Sorry to hear that. What in the world? Anyway, the 2 planes are probably pretty close in performance. Here's the second motor I put in the Spitfire, a Flash Hobby 3542 1250 ($21Amazon) w/ 10x5.5. I tried a 10x7 and noticed no improvement, so I went back the more less power hungry 5.5. I had a Leopard 3542 1200 kv, but it burned up. Not sure why, 60 amp esc. The magnets became unglued (postmortem), during flight while doing a loop, it made what appeared to be a contrail. I did another loop and it was even heavier, so I landed. It was smoked, stunk to high heavens. I had plenty of warning, the motor got noises several flights before this but performed well, so I figured I'd get running it until it blew.
I pretty much save my larger Spit for the club field for 4s flying now. The nearby location, I use the smaller ft Warbirds. I'll be going to larger planes w/ gear now that I have a field with a great landing strip. I'll be buying some planes and would imagine I'll be trying balsa at some point (like you have). I bought a Timber X (1.2) , on sale, great price and I've been practicing landing and take offs with that in preparation for buying a 1.2 or 1.5 meter warbird. Without the quality strip at the new flying field, I wouldn't being going this route. I love the way warbirds fly, I'm not a 3 D guy, just doesn't interest me (not sure why). The high wing flying doesn't do it for me either. I think I'm headed towards faster planes and at some point, I'm sure I'll get a jet. I also prefer the larger planes, I feel they fly better and are way easier to see and keep orientation.
I'm starting to have a plane problem, too many of them in the house and garage (but I still want more). I can't seem to throw away the ones that look great but were a bit disappointing as fliers (like the 42 inch Zero). I've got 8 active (w/ motor, esc and receiver) planes, six are FT/MS planes, and the other two are Timbers, UMX and X 1.2. I have probably another 8 bodies hanging around that could be flown.
To me, the MS Spitfire and FT Spitfire are by far the best flying FB planes I've built. They are fast, efficient and fly beautifully. The MS plane was very frustrating to build the first time, the second one was not. I knew what to expect and it went much better. Not easy, but not frustrating like the first build. For me, the frustration was due to all the work to get a section formed/shaped and put together perfectly, only to wrinkle it up trying to glue the sections together.
I'd build the MS Mustang too but my experience with belly landing the FT Mustang ( the air duct on the bottom) have not been good. I was going to ask you for pictures and more info on your landing gear (MS Spit). It looked really good (before you blew it all to hell).
Perhaps then I could build the Mustang w/ gear.
sorry, long post.