Having aspirations of a P-51 as a 4th plane is not totally out of the question but may be unlikely especially in the giant scale range. It really depends on your progress and how many flights you put on the first three. Fly the trainer enough that you can place it in precisely the position you want it to be in the sky and land it every time in the center of the runway. This will normally require several hundred flights. The Tiger, 4* or Sportster would make a good second plane and give some low wing experience. Learn some pattern maneuvers and learn to fly inverted as well as upright. Again a few hundred or a thousand flights. For the third plane the Giles or something equivalent would be a good choice. A larger size (1.2 ci or better) would help the transition to giant scale. Practice with the plane in all possible attitudes. Many a plane has been lost when it decided to get into an attitude the pilot had never seen before (like inverted during a landing approach when the speed was reduced too much and it tip stalled and entered a "snap".)

Now for the step to the giant P-51. No matter how you do this it's not a step. It's a real jump (maybe even a leap). Warbirds don't fly as well as aerobatic planes or planes built and designed as models since the flying surfaces suffer from scale effect. Scale effect means that when the plane is reduced in scale (volume) the flying surfaces become too small and very ineffective especially in smaller models. Also you would need to learn how to build and equip a larger model. Running a "gasser" also requires a lot of additional information. A transition into giant scale and gasoline engines are some more steps.

As you progress the above will become easier to understand. A giant scale also follows the same rules in the cost department. A 0.60 size plane will fly with 4 sport servos @ $15.00 each or $60.00 for servos. I'm currently building a 1/3 scale that requires 8 servos and at a street price of $115.00 each for DS-8411 will quickly add up to a very different situation. Many other factors will add to the equation.

Some "teach" themselves to fly. Some also win the lottery. Chances of success are quite the same.

Welcome to this wonderful hobby and sport. Enjoy the trip and the steps (pardon the pun) along the way.

EXCAP232