Hi Luther, My advice is always to start with the basics which means learn to shape and smooth by hand. Most people don't have a shop full of machines to start with and you can make most things with nothing more than a few basic hand tools.
These bumpers for example were made using hand tools only. There is a thread on here somewhere showing how I made them.
Even when you do have every machine available these skills are needed to make, fit and finish panels to a good standard
David