Hi,
** Disclaimer **
I am definitely no expert!
But here's my honest opinion, I'm sure those more versed than me can elaborate better.
**End Disclaimer**
Modelling software kind of comes down to personal preference but I love fusion360. I tried a few before settling on that.
Don't skimp on your soldering equipment, buy the best digital controlled station you can afford, it will save hours of frustration.
Flux is your friend (but clean it off afterwards, even the "no clean" stuff)
Lead free solder is (for me) the stuff of the devil and should be avoided!
Desoldering wick and pumps are life savers.
Solder fumes are bad for you, and extraction or proper ventilation is important.
Isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush/cottonbuds/cocktail sticks for cleaning.
A hot air rework station is a luxury but makes removal of delicate smd parts a lot easier, can also use it to reflow custom boards.
Get a decent multimeter and set of test leads, probes, clips etc. Learn how to use it correctly.
Magnification helps even the youngest of eyes, someone once told me "if it looks good at 10-20 times magnification it will look amazing to the naked eye, but more importantly it will be sound work", and those are very true words!
As for PCB design, to truly master that you must have a solid foundation in electronics.
Whilst it's possible to just follow a schematic and place components in the software, if you don't understand why you are doing it, or how/why it works then things can get difficult fast.
I suggest getting the basics down, depending on how much time you have to dedicate to this you could take a class, or get some good books, there's lots of good beginner theory and practical content on the net, google is your friend (other search engines are available).
Instinctively knowing where to wire things on a board with no schematic, sort of comes down to reverse engineering. This takes some solid skills and a strong background in electronics, it's one thing to be able to read a schematic, it's another to conjure the schematic from the board you're staring at and probing with a meter/scope.
Please do not let my ramblings dissuade you, they are not intended to. A thirst for knowledge is a valuable asset, time and patience are your allies. The age old saying is true, you get out what you put in.
The best way to learn is to do it, make mistakes, learn from the mistakes and grow your knowledge.
Don't be afraid to ask questions, we are all still learning and "there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers".
Welcome, I wish you the very best of luck for your adventures!
