Your warbird won't look like a warbird for very long if you try to learn on it. And, I don't think you will find any instructors that are going to teach you how to fly without starting with a trainer plane. You might find one that will teach you on a plane like a 4*, mid star or eacy sport.

Most of us started witht he same goals as you which are to fly our favorite warbird or aerobatic plane, but we soon realized that learning to fly on one of these planes only leads to disaster. When you learn to fly full scale, is the first plane you fly a F16, or P51 mustang? No, you start on a Cessna or similar plane that has a high wing and stable flying characteristics.

One other thing to think about is that without some building experience, that warbird is not going to come out as well as it would if you have a few builds under your belt.

Also, you trainer can later be converted into a great payload carrying plane. You can drop bombs (fake) or mount a camera on it or find other uses.

Finally, just swallow your pride and buy a trainer, everyone else has been there too and no one will look down on you. But if you show up at the field with a warbird and expect to fly it without any experience they are going to say the same thing that is being said on this board.