Take out the slow-V after you have some simulator time, FMS is a good free one, there are more expensive ones that are better trainers, but if you can fly it in the sim, chances are you should be able to fly it in the field "slow-v/stick". It sounds like you are overcontrolling the plane, you just want to nudge it along, make short, slight corrections and get some altitude before messing with the trim, and again, baby the trim until it fly's by itself.

The toy's are actually harder to fly due to their size, air reacts differently on micro size planes compared to when you get into the 3-4' + size planes. With your first flights, never fly in any kind of wind, you have enough to contend with just keeping the plane under control. Along crashing, you will crash in the early days, you will crash after being an expert pilot, it's something that just is going to happen so might as well embrace it. I tend to crash some times when I'm doing something the plane is not designed for, or if it's a design I created that's pushing my skills forward. I like flying easy planes some days, other's, I want to be on the edge of the seat and white knuckle it through the air just for the challenge and adrenelean rush.