you are more than welcome to return to ask more questions or technical ones, the best advice is
not to follow examples shown in army survival manuals (the actual technique is very misleading),
copy Mr mears and you should be fine!
pre-made kits can be good but you may have all the componants in your garden or local area!
my entire kit cost me the price of a yard of cord! (50p?)
i took ages to learn now i can produce fire 99% of the time and i now teach it! any further questions i'd be happy to answer!
as a base board i use:
poplar
hazel
lime
as a drill i use:
Hazel
popar
My bow:
is ash and is about 60cm long
my cord is not paracord it's thicker!
My bearing block (pushing down):
i use flint stones with dish shapes in.
i use dry hay (from a pet store) it never fails
dry grass works just as well!
and these as tinder:
rosebay willow herb seeds
reed mace (bull rush) seed (the sausage looking bit!)
once you are set up it's a case of practice!
feel free to PM me for advice!