What I do is, I take off, Climb to 14,000 metres at a heading of 90 degrees, With my nose pointed around 50 or 60 degrees upwards, Once my effiency levels get below 0.20 I activate the Rocket engines and deactivate the atmosphereic engines, I get my Apoapis to up around 120,000 and then make my orbit more circular. As for the fuel and take off problems, See the 'diagram attached'