RE: Balsa, SPAD, and foam- comparison?
Long ago, I read about someone using foam wings with grocery bag paper glued to the outside as a skin. Either wood glue or epoxy works well. This paper skin considerably adds to the strength and stiffness of the wing.
A few years ago, several of the guys at our flying club were flying a simple flying wing design powered by .40 engines for RC combat. The wing was hot wire cut foam covered with self sticking shelf paper for strength.