Guillow's Cessna 170 Laser Cut Model Kit for 8 - 11 Years

Laser cut parts

This was my second Guillow's Model I have built (after the Guillow's North American P51D Mustang kit). This model kit was much superior to the Mustang. The benefits of laser cut balsa (as opposed to die-cut) are numerous, as the stringer notches (one of the largest annoyances I had with the Mustang) are already cut for you, and the pieces easily drop right out of the sheets of balsa. This kit has a quality feel, and all the required components to build a flying rubber band-powered model are included. Although this is about double the price of the Mustang, it is well-worth it, and I would even recommend this model to someone building their first balsa airplane. I spent about 12 hours building it (with no paint or decals) and I was able to fly it, albeit poorly. Overall, I am pleased with this model and for someone looking to get started with models, I would recommend this kit.

I've worked on stick and tissue model planes my whole life (well since i was about 8 years old). Typically pouring hours and hours into sanding, gluing/holding parts in place and finishing. Making sure that the finished products were museum quality. With this Model airplane kit from Guillows the amount of time having to spend to get this kit finished is literally reduced by about 75%. Laser cutting of the parts versus dye cutting is a huge step in the consistency and ease of use while building. Maybe this seems like a plus, and it is if you're a beginner of a novice without much time to work on a model this would be perfect for YOU. But if you consider yourself a true artisan looking to find a joy that is only received doing painstaking detail work that would truly set your model apart from everyone else's you may want to look for something a little more challenging! Guillows has brought model plane building to parallel that of making a Lego plane.

It is a shame that these kits come with missing items, advertised on line as rc convertible. The plans are from the 1960s and the die cut kits are terrible. I had to buy an additional kit to complete one of my builds. They are very fragile and not designed for inexperienced builders. I like the laser cut on some models. But still the same complaint on the plans/instructions. Come on really. How many people have complained.

A fine replication of the die cut model I built as a kid. Laser cut is the way to go tho the balsa density seems less forgiving than I remember. Maybe just a poor harvest of wood. Seems more easy broken. Perhaps cut thinner. With care of building, still a fine kit.

I needed this! I'm trying my hand at flying models and these are a nice way to get back into the hobby. As a youth I used to put these together with the expectation of many hours of amusement. I remember trying to get the die-cut pieces free of the sheet but they weren't cut all the way through. I'd often wind up with broken pieces that would have to be repaired before installation. Additionally super glues were a far distant dream back then. The dies they used for this kit must have been derived from alien technology because friction is the only force holding these parts on the carrier sheet. Blow hard enough and the pieces will separate from the carrier! Cool! I'll put a few of these basic kits together before going after the R/C kits!

I have built 65 Guillow's models from Cubs to Cessna. I customize them by butting interiors in them. When I get tough I give the model to the person that has a plane that looks just like the model I just built for them. The laser cut is a great improvement over the old punch out type. The parts just fall out in your hands. I wish they would make more private plane models like Bonanzas, Pipers, & Cessna. Each model takes me abut 60 man hours to build, and I have about $50.00 dollars in each one. If people want to pay me for my work. I donate the money to the Wounded Warriors .

These new kits with the lazer cut material are wonderful. The overall kit may be a challenge for beginners. Likely should start with a smaller, more simple kit.