Most clubs have a more formalized training schedule where you are all but guaranteed hands on training time.

Ours does this from 8:30 to 11:30 every other Saturday when the weather is good.

We have several instructors and at least one or two people who do nothing more than help people tune, setup and check out their planes and engines.

In attendance is also a co-ordinator for the whole event.

This is done entirely on a volunteer basis.

You should seek to use the formal training periods, instead of that provided on a more informal basis by individual members.

At our club, if you don't like how a particular instructor does things, you can simply walk over to another during the training sessions.

The plane that was recommended to you, the Nexstar is a perfectly capable trainer. No one did you a disservice by recommending it to you, though it sounds like you needed some help, which you did not get.

-

Neither of the planes you mentioned are good "beginners" park flyers, though they may be more suitable for someone beyond the beginner's stage.

They lack the forgiving and self righting characteristics needed for first planes.... something that your Nexstar does have.

Find yourself the formal training classes, show up with your Nexstar, and tell the trainers about the problems you have had with it.

Most club members are happy to help out novices, that is if the novice does not act as if this aid is something they "expect" for showing up.