The Easystar has proportional motor, elevator and rudder (3 channel) control.

I am not sure what you mean by upgradable, since anything can be done with enoughtime and a big enough can of Elbow Grease.

The 54" wing is two piece, connected by a carbon fiber rod. It stays put due to good old fashioned friction, said CF rod, and a sort of locking together shape at teh center of each wing half. It is easy to (dis)assemble and transport.

The plane is a pseudo-sailplane. it will glide, is controllable with no power, and is said to have thermalling capability (will rise in rising hot air columns) though I am pretty new at this and really still get a kick out of making circles in the sky and bringing her home in one piece.

Learn how to fly this first, then worry about tricks (manuvers). Try to avoid doing unintentional tricks, its harder than it looks.

I do not know about painting it but sharpies workon almost anything and are preferred by many to color foam.

As for reception, the transmitter is not a toy version so it works at quite a distance, supposedly up to about half a mile. If you lose reception at that distance you probably will not know it unless you have the eyesight of a hawk.

It is a great plane and i recommend it from one newbie to another