I have to agree with Aero-Mark. The EasyGlider has the classic looks of the sailplanes we all fly. The Easystar, which I personally think looks ugly, has an advantage in that rear-mounted motor and prop will survive beginner crashes better than a front-mount.
I really like the idea of a wing with the EPP leading edge for survivability, and everything behind the spar being EPS Styrofoam for light weight and smoother airfoil contour. I have a discus-launched boomer HLG that's designed this way. Being a flying wing, weight behind the Cg is extra-critical anyway, but this combo construction makes a sturdy, well-performing flat bottom wing that's less heavy and floppy than an all-EPP one. Yet is as easy to fix.
I used to have the Renaud book and plans for the Oly 650, and yes it was a great plane in it's day, and might still make a good second plane/first actual build for a youngster after he's trained up on a foamie ARF. One of my best glider experiences were with three all-Styrofoam Hobby Shack Spirit of 76 2-meter planes. These were dirt cheap to buy and assemble, and were forgiving and rugged. Looked good while flying too, like a real sailplane of the 70's era. Came with an all-flying h-stab. I could spend many happy hours out there with the plane, a histart, some UFO and kicker or 5-minute epoxy and cloth, and there was no crash I couldn't field-repair in 15 minutes or less...I mostly only got launching and landing practice on them, but not because the plane was bad, it was because I was completely self-taught and thermalling skills were nowhere to be bought. I understand Hobby Shack (now Hobby-People) was making a modern version of the Spirit of 76 out of EPP just a year or two back, but they never seem to mention it in the catalogs or anywhere any more...
