Guillow's Guillow Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

Always the best!

Excellent product, good price, fast delivery.

This was so much fun to build! My first attempt at building Guillow’s plane kit, will not be my last. So happy with the results.

First build, P-51 Mustang, went very well and looks great. Used the now hard to find Nitrate Dope for the covering. Yeah, it can get you high and then make you sick but just treat it with some common sense (like people used to have once upon a time) and read the precautions. There is nothing better as a long lasting paint base for the silk span covering or as a sealant for the balsa in a non-hot fuel situation. And, it gives a medium shrink not pulling the covering to tight causing it to pull away from the frame in places. And it won't sag when you paint it. And you won't find it on the River. Just make sure your glue is compatible. Your can always test it on some scrap pieces first. One of the grand-kids saw the Mustang and liked it a lot and began asking for his own. But I have 4 grand kids so I bought 4 +1 more of these for myself in this series with close model nos. All with 16" - 24" wingspans. The larger ones are just stupid $$$$ for what they are. The only Con so far is the thickness of the balsa is not what it used to be. Even decades later since I built these in the 60's I can tell it is all thinner. But, the pieces all separated easily and fit well, even the non-laser die cut ones. The Mustang does actually fly some but I beefed up the landing gear structure which seemed quite flimsy as designed with the thinner wood. You don't get more than a few seconds of power out of the rubber band though. Be sure to shop around for the best prices. They vary a lot and it adds up esp if you are buying more than one. If you are really interested in flying these get one that says "Endurance" on the box.

These guys have been making kits before I got into the hobby in the 70s . They were great then and they are great now. Technology has came a long ways in the last 50 years, so I say take advantage of it. If you can spend up to $10 more buy their laser cut kits, they are a masterpiece just waiting for you to build. I highly recommend the laser cut over their die cut kits. If your new to the hobby you’ll actually have a good chance of finishing the kit with very self satisfying results.

First of all, to be blunt, a Guillow's balsa model is not for the faint of heart. It's a a time-consuming build and not something you're going to just slap together like some Revell Snap-Tite model. But if you're patient, it's worth it. And you don't have to go into these models thinking you have to put the tissue paper on the plane. I've never done that, and I've grown up watching my father build actual fabric wings for planes like Stearmans. These balsa models are a time machine for me to days when my days were spent building models of all shapes and sizes, not just balsa, but plastic as well. Give one a try! Just be patient with the process of cutting the parts from the slabs of balsa and prepare for a marathon of building...not a sprint.

I ordered this balsa wood Curtiss P-40 airplane model for my 86 year old Father in law. I try and order the laser cut or die cut models for him as they are easier to remove the balsa wood pieces from the balsa sheets. All pieces are clearly numbered and easy to read. This model is a die cut. He really enjoys tinkering on these type of model kits. One model usually takes him a couple of weeks to fully build. He adds his own unique touches to each airplane. The propellers really wind up with the rubber band and will move around the floor. He does not try and fly them through the air. He likes to wind them up and let his Great Grandson watch them "fly" across the kitchen floor! Fun for all ages. The white tissue airplane on the left is this model plane. I purchased this item at full price. My opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for my thoughts. I rely on product reviews just like others to help make my purchase decisions so I try each product very carefully before reviewing and always do my best to leave honest opinions and provide as much facts as possible based solely on my experience.

The laser cuts are great. A challenging and enjoyable model to put together.