I hear you born2build,
The planes I had, and friends had that were BIG back when I started... I see them now and think wow that little plane sure is cute and would have been a decent electric. One friend of mine sold a bunch of 40-60 sized planes that were sort of miserable flying glow planes.. that now could have been great electrics.. One of them was I believe a DH2 pusher WW1 plane.. I would love to have that thing now. My buddy practically gave it away at an auction 10 years ago.
Every time you put a starter on that plane you wondered if you would break the rear supports on both sides of your arms.. it also made you nervous about somehow getting cut with your arm down inside the airplane.