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The RC model
airplane community has lost one of its
greats. Ron Busch—the founder and owner of
Balsa USA—passed away quietly on Thursday
January 22, 2009, after a short illness.
Some years ago, Ron transferred Balsa USA's
day-to-day operations to Ronae Busch, his
daughter, and Mark Enderby, a longtime
friend and shop foreman, but his presence
will be sorely missed nonetheless.
Although Ron did his best to avoid the
limelight, his trailblazing efforts in the
development of what we know today as "Giant
Scale" modeling was invaluable to our hobby.
In a time when a 60-size model was
considered big and most RC models were
powered with .20- or .40-size engines, Ron
insisted on the development of what were, at
the time, outrageously large 1/4- and even
1/3-scale models!
Following is a timeline of Ron Busch's
successful history in aeromodeling.
Joy Products, 1946: Ron started this
company, making hand-launch gliders and
other small models, including a small
helicopter.
Joy Products, 1950: Production changes to
include manufacturing of gaskets, small
stamped metal parts, and 1/2A CL kits.
Joy Products, 1969: Production of
non-model-related products falters; Ron
concentrates on producing both CL and FF
1/2A models.
Joy Products, early 1970s: Ron moves the
company to its present location, stops
producing non-model-related products, starts
cutting sheet and balsa stick wood for hobby
shops and model builders, and expands model
production to include RC models. He enters
Precision Scale with his Curtiss JN-4 Jenny
and then introduces the Swizzle Stick, which
is soon followed by the Excalibur, Moonraker,
and Smoothie.
Joy Products, 1973: Ron introduces Giant
Scale modeling with the 1/4-scale Piper J-3
Cub. He also brings out the original Phaeton
biplane.
Joy Products, 1975: Walt Moucha is hired
and designs the 1/3-scale Sopwith Pup that
is released in 1976.
Joy Products/Balsa USA, mid-1970s: Ron
starts a sister company to Joy Products—Balsa USA—as a mail-order hobby
shop. He buys the rights to Laddie
Mikulasko's Northstar, Enforcer, and the
Force One. He also introduces the Taube and
the Bristol M-1.
Balsa USA, late 1970s: Ron absorbs Joy
Products into Balsa USA and expands the
building. Ron continues his Giant Scale
efforts with the Aeronca C-3, the Piper L-4
(the military version of the Piper Cub), and
the 1/3-scale Morane A-1.
Balsa USA, early 1980s: Ron expands the
building again; updates some of his older
kits, which results in the Phaeton II; and
brings out a line of gliders. He continues
Giant Scale with models such as the Der
Jager and the 1/3-scale Fly Baby biplane.
Balsa USA, mid-1980s: Ron offers the Piper
J-3 Cub in 1/3 scale, followed by the
1/3-scale PA-18 Super Cub. He also
introduces a line of sport models to include
the EZ-100, EZ-200 (biplane version), Thunderbug 40, and Stingray 40.
Balsa USA, late 1980s: Ron introduces more
Giant Scale models, including a 1/3-scale,
low-wing Fly Baby with true-to-scale folding
wings.
Balsa USA, early 1990s: Ron expands the
building once more and introduces the
1/3-scale Stearman PT-17 as well as larger
versions of many of his most popular kits,
such as the Taube, the Phaeton, the
Stingray, and the Thunderbug.
Balsa USA, mid-1990s: Ron updates all of
the company's kits with photo-illustrated
instruction books.
Balsa USA, mid-1990s: Ron revives WW I
model aviation with the introduction of the Eindecker 90.
Balsa USA, 2000: Ron hires Dave Lewis as
designer.
Balsa USA, mid-2000s: The company's daily
operations are transferred to Ronae Busch (Ron's
daughter) and Mark Enderby (shop foreman).
Balsa USA continues with its line of
1/4-scale WW I models, reintroduces the
Morane A-1, and brings out several new
1/3-scale WW I models.
Balsa USA, late 2000s: Balsa USA
introduces a 1/6-scale line of popular WW I
kits.
Following are the release dates of Balsa
USA's designs.
Eindecker 90: October 1999
1/4-scale Sopwith Pup: June 2000
1/4-scale Fokker Dr.I: March 2001
1/4-scale Nieuport 28: October 2001
1/4-scale Nieuport 17: February 2002
1/4-scale S.E.5a: March 2003
1/4-scale Fokker D.VII: February 2004
1/3-scale Ercoupe: September 2004
1/4-scale Nieuport 11: February 2005
1/4- and 1/3-scale Guns: April 2005
1/3-scale Morane A-1*: January 2006
1/3-scale Fokker D.VII: February 2006
1/3-scale Nieuport 17: March 2007
1/6-scale Sopwith Pup: September 2007
1/6-scale Nieuport 17: March 2008
* Rerelease
Although Ron is no longer with us, his
presence will play a part in every decision
that is made on behalf of Balsa USA. The
company will continue to run and operate in
the same way it has for the last 40 years.
MA
Balsa USA
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