On second thought - Keep the first post for the "later after that" part.
In the midterm, get on a custom 1911 forum, and also on an "AR" forum (or four of each
). With all due respect, you're asking about working on the Harley-Davidson and Chevrolet the gun world. Everybody has one, the aftermarket is MASSIVE, and only limited by your wallet. Also trying to "Replicate" some of the pre-produced "bolt-ons", on your own without YEARS of ballistics (internal/external) and reloading experience, as with metallurgy and mechanical engineering experience, could result in a worse gun for more work. Jus' sayin.
Be wary of starting with a "Cheap" 1911, as although they all LOOK the same, they may not necessarily interchange ALL Parts. Or, you may be starting with a "Bad" base...look up "bubba'd FAL" systems, and HK91 platforms.
To get a good understanding of what guns do/how they REALLY work (I mean besides how a bolt moves and what it's job is), get a stripped AR lower, and just SCOUR the internet and all AR-forums for "How to" and "DIY" threads. Also, on the forums you joined, when you run into something google can't figure out, search the forum or ask if anyone's seen a thread about that topic before. It's better than asking the same question again, and honestly (forum people hate this), the "scapegoat Search Button" DOESN'T always do it's job right.
After that, start buying your parts for the lower individually, then either find an upper you like and buy it, or if you want the challenge, buy individual parts for the upper too. (custom charge handle, charge spring, bolt carrier, bolt head, bolt, pin, barrel, custom sights, gas tube, etc).
For the 1911, follow the same route. Honestly, I hope you have some $$$ to get into this, as the 1911 market is both VERY expensive, and filled with teeny clockwork-mousetrap parts. Plus, be ready for the occasional barrel that may not drop-in just "right", etc etc. Again, not all 1911 parts work together, much like the AR-15 system.
No offense, but many hardcore smiths, like in the car world, will not consider you a "smith" if you've parts-changed ("bolted-on") the hottest spiffy parts to your AR/1911 and it's "Unique". When you are chamber-reaming, crowning, doing completely custom drilling/tapping/lathing/bolting/stock-working type fabrications, that's the more "honest" definition of a gunsmith. Just a heads up on "title-usage".
Otherwise, Good Luck with this, and Welcome to the world of Customization!
-S