RE: Beginning in 3D flight
if you're looking for a small 3D plane, look at Valuehobby 35 Sabre. Another great choice are the flat profile foamies from DW Foamies. Those things fly like nothing you've ever seen. You can walk out and grab it from the air on a slow fly by.
Most of the serious 3D electric balsa fliers usually go with 3dhobbyshop, extreme flight or precision aerobatics. Skip the mass produced stuff from Great Planes and Horizon.