For someone that doesn't have a lot of mechanical skill I usually suggest that they expect about 4 hours for an RTF, 20 to 30 hours for an ARF, and at least 200 hours for a kit.

Sims are a great learning tool, BUT they only teach you how to work the controls. The better the Sim, the better prepared you'll be for the first flight.

Top of the line are the AeroFly Pro (at about $140) and the Great Planes Real Flight G2 (at about $200).
Next on the list would be Real Flight Lite.
Bottom of the list are the rest. (FMS falls into this category, but it's free.)

Some of the things the Sim won't teach you are;
how to trim your plane so it isn't always trying to crash;
how to set up your engine and fuel system;
start the engine, break in the engine, tune the engine;
safety procedures to keep the prop from chewing off fingers;
how to actually fly; (Do a loop, or a roll, or a stall turn, or an Immelman, or a Cuban Eight, or a Spin, AND do them right.)
a hundred other little things that you can really only learn from otherr live human beings (and future friends).

Good luck,
Dennis-