First off the LT40 is a great start. On your engine choice you mentioned a 40 size. Get a 46 instead. They are $5.00 more and well worth it. I wish I had one on my LT40. I trained on a grass field and when it was raining all week and the grass was too wet to cut the extra power would have been allfully nice! I would get a Thunder Tiger Pro or OS FX. On the radio. You still have an option. 6 channel computer radios have dropped in price so much that you might look at getting one. Or, get a bsic 4 channel for now because dual rates, ect. don't work on the buddy box and it keeps things simple. Down the road you can use your radio for other planes and for a trainer box for your friends. Another receiver, servos ect. is almost the same price as a complete radio system. Have fun, Fast!