i'm self taught also. two channel ace wizard with a cox golden bee borrowed off a u-control threw the plane. crash. fix. throw the plane. crash. fix. throw the plane,. it climbed slowly!! trimmed rudder, now it was going straight too! gave small "blips" of rudder to fly big circles. SUCCESS! that was about 1977 or 78. it can be done. instructor would have been easier. didn't know of any clubs back then. used the looking over the shoulder trick when it was coming towards me. have taught others that trick too! not all like it. trim it to fly itself, then interupt it's flight path with small blips of control. flown full scale too. everything but the checkride before running out of cash.
have fun. buy lots of glue. don't get discouraged. i still keep a garbage bag with me for the toothpicks, or rekits. i've had plenty of planes. crashed dang near all of them. flying the edge. if i ain't pushing myself, i ain't hav'in fun.
good luck!