I learned how to do a control line plane when I was a kid, continued flying with bigger planes using 75' steel cable rather than 30' of string.
I was 30 something when I learned radio control flight and picked it right up, never had a buddy box. Built an Eagle II trainer, then bought me a cheap little car just to get the left and right orientation and get the feel for radio controls. I ended up putting that Eagle II right up and landing it the first time and attribute that from my childhood control line experience. I then had a 30yr absence from the hobby until just recently, the kids have grown up and i'm pulling all my stuff from the attic, just a couple weeks ago I actually flew that old Eagle with the os 40, old school radio and all, put her right up and now I'm jumpimg back in with both feet.
My advise to you would be to play on the ground with a cheap 50.00 car just to orient with left and right controls, drive the car out and turn back and drive towards yourself, set up a pylon obstacle course and practice till left and right become second nature, a cheap control line plane will also help you to learn how little movement it actually takes to get a reaction, as i said i learned control line and that is why it was so easy for me to radio control fly.