Tmax,

I have been noting your progress regarding your search for a small 3D airplane. If I am not mistaken, you considered the UCD earlier. If you really want a good 3d beginner full fuse airplane, start with the UCD and then move on quickly to a good proper 3D capable airplane- an Edge, Extra, Yak or whatever. The UCD / Funstar fly like baloons and are not "precise" fliers

If you want to start with a cheap sharp flier, the airplanes to consider are the Reactor 46, Reactor Bipe, Phoenix Extra 60 etc in glow and the Goldwing Sbach / Extra 20cc, Phoenix Edge 540 120 or similar. Note the handling here will be a lot less forgiving then the floaters but you will not develop any bad 3D habits

Ameyam