RE: 2nd Plane - Some sort of Stik
Might be a bit smaller than you're interested in, but a friend just finished a Great Planes Stik 40 ARF for his "second plane". For $130, this is one excellent kit; easily on par with the best I've seen from WM, Kangke, or Sig. IMO, those three are the top ARF makers right now.
Anyway, most of the hardware is usable, and it flies like a Stik should. If I didn't have a Kougar 2/3 complete, I'd get one of these Stik ARFs myself. Its the perfect "throw it in the car and go fly" model.
I'll tell you what, though; flying that model has really stirred an urge to find the plans to a Midwest "Sweet'N'Low" Stik and scratch one out.