RE: a plane for a .36 engine
I'll second the tribute 36 arf. I got one this spring and put in a worn down O.S. 40 la. This was the plane I transitioned with from a high wing trainer. By dialing down the low rates and using 40% expo, it is a great flyer. The fuse is weak in a hard landing, but a couple of popsickle sticks and epoxy reinforce it nicely. I don't recommend the SFG's for a grass field though, as they hang down real low. Model Airplane News did an article on the plug and play version and it gives you the dual rate setup and expo. You can also tone it down with a slightly larger prop diameter and smaller pitch to get the hang of it, then change the prop up flip to high rates and watch it burn holes through the sky.