RE: SIG LT40 or Telemaster 40 for first kit?
The Telemaster is a tail dragger and the LT40 is normally a tricycle (nosewheel) airplane. However it is very easy to convert the LT 40 to to tail wheel.
When both plane are tail draggers the fly very much the same. I had a LT40 ARF ever since they came out some 10 years ago. A friend had a Telemaster 40 with a Saito 50. It was a sweetheart to fly as is my LT40.