Hi Craig - perhaps the minimag - if you are trying to learn by yourself I wouldn't recommend the magistar - by all accounts a great aircraft but it is big - big means heavy, and heavy means potentially dangerous (well they all are, but as they get heavier... etc). The repairability of the multiplex planes is fantastic. Problem with minimag will come from puller prop setup - if you go in there is a fair chance you will damage the motor, or motor mount etc.

Have a think about the multiplex easystar - three channel, very controllable. She flys well on stock power with say 8.4-9.6v NiMH setup - so cheap. This plane will teach you most of what you need to know about flying three channel. If you want to you can even mod her for ailerons to make her 4 channel. Also a pusher setup, so when you nose her in you don't damage your motor. Good hint when you are building her is to put a third wire in place in case you want to upgrade to brushless later (they make a surprisingly good "hotliner" - although the speeds are nothing like the real things).

Trying to pick a good powerplant for the minimag is tricky - her stock one is inadequate, but you don't really have room for a gearbox so you are looking for an outrunner, but a narrow one with no external moving parts, you walk into the hobby shop, and before you know it walk out with something like a 2000-2800kv motor. Problem is you need a small prop and the plane flys fast - really really fast, but without much thrust - this is tricky to learn with as she is unforgiving if you loss too much energy, and because when she is straight and level she will probably cover ground faster than your brain can.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Cheers,
oz.