Check out the Sig Astro-Hog, too. I was able to "guest" fly one a few times this summer and it was sweet. No bad habits. I am now building a Contender as my second aeroplane. I wanted to play with flaps and it sports six servos to the Hog's four, and the Contender looked easier & quicker to construct.

For an ARF, the Super Sporter 40 looks & appears to fly nice.

I suggest you join a club. In the past year I have seen hundreds of models being flown and that really helps, (as did the pilot on the other end of the buddy cord for the first few months). ;-)