I was totally down with the whole Knights of the Nine, epic crusader thing and had little trouble dreaming up a perfect character that felt right at home doing thiat quest line in Oblivion.

But I'm just a bit unsure about what is an ideal type of character to start and embark on the path of Dragonborn, Dragon killer, and whatever epic title eventually comes from that.

I'm leaning: Male blond Nord, handsome in a rough-hewn kinda way, but iwith some scarring.
Background and links to NPCs: not sure. tending to imagine him as connected to a family in the Riverwood or Whiterun area, but maybe not?

Can use Arthmoors alternate start or not as needed.

Character path: I'm leaning one-handed sword swinger (maybe axe?) and shield.

Its the light vs heavy armor that throws me off. The best light armors are elven, but Nords tend to wear light armor right? On the other hand, many of the Dovakhin toons you see in videos and promotionals seem to be heavy iron wearers.

He'll lean toward strict neutrality about the civil war and be focused on taking care of the dragons, maybe even a bit annoyed that the Cloaks and Legionairs are not helping him and banding together to fight dragons. But maybe down the line he'll decide to take sides with one or the other.

I think I want to use the alternate start mod and have him start someplace new and spend some time getting to know the locals and leveling up smithing and merchantile maybe a bit of armor, sword and shield skills.

apart from shouts would one of these buys use spells or alchemy or just food?

I don't know about the neutrality, "True Son of Skyrim" just screams Stormcloak to me in my head.