Choosing 40 pattern plane
SilverComet,
What is your choice of engine?
2-stroke, 4-stroke?
with tuned pipe/muffler or standard muffler that comes with engine?
Venus, Tai Ji, Zen are good. I personally don't like the style of Zen compared to TaiJi. It just look a little weird to me.
Creekhobbies' Quest is good, but is a 90 size.
Eric Henderson built and flown with YS 91AC initially. Then, replaced 91 with 140L (didn't have available 120 other than 120AC). He moved firewall back to accomodate Hydemounts.
I like the Quest, but it costs nearly $60 to ship the ARF kit to Idaho, so I gave up. No hobbyshops in my area carry those.
For low cost, I would go with Venus and minimum of 46FX.
if you can afford 4-stroke, go with YS 63 and minimum 20% nitro.
Good luck