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Using a somewhat similar chord progression is not what I would call plagiarism.

You don't need a double bar at every time signature change, but it is common to use them when you arrive at a new, steady tempo. Keep in mind that timpanists are not usually grouped with the other percussionists. If you are asked to write for 3 percussionists it might mean timp. + 3 percussionists. You will want to have only one part for each player on the score (not one staff for each instrument you use) BUT... when you make parts for the performers, percussion 1 and 2 (or however many you have) get extracted together into one part (timpani gets its own separate part). So each percussionist will see the other percussion staves on their part, not counting timpani. That's what I would use, assuming you mean the big ones that you hold out in front of you. Pictographic notation is not necessary. Do you know how to format the score? Are you in the U.S.? If you are, score size is 11x17 and part sizes are at least 9x12. If this is a more casual thing, it's probably ok to make everything 8.5x11 (as long as the score's not too scrunched). Not sure about other countries... And I just realized you're in the UK. Maybe this size info will help someone else, then. Ask if you have any other questions.