Welcome to the forum, and welcome back to this wonderful hobby, nostrdav ! We have quite a few things in common. I returned to the hobby 10 years ago, after building models in the 60s. My father was also in the USAAF, flying B-24s in North Africa, and P-51s in Italy. I currently live in Massachusetts.
The biggest changes in the hobby were the introduction of resin & photo etched parts. Kit accuracy & detail have also skyrocketed (along with the price !). And then there's Future (yes, the floor polish. An indispensible modeling tool today)
Peruse the techniques section, there is a lot of information there.
Have fun & enjoy the site !