The main thing you need at this stage of the building game is good instruction included with the kit...It sounds like you have been dealing with some larger planes ..so a couple of these are fairly big.



If you would consider a biplane I hear these build and fly well.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LW9049&P=0


If you are looking to try something more scale looking, but with good flying habits maybe the.. Sig 1/4 Spacewalker?

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[TD][/TD]
[TD]Legal for IMAA and QSAA fly-ins, this is an exact 1/4-scale model with the heart of a sport model.

It's made for flying! The thick semi-symetrical airfoil and long tail moment provide perfect stability and low speed handling. At full-throttle, it will do all the aerobatics you ever dreamed of.[/TD]
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[TD][TABLE]
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[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Wingspan[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]84 in[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]2134 mm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Wing Area[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]1110 sq in[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]71.6 dmē[/TD]
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[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Length[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]60.5 in[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]1537 mm[/TD]
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[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Flying Weight[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]11 - 13 lb[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]5000 - 5900 g[/TD]
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[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Radio Required[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF, colspan: 2"]4-Channel (not included)[/TD]
[/TR]
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[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Engine Required
(not included)[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF, colspan: 2"]2-Stroke .90 - 1.20 (15 - 20 cc)
4-Stroke 1.20 - 1.60 (20 - 26 cc)[/TD]
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A couple guys in my club have these planes and love them... GP Super Decathalon..

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXYXJ7&P=0