my hope too is to produce a working model to a decent standard, while I might be able to do a lot of it with minimal outlay, things like prop shafts, rudders and radio gear would, I think be the biggest expenses, this is why my test model is being made from cardboard, once I start to build for real the raw materials will be from what I have lying around, using tools I already have, much as I would love a bandsaw to cut planks, I can see they might well be cut using a circular saw converted to a table saw (somehow), motors and batteries I have, the rest, well, I'll start saving now.
Grendel