im 14 and i manage :P. IF there are any local events ion the horizon try and get your parents interested, its a fun day out evne if your parents dont like the robot bit much . Or try and find some roboteers near you and ask if you can visit them and have a look at there bots, you really need to see a combat robot in the flesh before you start building or you start designing it with goals not suited to a good combat robot, my first bit was un upturned inbox with mdf duct taped to it !!!