RE: 1st Plane: Electric Trainer. THESE, or....
Balsa flies better. Foam crashes better. If you're not going to pursue instruction, you will crash alot. Probably enough to eventually destroy even a Super Cub. You might consider getting into a club and learning through their instructors on the balsa trainer you posted about above, then moving it to the park when you're ready. The time and money spent on that will make up for what you'll lose trying to do it youself.