Flying model aircraft is just like gambling - you have to decide how much you are willing to lose. If you don't care about losing $1000.00 then go for the bigger plane, but if you don't want to gamble with that much money then go for the less expensive route. IMHO you should stay with the smaller planes and get some more experience as you will, as a general rule of thumb, crash at least one of your first three planes.

Also don't sell your self short on the equipment. At this point in the hobby your better off investing the money in a better radio and good engine that can be transferred from one plane to another than a larger plane. Learn how to use that equipment, increase your skills and then move on to the larger planes. You'll be further ahead in the long run.

So, in the end, how much are you willing to lose gambling in one shot? And do you want a big plane with marginal equipment now, or top end equipment and a smaller plane for now, and top end equipment and a couple of larger planes in the future?

Hogflyer