Casey, first and foremost thank you for your service and welcome back to the forum

Yes your plan certainly "sounds doable" as you put it and even practical if you are willing to find the right mentor at the field or elsewhere and to work with a buddy cord system. The Sig Four Stars are delightful airplanes and also functional as first trainers if one is working with a competent mentor.

Now a quick word about trainer systems. There are some radio systems out the that are cordless (that's right no cord) Now that may not sound like a big deal but rest assured it a big deal. I not about to try to explain the subtle effects this has on the students but here at our field where four of us use nothing but cordless systems, there is a noticeable improvement in the learning and a shortening of time required.

Now as far as that Saito , Hmm could not have picked a better time now there is definitely more folks tending towar electric and some gassers. It a good time to look for the gem that you remember and the best places to look for it is not ebay or the forums but your own local club or nearby clubs actions or swap meets Never a better time than to be bargain hunting for glow stuff.

Good Luck

John