RE: Who else has failed on their first build?
That is a small little plane too and no mater how well the kit was cut or how well you built it that little plane can be a hand full with even minor incidence being off, even a slight warp in any of the surfaces. Being tail heavy will create all kinds of problems for you. These small light weight electrics can be a real hand full no mater how good of a pilot you are too.
This season I did a review on the AeroWorks Extra 260-E and assembled it and measured every surface. {That was a thrill using a Robart Meter on it} I lined it out and did the CG dead on to what AW showed then moved it to a slight nose heavy CG. Talk about a hand full on maiden!!!!! Hand full doesn't cover it, I was lucky to get it down at all in one piece. The shown CG on that plane is way too far back, even for 3-D flying, maybe a pro 3-D pilot would like it there, not me. That day I maidened two of those planes, the second one was even worse then mine and I came inches, maybe 2 from stuffing that other plane. All due to the tail heavy CG. I would bet money and give odds that if you place the CG a lot more to the nose you will have a better flying plane.