Well guys about 40 years ago I bought a Kraft Gold radio setup and a early OS 60 R/C motor and a liniear Slow Comet. I read the papers that came with the gear and put them all together and had a friend that said I could use his crop dusters field and with out knowing anything about the R/C flying I started off.
I landed on top of the hanger into the side of it thru a pine tree and I dont remember how many times I landed in tomato vines, but I did learn on my own and had fun doing it. This plane would not land as long as the motor was running, I had to shut down the motor to land, It would stay about 4 to 6 ft off the run way till it ran out of gas.
But to get back to the song and dance,,, If you dont have someone to help you learn to fly you can do it on your own but if you have someone to teach you it will only take 5 to 10 flights to solo. Not 30 t0 40 plus all the repairs that you will have to do.. Here In Las Vegas I send newbies to the Silver Bowl flying field to see a guy called Bob and He will teach anyone to fly because its what he does with his time in retirement. and if you go to our North Las Vegas field I know of 4 or 5 guys that will teach anyone that is just starting out. One of the local Cubs are holding a training time for those guys that wont to learn to teach new flys to do it right.. With some of the new slow flyers on the market to you can teach your self to fly but it helps to have someone who knows how and when to do what when you need help.........