Balsa is super light and I think it’d work well for building stuff, but I never found a lot of use for it in my GF, (I’m not a model builder though. 
) Basswood is my #1 choice for engraving and the light color and lack of much grain works really well. I’ve used the HL stuff before and it worked fine, but it was a bit pricey and I only bought it when I couldn’t get it elsewhere or in pinch.
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