If startup cost is an issue... then get the Tower System 3000 4 channel radio. Its just a relabeled Futaba. (Last year's model) At appx $99 on sale (and its almost always on sale...) Its usually right on the price to get a "discount" which will be equal to Tower's shipping charge.

Best "bang for the buck" .46 2-stroke engine I believe is the Thunder Tiger Pro .46. Its not the cheapest. Its not the most powerful. It is a good reliable engine that can give several years of service.

2nd place in "bang for the buck" is the Magnum XL .46. Its a little cheaper... but won't last as long as the Thunder Tiger.

3rd place is discontinued now... the O.S. .46 FX. A little more powerful engine than the Thunder Tiger, but considerably more expensive. They do run very well and last a LONG time. I haven't seen the new engine by O.S. replacing the FX series... (they messed up with the replacement to the FP series... The LA series is not on any of my recomendation lists.)

*********

I would recommend a higher wingspan to wing chord ratio than the typical "BUHOR" The basic design is OK... for a RC combat model and a general have fun flying model. Reduce the chord and increase the span to where you have the same wing area and make the span 6 times the chord. Keep the leading edge of the wing the same distance from the tailplanes and move the balance point forward proportionately to how much you reduced the chord. It will be a better trainer.

Even better would be to try the SPADET or the Debonair. They are the best of the SPAD type models for use as trainers.