I think one of the best maneuvers to practice to quickly get up to 3D speed is the high alpha knife edge. Keep practicing them until you get them right. Do them in both directions and with the belly towards you and away from you. When you can control the KE the length of your runway in either direction or either orintation, you'll do much better at hover and waterfall, blender, etc. It teaches you how to control the rudder. That's the most important deflection in 3D. It'll help with all your flyig.

Sit back, practice and enjoy the time. Be patient and don't try to go too fast. You'll get there and you'll have fun doing it. My favorite maneuver is the inverted rising flat spin. COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. Trouble is only a very few planes will do it. U-Can-Do is one of the best. Mayhem is there also. Twist will do it and maybe a few others.

Good luck.

thanks
Barry