Yes, prop diameter is your friend in 3D. A lot of pitch isn't necessary either. A flatter prop helps control your speed on down lines, increases vertical performance, and acts as an air brake when you need one.

I second the neutral CG, which may be quite away back from what many are used to. This is useful in a couple of scenarios, the first being for play in post stall air speeds. Snap happy planes are no fun here. You want a plane that can slow WAY down. A plane wagging it's wings from side to side is trying to tell you it's getting ready to stall. Not good! A plane the requires excessive up elevator to hold the too heavy nose up no fun either. If you get air flow separation over the elevator, because of that excessive angle it has to run at when slowed, that plane is going to be headed straight down in very short order with very little warning. The plane's tail should drop noticeably as it slows, to something like a 3 point landing attitude.

A tip for flying at these speeds. The ailerons are not very effective at all when you slow down like this. It's important to get used to picking up that low wing with the rudder, not just the ailerons.

The other thing the neutral CG gives you is a flat elevator. If you have up or down trim here, and you roll the plane over on it's side, there's little chance of it tracking straight on KE. It's going to go towards the gear if tail heavy, and towards the canopy if nose heavy. Flat elevator for starters, but you may have to add some mixing if that doesn't leave you close enough.

Oh, and last, foamies are cheap to buy and crash when flown low and slow and very close in. Many will learn their basic 3d setups and get their flying/muscle memory basics started with one of these. Some of them are excellent fliers! I can almost guarantee they can save you some really expensive mistakes when learning this stuff with a gasser.

Welcome to 3D. Best of luck!