I got the Easy Sport as a second plane as well but it was the kit. The ES is not a light plane and will really need a decent .46 to have satisfactory performance.

Covering. I would just wait until the contact paper starts to show signs of abuse then take it off and cover with iron-on.

I am hesitant to say this becuase I don't want to bust your excitment, but wish someone told me when I got my ES. Don't be surprised if you find that the Easy Sport is marginally different from your trainer. I was disappointed and quickly moved to a Tiger Stick (all sticks are basically the same) and that is a much more fun plane and still will slow down and land easily. Other choices are the Sig 4*, Sig SE, Mid-star, Tiger 60, Venture 60, etc. If I were you and the kit is still in condition to return, I would return it and get one of the above mentioned planes or something similar.