There's only one way to get experience, and reading about it won't get you there. As suggested, get a simpler model that's a proven design, and learn. There' so much you can learn by just building a trainer style model with about a .60" wing span... and your engine would even work in that.

What we're trying to tell you comes from experience. You're talking to experience right here in this thread. You can continue to ponder all of it, and keep trying to decide what kind of material to use, etc.. etc.. but when you actually build a model and fly it, therein lies some experience, and grow from that. Burt Ratan started with simple small designs of everything, even paper airplanes, then developed it from there.

If as you say you lack alot of experience is modeling and construction, buy a Sig Kadet and build that kit step by step, per instructions exactly and read every word... that's where you will read and learn and apply. Those types of kits all have great techniques and ideas, all you have to do is build a few to find out. That would even give you timelines of certain aspects of construction. At this point you have no clue how long it even takes different glues to dry.

Just build a plane, there's always something to learn. If you were to build a plane, you'd have something to get some flying experience as well. If you can successfully take a fully proven designed kit and build it, then get some instruction and fly it, you would know the degree of difficulty you're up against.. I can safely say myself and the other gentleman posting here probably know very well what you're up against, so I would advise you to heed the advice we're offering. It's good stuff.

I've built dozens of kits of different sorts, and I've said for years if a person really wants to learn about the finer aspects of building and construction, buy and build a kit from 5 different manufacturers, and pay close attention to the techniques each manufacturer/designer instructs the builder to do. If you did something like that, you'll end up with a small library in your heads of great techniques, and be on your way to aerospace engineering. If building kits sounds like it takes too long, you might be in the wrong class, because it takes what it takes. The end result is the goal, not how long it takes to get there.

PS... We're well aware of the original design being a VTOL... That's part of how we know what your facing. It's not a hill, It's a wall... get ready to climb if you want to get to the top. Good luck.