This won't help you, but maybe other newbies...

BEFORE you purchase any equipment or invest any time building or working on a plane, figure out how you are going to learn to fly. Learning to fly is a non-trivial task for most people, taking an average of 60 flights. From what you know about the club you're considering, how long will it take to work in those flights? My club has a very good flight training program, but a newbie is probably only going to get 1 or 2 flights every two weeks. Do the math, how long is it going to take to learn to fly if you show up early for *every* training session?

To rsieminski: Just because someone doesn't offer to help someone fly their plane does not make them a jerk. Flying somebody else's plane is a big responsibility, and many of us aren't qualified to do it. I'm not qualified to get someone into a locked car without damaging the car either! I've seen many "helpful" folks crash beginners planes, and not offer so much as an apology. Personally, I'd prefer to wait than have a so-called helpful person crash my plane because they aren't qualified to instruct.