RE: Pattern start
I hear you. I'm an old fogey, and I still have my dreams of models I'd like to build and fly. In the meantime, I build and fly within my means, and have as good a time as when I was flying U-control, back when I was your age. Radio control was primitive then, and nobody at our field knew anything about it. I'm still learning, still trying out new things. The more you stretch for the hobby now, the further it will take you over the years. If I'd had a Widebody 40 to build and fly at fifteen... that would have been terrific. Do what you can. The time and money and learning will come, but you have to chip away at it. I must say it's good to see young people with serious interests.
In the meantime, keep looking for a mentor. I haven't met a pattern flyer yet that didn't want to help get a new recruit into the air.