You know what I'd be tempted to suggest? Build a Sig Kadet LT-40. Put a nice TT Pro-46 or OS 40FX on it, and you won't be sorry.

I built and learned to fly on the Kadet Senior. Wonderful airplane. I built it as a 3 channel and powered it by a TT GP-42. Got lots of compliments on the build, and it provided a nice SLOW trainer for learning. I'm always gonna love a Kadet Senior. But now, if its windy, I'd rather not fly it. It's wonderful in light winds just puttering around the pattern, but like I've told the guys at the field, my fun factor goes down as the wind speed goes up.

I helped my g/f build a Sig Kadet LT-40, equipped with a TT Pro-46, now here's a plane that already has most of the mods already suggested. Bigger motor, ailerons. less dihedral. Its maiden flight was in winds of 13mph, not the greatest testing conditions, but the LT-40 flew just fine. We put in 3 flights that maiden flight day. My Kadet Senior, didn't even get the motor started, too windy.

So yeah, if your heart set on building a Kadet Senior, god bless you. I've seen some of the really cool "kinda make it look scale" ideas and I think thats great. Definitely put less dihedral in it and add ailerons. Definitely put a good .46 size or better motor on it. I also added the diagonals to top and bottom longerons. I cut out new dihedral braces out of 1/8 aircraft ply and added dihedral braces to the rear spar, top and bottom. I sheeted the bottom of the wing center. I added sheer webs two bays further, front and rear spar. Used 2" width fiberglass tape epoxied over the wing center joint, one piece wrapped from the top all the way around to the bottom. My Kadet came out tail heavy with the TT GP-42 and had to add about three ounces of lead in the nose. Another good reason to use a bigger (heavier) motor. Used the stock nose gear and its been a pain from day one. Bent now, I just say it has an attitude, but the biggest problem is the braided cable I used, snaking its way to the firewall just like the plans indicate. Tends to bend or buckle. I also replaced the stock liteply firewall with regular aircraft ply. Used fiberglass push rods with 4-40 hardware. Also went up two sizes in the wheels, just works better on the grass fields I fly.

I have 36 pics of my Kadet Senior in barebones and finished here in Webshots.
http://community.webshots.com/album/2024822VAMpbLOVAu

My g/f has 16 pics of her LT-40 here in Webshots. http://community.webshots.com/album/23090380FTpbCRYtse

So if you keep the Senior, enjoy the build. Its not a fast one, but it sure is a classic. I'll always love a Kadet.

Good flying, Tom