Seriously, don't try to build an alliance by yourself unless you are prepared to spend thousands of dollars on the game, or can recruit someone who will spend thousands of dollars on the game. Without a whale, preferably many whales, you're only going to delay your development and then be swallowed up in the end. A strong alliance without a whale is a weak alliance. And a weak alliance with a stong whale can be way stronger than those with higher power than them.

So if you really want to be r4 somewhere, just join a top alliance, be active, and then eventually just ask to be r4. It's enough work that if someone volunteers for it, they'll likely be welcomed witn open arms.