Guillow's Focke-Wulf FW-190 Model Kit, Small | Die-cut parts and decals for flight or static display Includes 24-page guide Ideal for beginners ages 10+ Made in USA

I have put together about 20 Guillow models. They are very easy and fun. I especially like the ease which the laser cut pieces detach. They release very easily and require very little touch up cutting. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. In fact, I just bought another model about a week ago.

A model airplane kit much like they used to be early in the 20th Century. Today's technology provides easier parts handling via laser-cutting on the parts sheets. A definite step up from die-cut parts, and a GREAT step up from cutting around printed ink outlines and final-shaping parts before assembly. In any event, kits like these are definitely not for anyone needing quick gratification. They require true building skills, which are fortunately not too difficult to develop. Parts need to be laid out on a blueprint-like plan (included), temporarily held down to a building board (not included - a 1/2" thick foam-core panel will work), that will accept pins to hold the parts during parts gluing (make sure the board is kept flat during the assembly process). Balsa wood parts are light and delicate, needing careful handling. Finished open-framework components (wings, tail parts, body) will need to be covered with tissue paper (included), a specialized skill needing to be learned. There's a small building manual included, also lots of YouTube stuff available to show the process. The reward at the end is an accurate-outline model that can actually fly, using the supplied rubber band and propeller. Builders - find & use your patience, take time to make accurate construction, and you should find the path to your success. Thank you, Guillow's! May you go on for another hundred years (at least!).

These old school model kits have come a long ways. The laser cut balsa wood sheets make it a lot easier to get the parts cut out. I did notice a change in the kits. They used to have an option for mounting a gas powered engine in the nose. It still does but the kits don't mention they need to be reinforced to build that way. Overall this is my 7th or 8th kit I've built over the years and Gillows is the only manufacturer I'll consider when looking for a kit. On a scale of 1-10 on build quality this is a 10. As for difficulty i would rate this kit at a 5 and wouldn't let a kid under 10 work on this alone if this was their first. Knife is necessary, tight bond wood glue and a little 400 grit sand paper to start. If you want to make the build easier lay the instructions/plans (full scale) on some Styrofoam sheeting lay your plans out on it and cover them in plastic wrap. It allows for you to build the kit on the plans and when glue is dry pull right off. Great kit for the crafty and an old school alternative for a great scale model airplane. Prices are what they are. The bigger the k I t the more expensive it is. The 500 series kits are in my opinion the best for instructions, ease of build and overall fun. Durability is on a whole different scale and is on par with the time and effort put into the build. This is not a lego kit.

This product was excellent. I had a little bit of difficulty trying to fit the plastic parts to the front former. But the laser cut parts are a vast improvement over the die-cut pieces that you had to cut out of the frame. I would recommend putting a steel washer under the thrust button for the prop instead of using clay to trim the airplane. The airplane flew very well. Overall it was a fun build and a lot of fun for the price point.

I recently (just in the last 2 months) began building these balsa models after a 45 year hiatus. I've made about 6 of them so far, and this one is one of the best. The parts were very accurately cut, fit together really well, and this thing flies killer!! It flies nice and straight, and at the end of flight, it curves off to the left and lands nicely in the grass. I use a large steel washer on the nose cone and glue it on, and then mount the prop directly to it. That adds just the right amount of weight to keep it from going up and stalling, and makes a nice, smooth flight. Very nice model.

Shipping was horrible. Kit arrived smashed flat. Luckily it appears to be build able. These shouldn't be shipped in envelopes

Didn't realize this was a laser cut kit when I got it. Very happy about that as they are such cleaner easier kits to assemble. What else is there to say? If you have done one of these kits before than you know what to expect. If you haven't assembled one then know this is a full BALSA wood kit that takes effort to assemble . I have read reviews of people getting these and then being angry that they got a box full of wood. Well...... can't really say much about that. Oh and the price I paid was 16 or something so not a bad price at all. When I got it they were hard to find and lots of places seemed to be price gouging the guillows kits. Glad I found it as it has helped pass a couple hours. Now to see if I can get it to fly a little lighter than the last brick I built.

Great model! Fun too build! Read the plans.