Well, I do think scale combat has a much higher "cool" factor than open classes, and I personally prefer scale combat. But it is more work than the open classes.

There are 2 classes of scale combat with any kind of following. The older class (which really isn't that old), is 2610, which is the class that's in the AMA rulebook, and an offical RCCA class. Planes are 1/12th scale of any plane from a pretty wide date range, I think it's 1935-1950 or something like that. You can alter the plane up to 10% from scale. The prototype had to have fixed, forward firing guns and has to have been intended for air-to-air combat or high-speed surface attack. As a result, the planes that are the most competitive are the one's you've never heard of. A P-51 Mustang in 2610 class just can't fly as well as the best designs out there. You're looking for something that at 1/12th+10% scale has a wingspan in the 50+ inch range, and lots of wing area.

2610 planes are the fastest combat planes out there, since the engines are up to a .26, with mousse cans or ultrathrust mufflers, and no power limits. They are faster than the B class planes because they are cleaner aerodynamically. My 2610 plane hits about 90mph on a radar gun. That might not sound like much, but most B class planes are in the low 80's, and SSC planes are in the low 50's.

The new class of scale that is just taking off in some parts of the country, but hasn't been flown out here yet, is 2548. In this class, there is a list of legal airplane designs, which outlaws the real odd-balls of 2610. Planes are scaled to a 48" wingspan, and you can't vary the outline much. There is a point penalty or bonus for keeping the plane "scale" to encourage scale planes. This class also has engine limits, no tuned exhaust, RPM and prop limits to slow things down.

For a suggestion, the JK Aerotech P-47 done as a P-47N type is a great first scale combat plane. Built to the plans, it's legal in both 2610 and 2548 (the wingpsan works out to something around 46.5" I think), it's rugged, and has a lot of wingarea. It's not very fast in 2610, but it's turning ability is impressive. I flew this airplane for the first year I flew scale combat, and did well with it. It should do very well in 2548.