RE: Suggestion for first kit
Dude, I'll second and third the motion for a Somethin' Extra. With a Saito 82 in the nose. Probably the nicest "Fun-Fly" engine/airframe combo out there. The kit is really fun to build, very complete, and you'll learn a lot that can be used on more complex builds later. This kit has also been heavily documented on RCU; lots of info and help available for it.