Because of the canards the Pete n Poke would be a hard build for a first timer. And the wing struts would not work out well for a new flyer. Repairs would be high.
I prefer 4c myself , but they can be spendy. If your on a budget, a Magnum .52 4 stroke , would work well in either of these planes . If you want a no brainer , the OS .46 AX is the easiest engine I have dealt with .
If you were to get a cheap ARF trainer and throw your gear in it . Fly that while your building your kit. Then I would say , you could pick which kit you want.
Good luck on your build.