ORIGINAL: Walther
Well I built a Balsa USA Smoothie in I thing 1979 or 80. This kit was I think $21.00 at the time; it was the least time and money I ever spent on a model, and it flew better than any I have built! And yes I still have it to this day!!
I’ve got a BUSA Smoothie under construction right now – built the fuselage, put it the box for a move and pulled it out to finish almost 30 years later. I liked the BUSA kits from the 70’s – the old Phaeton 40 was a nice flying bipe too. Their Swizzle Stick 40, while butt ugly, was one almost indestructible and very good flying trainer. I also have a Swizzle Stick 30 framed up ready for cover.
Sig does make some nice kits, but so did Bridi, Airtronics and many others, but some of the best I remember where the Japanese MK kits. Some of the kit producers who machined their parts back then did an outstanding job, but others where, well….. just filler material for other projects after all the bad wood was replaced.
Laser cut kits are nice, but there is just something about a nice fitting hand machined kit.
Hogflyer