RE: pattern plane suggestions
Lots of good choices.
Depends on what you want to spend.
The Temptation from Piedmont is a super plane. The fuselage is composite and you can buy it with the wings and stab almost complete for about $800. I know building a pattern plane isnt like other kits. You have to decide on how to set the wing incidence and all that stuff which can require some experience. A friend has 2 of them with glassed and painted wings and stabs and they fly REALLY great, he placed 11th with it at the Nats last year in Advanced.
Also the Zens are awesome planes, I havent flown one but I know the 90 size won one class at the Nats here recently.
I like YS engines as I believe do the vast majority of pattern pilots. For a 2m plane a 1.40 size engine is your best bet, for a 90 size I would say go with a 1.20.
HEY,
I just thought about something else. I have seen a lot of Quest 3Ds out there and they are a fantastic ARF pattern plane that has some seriously nice flight characteristics. They will do great with a YS 1.20 or comparable engine. A guy beat me with one this weekend as a matter of fact. You can pick one up for under $300 from Creek Hobbies and I hear Radio South is handling them as well.