Dilema...

[Warren Boudreau]

Welcome to FIRST.

I, personally, am very excited to see FIRST expanding into Israel.

With regards to your concerns, not to worry. You and your classmates seem to have a good starting foundation. The chassis work (cutting aluminum) is not that hard. Maybe just go with some welded square tubing or some extruded aluminum for your structures. Keep it simple, but don't be afraid to push the envelope a little. After all, you can't learn something new if you don't try new things.
Most of the background information you might need about motors, building techniques, and non-technical issues can be found either at the FIRST website or here on Chief Delphi. Don't be afraid to ask, we are all here because we want to help others benefit from our experiences.
Good luck.