Hi Mike,
One clarification is are you talking 424 or 426? Given your limit, I assume 426.
Under $600 rules out the composite Vortex's that Randy occasionally sells for $675 including shipping but clearly the go to Q500 for quite some time. (One for sale right now at NMPRA forums, can't go wrong with Vortex :
http://www.nmpra.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5213
I have been happy with CMAD Ninja's. By happy I mean..go together easily (built six, don't survive mid-airs better than any other
), no complicated trim/mixing needed to get it to groove on the course, does require some rudder/elevator mix to make take off smooth but with that it has good take off characteristics with a smooth low approach to #1.
Don't know how I would argue its better than the alternatives. All seem pretty equivalent in the $500-$700 range.
If you post this at the nmpra forums, I imagine you'll get a range of opinions.
Regards,
Joe.