I am fresh of a setting up and test flying a SM F-15... and perhaps my impressions could help you.

I used a P-120 with about 28 lbs of thrust. seemed to be ideal to this plane.

I also used a Futaba 9C with the following functions: Elevons, Throttle, Rudder,Retracts, Flaps,Aleirons (mixed with the aleirons function of the elevon), Turbine on/off and wheel brakes.
but I found that flaps or speed brakes not necessary in this plane,au contraire, they add uneeded
weight, cost and complexity.

About using this plane as a first turbine, it is possible, yes. But it has two smalll characteristics that are not ideal for a jet trainer: first is the narrow landing gear, although it has a very good
tracking for easy take-offs and landings, you should remember to slow down well the plane for
making turns, unless you want to scrap the wingtips.. and the second is the roll rate: the plane
has a very small moment of inertia on the roll axis, so it can roll real fast if you want it and it
could make a novice (or nervous) pilot to induce oscilations.. not a big deal, specially if the plane was trimmed and flown before you fly it. On the good side, the pitch response of this plane is smooth and progressive,retains solid control at low speeds and it could be landed at high angles of attack without fearing a tip stall.

About being scale, I am not sure how accurate it is, but watching it fly makes a fantastic impression.

Best regards, Enrique