Don't let engines intimidate you. R/C engines are fairly simple to deal with, waaaaaaaay (did i mention, way?) easier to deal with than an automobile engine. Not even in the same ballpark...
Find a manual for your type engine, read it, and then put it on your test stand and fiddle with it until you get the hang of it. But whatever you do, don't let it intimidate you, it's really pretty easy to figure glow engines out. Once you get the hang of it you'll see how simple they really are.
Good luck!!