any suggestions for a big slow plane1/2a or bigger

Not much in 1/2A flies very well slow. By nature they need speed. But they are cheaper to destroy while learning. Easier to repair too. You can start with a slat winged trainer. Lots of people recommend a Li'l Wizard, but I think something with a wider wing chord is much more stable. I like the Stuntman 23 as a trainer. Pretty big for 1/2A, slower and tough as a brick except for the rear fuselage. That's what CA glue is in your flight box for. It flies very well with a Black Widow. Or a Tee Dee .049 if you build it as a beam mount, but all that is more trouble for a beginner and much faster too.

Right here: http://brodak.com/control-line-kits/brodak/1-2a-stunt-man-beam-or-firewall-mount-by-brodak.html

The 1/2a Sig Skyray can fly unbelievably slow. I actually outran my dad flying his. Fit it with a hotter engine and it can stunt very well. It is a little fragile, but very easy to fix and build.

Rolla

Edit: Did I mention that it is cheap?

I can tell you what not to build as a trainer

The 1/2A Skyray is a good choice. I am fond of the Li'l Wizard as a trainer, but I agree with Rusty as it gets boring after you master level flight.

I even heard the Baby Flight Streak was a good trainer. Just do a radial mount and fly it with a Babe Bee.

I have also been told to go .35 size and work down to 1/2A. I didn't do that, but I now understand why.

In the end your best bet would be to buy a kit that is easily rebuildable and not too complicated as it's gonna get broken. I find that a Babe Bee with a 6x3 slows things down enough to be manageable. I posted a video of my son Flying a Li'l Wizard with the Babe Bee and 6x3 combo so you can get an idea of the speed.

Ron

My vote goes to a SIG Skyray. It is easily repairable and the controls are externaland adjustable. Start with a setup for minimum control until you can fly level then increase to do maneuvers as you progress.

Power should be a Black Widow or Golden Bee. Tanked engine makes things much simpler for a beginner.

George

They make a Flite Streak Trainer, one step down from the Baby Ron mentioned. A Baby FS is a heck of a complex build for a trainer.

Also the info on the link to the Stuntman 23 is wrong. The wingspan is 23 inches, not 15-1/4 in.

Brodak Page wrote:Wing Span: 15-1/4 in.
Plane Length: 12 in.
Wing Area: 82 sq. in.
Engine: .049

I never noticed that Rusty. Goldberg was good about using the wingspan length as a decal on the wing. Heck the Swordsman is 18" so 15 1/4 is a big typo.

Ron