Hello Ben, you say you are interested in eliminating sanding as much as possible,
you'll need scraping planes as well: http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp
And some Veritas planes are basically the same price as Lie-Nielson planes,
these are works of art in heavier bronze: http://www.lie-nielsen.com/ Veritas is
the better deal for the 112 scraper. Scrapers do the job of sanding.

Your choices numbered:

1. Lee Valley low angle block plane

My plan, or an old good condition Stanley 60 1/2 (more likely)

2. Lee Valley #5.25 bench plane

I suggest a 5 1/2 because the 5 1/4 and the 4 1/2 are too close in size.

3. Lee Valley #4.5 smoothing plane

Excellent choice

4. Lee Valley #6 foreplane (for jointing)

Too close to the 5 1/2, go with a 7 or 8.


Alex
"Inexperienced, but, studying my ass off on what to get"