RE: guillows have poor quality balsa?
Here's my ill-fated 40" span Guillow's P-38 Lightning before final finish. Unfortunately it was lost on it's 3rd test flight due to spinning in after one of the motors cut out on takeoff.
This one was built from the stock kitwood and then sheeted. Could have been built much lighter but still flew well at 32oz. Had 5 channels, retractable gear, 6 servos, twin motors.