Most .40 size electrics planes are either converted from nitro or built lighter and more fragile
than a nitro plane. With that size plane and type of build a crash is a crash nitro or electric.

I think you should stick with small foam planes that are cheap and easily replaced or rebuilt.
and get as much sim time as you can get. Regardless of what others say the sim is an excellent
tool that will help you with the "control reversal" and build muscle memory. Just remember that
if you use a Sim like a video game it won't do anything for you. You should use the virtual flight
instructors if the sim has them, then come up with goals.