ORIGINAL: poppy2
It would seem to me that given all the information here the novice would be better off going with a larger diameter/lower pitch prop because the take off would be faster, the glide would be slower, and the over all flying speed would be slower, three things that would seem to me to be in the novices favor. I am flying a Superstar 40 with an OS 46AX engine and have an 11x7 prop and it seems to do well. People say that I might be better with an 11x6 prop, but I try to find those props at the hobby stores and they are always sold out. It must be a very popular prop.
Poppy2
11x7 might be too much prop for a .46, so i would try to find an 11x6 or maybe even 11x5 for the first couple hours. but you are certainly correct in that a larger diameter/lower pitch prop is best for a beginner with a typical trainer. Those props aren't neccessarily just 'beginner' props, you can adjust later for how you like to fly. Personally all of my planes except one (lanier shrike) are 'geared' on the low end with large props/low pitch. i am usually flying much lower then anyone else at the field and like being able to more or less move in any direction at any speed, so having lots of low speed power is important.