I have built Westrop's Acro, predecessor to the Loaded Dice and very similar to it, and two Gitanos. All were built from plans. All three are great flying planes. They can be built lightly and fly very well. They should end up around 7-7 1/2 pounds.

The Acro was built in the early 90's and used a Super Tigre 61 K ABC and a Macs quiet pipe set long. The Gitanos were in mid 90's. The Gitanos I have flown (mine and other's) have used various two stroke 61's and four stroke 91's and even a YS 110. My first one had an OS61 FSR with a pipe and the other had an OS91 four stroke and later a Saito 100.

They aren't classics in the sense most are on here, they were designed in the early turn around years. Having said that, they are similar to many designs of that period in being pretty similar to the classics , just a bit bigger with a lower wing loading. They are plenty fast at full throttle, but will land slower than a true classic like an Phoenix 8 or a Tipo. All that I have flown had retracts except one that was heavily modified.

I think the best flying set up for these is a 91 4 stroke or a Saito 100 and something like a 13X9 or 14X8 APC prop. Having said that, they also fly great with a 2 stroke 61 . Of the ones you've mentioned , I'd go with the Gitano. It is simple to build if you can cut or buy wing cores, and well designed. I think we did widen the fuselage a little to accommodate soft mounts more easily with the 4 stroke set up. Every one of these I have built end up needing some tail weight, but not much, so you can keep that in mind as you lay out equipment, etc.

Good luck, I think you will like one of these. I tried to upload a picture of a slightly modified Gitano, the one of mine with a Saito 100. The wing was lowered some in the fuselage. It is on the ground with retracts up to clean it. Sorry I don't have a better picture. I hope it loaded properly.

Chuck