As for building the kit. Try an Ace simple seires or a Guillows kit that you can find at a local shop for Less than $25. That will give you a good basis of learning to build. Most of those kits can be rubber powered or electric powered and you can even do the radio control bit on them when you get the money and time. But the learning curve will go way down and you will have a good idea of what you are getting into. Also, hang out at the local field and when someone crashes ask them if they are going to fix it. If they say no ask them for the plane. Take it home and try to fix it. You will learn a lot and get a plane out of it. I have seen Bannanas and lawnmowers fly. Either method will teach you a lot. The cosair in the photo is a Ace simple series that is full electric now. Using a Hacker brushless motor and ESC it flies great. Can also be made into a slope soarer if you want.