I need to get reinvigorated in this hobby since it's been close to a decade since I built a new aircraft. Here's what's in my hangar.

1) My first plane - good ol' Tower Trainer 40 w/OS .46. Nothing to write home about, but 10 years later my original ARF can still fly... not too shabby.

2) NotForSale - kit build... well, plans really. It's yellow with black trim so I call it my flying cheese-wedge. Aerobatic, yet tame, and able to land slowly which is important for my field since we're kinda boxed in by trees and such.

So now I'm looking for my #3. I'd like more oomph and "wow" factor. My radio will be a Futaba 7C. Using flaps/flaperons is a very big plus because my field kind of needs us to drop in rather than glide in on a long base/final leg.
It's got to be in the 40-60 size since it has to fit in my car to get to the field. It's got to be semi-3d capable, but not necessarily a vertical rocket. Here are my three main choices so far.

1) Tower Uproar / Dazzler - Hell it's cheap at < $90 for an ARF and it's got all the basics: thick airfoil, large control surfaces, etc. Haven't read anything about issues w/using flaperons.

2) Funtana 50 - Same as above with more 3d capabilities. It's no speed demon though from what I've read. I'd prefer a plane that can handle full-throttle level flight, not just while doing an elevator and heading towards the sky.

3) One design I love but won't choose - the GP Lancair ES. Oh damn does this plane look sweet! Great curves, not really aerobatic, but a slow landing speed for it's wing loading when flaps are used. I know, I know - no 3d with this plane. But jeez does that plane look HOT! I wish ever plane had smooth curves like this one.

Anyway I would definitely appreciate any suggestions that you guys can offer. Thanks for the help and hopefully soon I'll get something that can get my heart racing again!

I had a 60 Uproar, I hated it, Hugh airplane, no room inside.

Morris Hobbies .46 BalsaNova is a great flier, MH is out of them, but I've sent them for sale still $149 ARF.

My recommendation for plane #3 is for the plane to be better than the first two. If it's 3d you want, I guess it can be the same as the first two. I guess you could get yourself a 60 size Extra or Edge.

I say buy a Carrier A/C and that will keep you very cool in the summer.

Just kidding,

Gibbs

You may want to stay away from the Dazzler since you're pressed for space in your car, the wing glues into the fuselage and is not removable. Its a cool little plane otherwise.

U Can Do 3D are great fliers. I'm not sure the sizes on them, I've never flown one, but they make the 'less than good pilots' look good.

For plane number three I would recommend the Hanger 9 Ultra Stick 60 size with a Saito 100 4 stroke engine. You'll love this set up. Not the best 3D plane by any means but pretty tough and super easy to fly. A good pilot can hover this plane and it will do nice rolling circles and many aerobatics. These are great planes. I still fly my 120 size quite a bit and I'm on about plane number 25. The 60 size is big enough to handle a bit of wind and with the Saito 100 it will be spirited enough to keep your interest for a good while.

Thanks
Barry

Free advice...so take it for what it is worth.

Dazler....It is a one piece plane. So you had better have room for it. I bought one off of the ceiling and almost didn't get it home. It flew fine, rolled like the devil. I would not own another one however.

Funtana 50 seems like a good plane.

I like the UCanDo planes a bunch, but they have problems in full throttle level flight and overspeeding. I own 12 planes and three helis and the UCD is the plane that gets the most flight time. I would buy another.

Other options:
1. Sticks are always cool. I like the GP stick 60 with an OS.91 4stroke personally.

I think you're long overdue for an OMP Katana 46 profile or the Sig Somethin Extra. They both have take off wings. Check the URL for OMP's other planes besides the Katana. Easy to fly tight and slow to improve your aerobatic skills. Best style for the fields short approach. Any pilot worth his salt has at least one profile; be careful though, they tend to reproduce.

http://ohiomodelplanes.com/models/
http://ohiomodelplanes.com/48katanaarf/

The Dazzler is a great little plane. I've had one for years. It's no speed demon but it's not designed for that. It handles flaperons just fine. It will do most basic 3D stuff with increased throws and is docile if set up with low rates. It's an interesting inexpensive plane. A ball bearing .40 will give it great performance and a .46 is really more than it needs. It may not be a perfect 3rd plane but it's fun to fly.

Are you wanting to stay inthe cheap sport plane area or move up. Right now it looks like your going nowhere and what I have seen suggested here so far is to just save your money.

How about an H-9 Twist. Either the .40 or .60 size ? You can shoe horn an .80 4 stroke into the .40 size and have a bomb. Buy two though, they don't last long that way...

Thanks to everyone that gave me advice. It came down to a Funtana or a UCD 3D. I think everyone could agree that any plane suggested in these 3d forums would be a great contender and would be worth the money and construction time. It's almost superficial to say that the Funtana won based on looks but I just don't like the nose on the UCD 3D. It reminds me of an old A7 Corsair or F8 Crusader -- you know with the jet intake up to the nose? I'm not knocking the people that flew any plane like this, but that particular look on an aircraft just doesn't do it for me, and the UCD 3D has shades of that in its nose. I like the nose of an aircraft to be a point and not a flat block.

Anyway, the Funtana and my extra receiver and servos should be here in a few days so with some luck by the end of the month I should have everything together. I'm just going to use my OS .46 until I get used to the plane and then if 3d flight strikes my fancy I can justify a nice Saito 4-stroke up front. At least this way if I dumb-thumb the plane to the ground while learning it won't take a new $200 engine with it.

Love my funtana x 50, it is a great looking plane
Yes its not a speed demon but its like flying a trainer that can loop, roll, ke, at a nice and easy speed. It is just so much fun. I am running a 13-4 and am planning on trying a 14-4 on an os fl 70. Hover is 65% at the moment with pretty good pull out.