Balsa wood alternatives.

[ynneb]

Is there a man made synthetic alternative to balsa wood that has the same or better charcteristics and is cheaper?

The best I can find on the web is this ... http://www.paulowniasupply.com/paulownia_vs_balsa.htm but again it is not synthetic.

[ynneb]

Is this carbon fibre sheet and alternative or is it too expensive and heavier than balsa?
http://www.fibre-lyte.co.uk/cf/cf_materials.html

[limbo]

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