Stephen,
Welcome to the world of featherweights.
Im glad to see that you are planing to start with a nice simple featherweight pusher. So many people jump in at the deep end and try to build an evil spinner or somthing like that and end up getting totally put off the whole thing with the problems they encounter, not to mention risking life and limb becaus they dont truly understand the forces involved and end up building somthing which is in fact bloody unsafe!!
as far as facilities go, as Chris says, its what you have to hand. Both Scorpion and Scorpion Jr. were built in my team mates garden shed. With nothing more than a piller drill, welder, jig saw and a good selection of hand tools. We are lucky to have a friend with access to a full workshop for the odd bit of specialist machining we need.
As for finding out what you need to know, just come to this forum and ask the question, you have no idea of the amount of know how that exists on here and everyone is more than willing to help a new starter in any way they can.
As for costs.... Well, how long is the proverbial piece of string! One of the first, and most expencive items is a 40Mhz radio kit (100.00-200.00) But you only need to buy it once. A good place to start is http://www.technobots.co.ukwww.technobots.co.uk they have an exelent range of parts for all weights of robots and Paul Cooper is allways ready to give good advice. Chris is right about being able to build a feather for 50.00 it can be done! But to give you an example of the other end of the scale..Our new feather pusher, Pillow Torque, is using Astroflight motors and gearboxes from Team Wyachi in the US, Vantec speed controler, also from the US, CSM Pilot authority gyro, heavy duty high discharge NI-Cad battries, water cut Titanium armour,etc etc. and you dont want to know what that is costing to build!!
We will be at Bristol so come and find us and well be more than happy to show you round our machines and answer any questions you have.
Good luck,
Happy roboteering,
Geoff.