Rage59,
I suggest the Great Planes 90" Cub. Build it and learn something. Don't get into the ARF habbit. Please hear me out. 1. This is a great flying Warbird. You can finish it in a variety of great lookinh Military schemes.
You will learn how to build and you see the results of what you did, not some low dollar employee on an assembly line in China. Most of all, you will learn to use stick and RUDDER! However, you won't have to fly as fast as a P-51. 2. A tail dragger is a different Beast than a tri-cycle gear plane. 3. P-51's, F4U Corsairs, Spitfires, P-40's, etc... are fast and furious. 3. I progressed from a trainer, to the aforementioned Cub, to a Spitfire, to a P51B, then F4U Corsair, to whatever I can hang an engine on to make it fly. 4. I am a PROFOUND user and believer of the Great Planes G2 Flight Simulator. I practice with it at home all of the time. I am always complemented at the field for my flight performances and right down the middle of the runway takeoffs and landings. The best thing about the sim is if you crash or screw up, you hit the space bar and start over at the take off point. NO MONEY LOST IN A CRASHED AIRCRAFT!
I realize at 16 money is tight and there are other things to spend your money on, ie. GIRLS, cars, DVD's, CD's, junk food, video games, etc... However, one day you will be much older, (like me "50") and possibly be in this hobby full bore, (like me). I brought my oldest son into this hobby when he was 16 years old. He now flies F-16's in the USAF and loves it immensely. My youngest son is now 15 and can wring out an Avistar to the amazement of some of the veteran fliers at the field! His second plane is going to be a 52" ws scale MK1 Spitfire I scratch built for him. Both of their first REAL airplane rides were in a J3 Piper Cub. You young people have been brought up in the Computer and video game age and R/C aircraft are easier for you. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best. Remember, you set your own parameters and limitations, and only you can change that. Good Luck!
"Keep 'Em Flying!"
Flak