I have the current GP Big Stick 40, it's a blast to fly. I have it on floats right now, at first I put a Super Tiger 40 on it and flies great with that engine and has pleanty of power/speed. When I built the floats I put a Super Tiger 51 with a Macks muffler on it that made it rocket, since test flying the floats I put the 40 back on and it stills flies great. I am saving the 51 for another plane. The Monokote is great and none of mine has came off, I have touched it up once with an iron in the last 8 months. I doubt you would be disapointed in this plane they are very aerobatic not like a trainer, but slow down and are easy to land.

I have seen the Hanger Nine Stick with ultracote, looks nice when new, but after several flights the covering is in really sad shape, peeling off, full of wrinkles. I know several people like ultracote because it goes on easy. I always say easy on means easy off when it comes to ultracote, personally I try to stay away from it.