I was already thinking of using a pitchable blade as you mentioned, something like four tail rotor blades on either side and have the control running up the center of the motor. I have an example of this in a heli world magazine that I havent thought of reading untill now, I will try to scan it and put it up.
I also know a bit about making circuitry etc so that shouldn't be a problem. First I will start with some molds and testing the lift ability of motors and blades to base the size of the model around that but at the moment I think it will be almost a meter long.