Alex

What weight and wingspan is your proposed glider and does it have a wheel fitted. If you let me know I can better advise if a 54mm class turbine will be ok.
If the model has a wheel then take off should not be a problem. You will need someone to hold the wingtip off the ground at the start of the take off run...just like the full size...but as soon as the model is moving control is easy. The take off run with my model which weighs 41lbs and has a 8.5 kg thrust motor is about 30 to 40 yards in light wind conditions but I can haul it off much earlier if I need to.
The cross sectional area of the turbine is very small and I can detect very little difference during the glide. The additional weight of the installation has actually made the areobatic performance better as the model has more momentum.

Happy flying

John