa, strip wood, plastic propeller, rubber motor, clear windshield material, full sized plans, instructions, covering tissue and other accessories. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes instructions. Easy Built was a Canadian manufacturer who made original designed and excellent reproductions of classic flying designs from the 1930 and 1940s.
Cavacraft Taylorcraft - Solid Wood Aircraft Model, 1/48, S-5
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$74
Rare, early 1950s model with a 9" wingspan which comes out to 1/48 scale (see calculations below). This excellent kit is among Cavacraft's finest efforts to compete in the high-end, prefabricated solid model hobby. The fuselage and wing are completely carved to shape. The quality is excellent and as good or better than Strombecker. Never started and inventoried complete with all parts present. With large color decal sheet and plans with full instructions. I calculated the scale of this kit with the following information: Taylorcraft wingspan = 36 feet. Wingspan of this model - 9 inches or .75 feet. 36/.75 = 48, or 1/48 scale.
AMCO Baku Geki Ki-99 - Japanese Navy Dive Bomber - Official Identification Model Kit Build For Victory - Solid Wood Model From WWII - Comet - (Type 99 Val), 1/72, IA-17
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+
$42
1940s WWII wooden kit from AMCO, which was a division of Comet. Features all hardwood parts including blocks & wood stock, sandpaper, CASCO glue, a full size cardstock template and patter sheet and highly illustrated double-sided assembly instructions. Never started and inventoried complete with all parts and paperwork present. This is an official identification model. The US Armed Forces found themselves in a World War with almost no ID models. Someone decided that it would be perfect to let the air-minded modeling youth build them for the military, and thus the "Identification Model" was born. However, the idea did not last as the quality ranged from excellent to horrible, with the majority on the later side. A much better substitute was found by casting one-piece models out of a hard rubber plastic. Little did anyone know that this was a foretaste of the doom of the solid wood scale model, which was replaced by plastic in the early 1950s.
Victor Stanzel & Co Lil Raider Mono-Line 1/2A Stunt and Combat Model
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$74
From the 1950s. Flying gas model for control line. Completely pre-fabricated kit featuring fully formed balsa and hardwood fuselage, fully formed hardwood engine mount, thick, clear plastic wing tips and canopy, die-cut wing ribs, fully shaped and notched leading and trailing wing edges, die-cut fin and rudder, factory-hinged stabilizer, formed wire landing gear, hardware, detailed instructions and covering tissue. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried 100% complete with all parts and instructions. Please note that there is very light bug damage on the instructions but heavy bug damage on the white tissue paper.
StromBecker Republic F-84 Thunderjet, C47-79
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$52
StromBecker was famous for this line of precarved hardwood kits and they are considered the finest ever made. The carving is done to the final shape which makes them remarkably pre-fabricated. Most included plastic detail parts (colored or clear), decals and sometimes even glue and wood filler (if applicable). When built it makes an impressive desk top display. This F-84 has a 5 3/4 inch wingspan. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. Please NOTE: the box displays better than the 'good-' grade but is ranked as such due to split corners and clear tape on the corners.
Maircraft North American P-51 Mustang - RAF Early Mustang, 1/48, H-10
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+
$28
From the 1940s. This model features 3D factory-cut hardwood fuselage, 3D factory cut wings, 2D (Profile) cut horizontal and vertical stabilizer, finished main and tail wheels, spinner block, printwood, dowels, full color RAF insignia, sandpaper, plans with profile sections and more. Maircraft was originally founded in the early or mid 1930s by Gordon Christoph and went by the name Aircraft Model Company. The company produced a typical line of solid 'profile cut' kits that required the usual high talent levels for carving and finishing. A former Comet Model Airplane & Supply Co. salesman, Jack Mair, bought the company in the early 1940s and renamed it Maircraft. This company was one of the handful of solid kit producers who issued models in a consistent 1/48 scale during the 1930s and 1940s (others included Hawk and Dyna-Model). This lead to one of the most desirable and rare model kits ever produced in the USA - the wood/plastic 1/48 United DC-3 model issued immediately after World War 2. Other than the P-61 and a few other Maircraft offerings, most were simple kits that sold for the low price of about 35 cents and gave the owners many hours of pleasurable work.
Guillows Messerschmitt Bf-109 - Scale Balsa Flying Airplane Model, 1/24, 505
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$32
From about 1962. This is a high quality stick-and-tissue flying model from Guillow's very popular series of WWII kits that sold well for decades. Features 16.5 inch wingspan, color decals, quality die-cut balsa wood, strip wood, plastic propeller, vacuform cowling, spinner, radiator, exhaust, air scoop & other details, wood wheels, clear canopy (in perfect condition & not yellowed), covering tissue and more. The full size plans are excellent and contain a significant amount of building instruction and guidance as well. This kit has not been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Guillows Jetfire Glider - Bagged
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed
$29
Rare and even more so in this conditino - still factory sealed. This 15 Cent issue from the late 1960s or early 1970s. The famous and popular Jetfire features a light-weight plastic canopy with pilot outline and completely diecut balsawood parts with colorful red factory printing. It can be assembled in less than a minute and was ready to fly! Guillow's founder, Paul K. Guillow, was a WWI naval aviator. In 1926 he began producing wooden model airplane kits. His 'Shelf Models' were some of the earlier non-flying models in production. Guillow's grew during the model boom of the 1930s, and when the Depression hit the hardest, Guillow's responded with lower prices and became one of the low price leaders, frequently advertising in Model Airplane News and other leading publications. During the war, like most manufacturers, Guillow's was forced to alternative materials such as cardboard and pine. Guillow's survived the post WWII slump by creating many inexpensive profile flying rubber powered aircraft and gliders in the 1950s (along with North Pacific) which became famous - some are still available today. The stick and tissue lines have been updated with laser cut parts and are still in production as of 2014.
Guillows B-25 Mitchell - 26.5 Inch Wingspan Gas Model For U-Control or Static Display, 1/32, 805
Wood and Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed VG
$58
Still factory sealed. Large 1/32 scale stick and tissue model that can be built static or twin .-12 to .049 engine U-Control. Features extensive color decals, numerous plastic parts such as cockpit surround, engine nacelles and more, movable control surfaces, detailed landing gear, hinged landing gear doors and more.
Cleveland Howard Pete Balsa Flying Model Airplane Kit, 1/16, SF-18
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$78
From the 1930s. This is a Cleveland 'SF' or 'Scale Flying' model in museum scale of 1/16. The kit is in the older cardboard box with 'Cleveland World Famous Models' in silver print. All Cleveland kits were exceptionally complete and this one is no exception. Features very high quality balsa printwood and strip wood, covering material, fully formed wheels, thrust button and spinner, pre-drilled nose block, other blocks as required, CDs famous black fibre propeller, metal and wood stock and more. Includes CDs highest quality plans. The model has not been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts and plans/instructions. The Cleveland Model and Supply Company played a pivotal role in the development of true scale models. In 1909 Bleriot's English Channel flight caused a surge in aviation and model aircraft around the globe. Several companies were ideally positioned to take advantage of the aviation craze. In the USA, Wading River Manufacturing Co. (1909), White Aeroplane (1911), Ideal Model Aeroplane (1911), Broadfield Model Aeroplanes (1919) were among these pioneers, offering everything from plans and parts to complete kits and ARF models. Lindbergh's 1927 crossing of the Atlantic Ocean caused an even bigger world-wide phenomenon called 'The Aviation Craze' that extended up to the start of World War II. Many companies such as Megow, Guillow's and others started right around the time of Lindbergh's flight. Some of these models flew and flew well, but they all had one thing in common - were generally not accurate scale representations. In 1929, a youngster named Ed Packard had a very advanced dream to produce incredibly accurate, true scale models that flew perfectly. This radical idea established the world's longest operating single-owner model airplane supply business, called Cleveland Model and Supply Company. To this day, Cleveland models are treasured as the most accurate flying scale models produced. The fact that Mr. Packard started and successfully grew this business during The Great Depression is a testament to his ideals and business skill. I highly suggest the excellent book called 'Aviations great Recruiter, Cleveland's Ed Packard' by H.L. (Herm) Schreiner. It is an excellent history of the man, his company and the times of the Golden Age of Model Aviation.
Cleveland 1930 Laird Solution With CD Gold Paint Dust - Balsa Flying Model Airplane Kit, 1/16, SF-46
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$90
Very rare 1934 'Silver Box' issue. This is a Cleveland 'SF' or 'Scale Flying' model in the agreed museum scale of 1/16. This is the earlier simple cardboard box with the silver printing. All Cleveland kits were exceptionally complete and this one is more so than average exception. Features a sealed envelope of 'Laird Gold' to 'mix with 1 oz of clear D-D-Enamel-Dope', rigging threat, adhesive backed instrument panel, fully formed wooden wheels, propeller hub and thrust button, scale propeller blank or black fibre version, quality printwood, factory-cut stringers and spars, covering material, clear windshield celluloid, other wood and metal stock as required and more. Includes the famous CD high-quality plans. Even includes the original factory packing tissue. The model has not been started. Inventoried complete with all parts and paperwork. The Cleveland Model and Supply Company played a pivotal role in the development of true scale models. In 1909 Bleriot's English Channel flight caused a surge in aviation and model aircraft around the globe. Several companies were ideally positioned to take advantage of the aviation craze. In the USA, Wading River Manufacturing Co. (1909), White Aeroplane (1911), Ideal Model Aeroplane (1911), Broadfield Model Aeroplanes (1919) were among these pioneers, offering everything from plans and parts to complete kits and ARF models. Lindbergh's 1927 crossing of the Atlantic Ocean caused an even bigger world-wide phenomenon called "The Aviation Craze" that extended up to the start of World War II. Many companies such as Megow, Guillow's and others started right around the time of Lindbergh's flight. Some of these models flew and flew well, but they all had one thing in common - were generally not accurate scale representations. In 1929, a youngster named Ed Packard had a very advanced dream- to produce incredibly accurate, true scale models that flew perfectly. This radical idea established the world's longest running single-owner (77 years) model airplane business- Cleveland Model and Supply Company. To this day, Cleveland models are treasured as the most accurate flying scale models produced. The fact that Mr. Packard started and successfully grew this business during The Great Depression is a testament to his ideals and business skill. I highly suggest the excellent book called 'Aviation's great Recruiter- Cleveland's Ed Packard' by H.L. (Herm) Schreiner. It is an excellent history of the man, his company and the times of the Golden Age of Model Aviation.
Comet North American P-51D Mustang - 22 inch Wingspan Gas or Rubber Powered Wooden Aircraft Kit, 1624
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$40
1970s large scale issue for rubber or gas free flight, or easily converted to RC using today's tiny and light servos and receivers. Box art is by Locher, who did a great deal of the Monogram box artwork also. Kit features traditional wood/tissue construction with all die cut parts, 'Tube-O-Matic' fuselage construction and 'Rugged Super X Simplified Non-Warping Wing' construction, colorful insignia, detailed full size plans, building instructions, wheels, hardware, tissue and propeller. The model has not been started. The small parts that were factory sealed are still in the factory sealed bag; the parts that were never factory sealed have been inventoried complete and includes insignia and instructions. Comet was a famous manufacturer of stick and tissue flying and static models. In the 1930s Great Depression, they lead the low-priced kit revolution with the "Dime Scale" kits and famous advertisements in Model Airplane News magazine and others. Comet reached it's peak in the 1930s when they acquired the services of Carl Goldberg. Goldberg was a highly accomplished modeler with articles in Model Airplane News and famous designs that won him several National level competitions in the 1930s and beyond. (Carl Goldberg went on to found his own company and produced well designed and popular free-flight and RC aircraft). Comet survived the post World War economic slump and continued kit production until they were bought out by long-time competitor Guillow's in 1998.
Jetco Rearwin Speedster - 38 Inch Wingspan for RC / Control Line / Free Flight, S-4
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$110
Very nice kit of the 'superscale' version of Walt Mooney's original magazine plan model. Includes instructions for R/C, CL or free flight and features 242 die-cut balsa and plywood parts, other balsa and hardwood parts and stock as required, pre-cut stringers and spars, pre-shaped leading and trailing edges, hinge material, metal landing gear and pushrods all bent to shape, die-cut clear front windshield and windows, factory-sealed extensive hardware packet, covering material and more. Includes Jetco's superb full size plans and instructions. Never started. The kit is like factory-new inside. The small parts are still factory sealed; the rest have been inventoried complete. Includes decals and all paperwork.
Jetco Superflite Thermic Dart 12 inch Wingspan Glider, SG-1
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$32
NOS (New Old Stock) from a long-closed hobby shop. Jetco was a producer of high quality gliders (the famous Thermic series), rubber and gas free flight and radio controlled aircraft. Jetco kits used the best materials and are very well engineered and complete. Kit is of balsa design and the parts are pre-decorated. The model has not been started. Inventoried complete and includes full plans and instructions. A few years back I inherited a box of 1950s built gliders and the Thermic Dart was one of them. I dusted it off, took it to the local playground and on the third flight it caught a thermal and few a subdivision away!