zyklon_chichi,
I can oly speak for the Pheonix Funstar and I think it is a great plane for beginner 3D. It is my first 3D plane and I felt it is really easy to fly and experiment with. As of orientation, I didn't have many problems, just occasionally, but not much at all. I actually purchased some red and white trim sheets to put on the bottom of the leading edge of the wing but I just can't get myself to put it on as the plane looks so cool the way it is. I have an OS 50SX on it and I can pretty much fly it at almost an idle. It will pull verticle pretty easily from a hover. I have an APC 11x4 on it now but I have also tried the APC 12.25x3.75W and can't decide which I like better. Got more RPM from the 11x4 though. As for stregnth of build, I think it is built pretty tough, I had a few harder landings with no problems and also had my clunk come off during a take-off which made the engine cut out probably about 15ft off of the ground and it pretty much stalled and dropped flat down on the ground like a pancake and I had no damage to the plane. Hope this helps, Good Luck!