That is why you can't put enough emphasis on a good local hobby shop. Or doing research on a great forum like this ???
I didn't find forums until the 3rd or 4th year into the hobby... and my hobbyshop was an outright crook. I didn't buy anything online at the time (20 years ago), so that place was my only source of information and things to buy.
Was the dark days of the hobby for me... lol! But I persevered!