Damn crash - what font are you using? Need ctrl-+ 5 times. Eyesight must be goin' ...
Em, strictly from a "build technique" - if you're interested in stick assembly - SIG's Kadet Senior can be really bashed. Tool inventory is pretty simple. Want a Bipe? Low wing? Sea plane? The Senior build threads provide a lot of kindling for creative planes. I built one, sanded every piece on all sides so that it would look good with transparent covering. I doweled butt joints for the details and strength. Dado joints instead of butt joints. Took 2nd place in our club's build competition. If it's all about the "build", a stick build is fun. One of our club's best builders focuses strictly on this type of build though he has a fantastic scale Stuka hanging from his hobby shop's ceiling.
Former, doubled sides, laser cut lite ply, then any of the popular kits work fine. Planes like the SIG 4Stars "snap" together for a fairly straight wing and fuse. Much less cutting and fitting. Likely not a candidate for transparent covering to show off the "guts". Makes for a great 1st build though.
Another very popular build is a SIG Somethin' Extra (SSE) - they love the 46 AX, 55 AX, etc.. Great candidate for some pretty creative builds. Probably more SSE bashed build threads on RCU than any other single plane. Build it simple to the plans or get as creative as you want. Roll rate of 720 degrees a second are a no brainer. Add some composite techniques? Modify the size of the controls? Creative cowls? Great fun just doing the research, planning the build, then DO A THREAD! Quite a few "arm chair" builders that love to follow along, contribute & offer suggestions as you share your experience.
Yea, I have a SSE kit on the shelf that's just waiting ...
Whatever you build, please share. Good luck. Someone much more successful than me said "the devil's in the details" - he must have been thinking a about kit building.
Another thought - if you are looking to gain structural knowledge about the planes that you fly (and will likely need repair) look at your favorite flying plane and then pick a kit that has a similar structure.