Welcome to RCU and it sounds like you have done some homework. That's refreshing to see now days in this fast food, I want it all and I want it now world. It's also cool that you want to build your own plane. Although not gas, of the planes you listed I think the overwhelming suggestion would be the Kadet LT40. It's an interesting build. Pretty easy but at the same time, not boring. It's also probably one of the more forgiving planes to fly. I am building another one and have started a build thread in the Kit building forum if you care to join in.

Like copters, or cars, or whatever, the same rules apply in planes. If you can spend more up front for good equipment, youll save money in the long run. You know how that goes. "Well, this is good enough for now syndrome".

If you wanna skip nitro and go bigger with a trainer, I would consider this.

http://www.amr-rc.com/index.php?path...=AMR&langue=en

Edit: BTW, Cubs are NOT trainers and not a good choice for a first plane.