QF306 -

Heheheheh...don't you love this place. You never have to worry about people never getting you their thoughts.

Funny you mention the whole photography thing. I actually hollowed out the center portion of my PZ T-28 foamy and placed a Cannon Elph in there for aerial video. It worked out awesome (granted you're looking down all the time...but hey, it was a start!) I even Velcro'd the same camera to the side of a Super Cub (of all planes) and did the same. Ok, ok...Sounds like you have your heart set on the Mentor, and who could blame you - it rocks! My suggestion would be this:

Get your bird, build it, and make a good friend at the club you belong to and ask them to tandem with you until you get your 'thumbs'. Of course they have to be experienced... If you're willing to take the time you will be very very very happy with your purchase. The size of the Mentor will definitely give you what you're looking for and all of the guts of the plane (motor, batteries, servos, etc.) are a good investment for going into electrics.

If you're willing to learn with someone (i.e. tandem) you'll be fine with your Mentor. Heck, I taught my girlfriend to fly with a [link=http://www.multiplexusa.com/models/kits/acromaster_.php]Multiplex AcroMaster[/link] - and her first solo was on it!

OH bigedmustafa - reason i mentioned not going with the Mentor is its durability from a beginners standpoint - IF learning on it solo. In my opinion, fixing a foam flier from a bad incident is much easier then fixing a wood/balsa model. Especially when we all know what it's like to be a beginner - you don't want to be fixing all the time, you want to be flying.