The reason I don't recommend "giant scale" planes to low experience flyers is that the consequenses of a mistake is high with these planes. A bounced landing usually means a new $30-50 dollar prop and possible damage to the landing gear. The same mistake on a .40 size plane usually = no damage but your pride. With 1/2 A size planes, anything short of pile driving it into the ground at full throttle usually does only minor damage.
I know someone who accidentally ran into a deer on the runway with his full scale Beechcraft Bonanza. It's going to take about $40,000 to get that plane operational again.