sounds like a plan and i would love that workshop. but as far as building from a scale kit first then scratch building, there is no such thing as a scale kit that I know of in the plane kits. the only thing a scale kit is is a fairly scaled outline type plane and still does not have all the little goodies in it and you still have to construct them. Also like i show below you can go scratch built plans but they sell the wood kits for them so you dont have to cut them out. so even though you buy just the plans for the plane you want in these days most plans have kits custom cut for them. It gives you a bigger choice on designs this way rather than trying to adjust a kit manufacturer not quite scale scale kit

If you are serious and want a very good scale kit with plenty of support, construction photos, ease of construction, and can get help anywhere you ask a question then I would suggest getting started with something by Nick Ziroli http://www.ziroliplans.com/home_frameset.html
There is his website addy. The reason is because I have built 6 of his designs and am working on my 7th his 118" B-25. his website has construction fotos and a forum for help. he has more online sources for building help than any other builder. I am a professional builder and have seen many different designers plans and would say his are the easiest to build because of all the support available and the documentation on the plans.
Also there are kit cutters out there that cut kits for him that are excellent. Precision kit cutters is the best of them all http://www.precisioncutkits.com/ Nick also sells a lot of scale goodies also. an average laser cut kit for one of nicks planes from precision is around $500 and has all the wood necessary to build the kit and sometimes even a lot of the little hardware pieces.

I dont think you will be dissapointed. if ya have any more questions you can email me at [email protected]

Joe