RE: Any positive tips on self teaching on .40 trainer
With those types of questions, I would definitley say get some help.
Do a search here for teaching yourself, or something along those lines. You'll see that help would be helpful.
#1 you were 15 and in a rush to build the plane. Did you have experience, or help building it? How do you know it was built properly.
The rudder should turn the plane at any speed as long as it's connected properly, ie. to the front or rear wheel.