Here's a thought. Go to the local Walmart and buy on of those $10 foam gliders with the 5-6' wingspan. Then take the powerplant and equipment you mentioned in your original post and install it in the glider. Now you have a very economical trainer that you can learn to fly on. There are actually some articles posted on the net. Here's a humorous example:

http://home.rochester.rr.com/carlvogt/Planes.htm