if i could go back when i first bought my revo, and this may be different then you, when you buy the kit i would also buy a good amount of extra spur gears pipe couplers, glow plugs and a engine mount. nothing like just getting your kit and then having to wait a week for new spur gears to come...
i can totally relate to you OP about wanting a self build kit i wanted the same when i was shopping around. what i did with my revo was took it out of the box charged the ez start and rx batt. did my break in and then completely took it apart and then back together just to get to know the truck...
i myself just picked up a revo about a month ago, I've had my woes with it but kinda comes with nitro. it has great ground clearance parts are easy to find and you can upgrade/replace EVERYTHING on it down to the screws. as far as being able to build it, you will jsut learn as you break and...