hi a coping saw is great for cutting hardwwods and -plywood up to 1/4 inch thicki cut all by hand -cutting on a piece of plexiglass is great for balsa and the film covering materialsit hold your work in place a stanley knife is good were an exacto number 11 blade is not-a zona saw you get at the hobby hope is great-i use the i inch one -find it to be best