Thank you for the links!
I definitely agree with you about a cruiser being a good choice for a first build. I have really been looking at the torpedo cruisers as many of them are very fast and pack a lot of punch with the torps. From what I've read them seem to be a relatively easy/cheap first build and a good place for one to start. I've been looking mostly for ones that I can get a prefab hull for. I am strongly considering the Mogami at this point, just found a guy putting out the fiberglass hulls.
As for the Spahkreuzer, seems to me that it is almost mis-labeled as a Destroyer as it is quite a bit bigger than most. It's quite a bit larger than the Z class or Capitani, and almost as big as many of the cruisers I have been looking at. Here is a link to a great video of one in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSU8nQ7o0u4
Thanks again for the reply!