bevel only works well WHEN scale is set to 1 , in obj mode hit ctrl+A set scale , after setting bevel hit F6 to bring up options (change size number of cuts ) this appears somewhere on T~panel but since we got tabs I have that turned off mostly [love my shortcuts lol ]

insert "i" key again works best when scale is 1 again hit F6 for options has quite a few

rotations can be a pain but lock to an axis hit x,y or z after rotate (shift x,y,z  allows rotate in 2 axis) 

know what you mean about made by dif peeps ;-)  but with all blender has to offer sims rigid bodies etc etc its an awful lot of fun  rofl

welcome to blenderverse have a sweetie