Hi Rich! Welcome to the Forums! Glad to have you with us.
You have come to the right place. The members here are very knowledgeable and ready to help with any questions/problems. We've all been there at one point so we know where you're coming from. You're going to get a lot of different answers to your questions. They are all what is good for the member who answered the question. Listen to all of them and then you can pick the reply that you feel is right for you. I don't think I have ever heard a bad answer since I've been here. Example:- one uses one type of paint, someone else uses another. One uses a particular type of sprue cutter, someone else uses another. Take your pick.
I've been building since 1946 (6 years old). You name it and I've probably built it. WWI & WWII planes are 1st on my list followed bySailing Ships as you can see from my avatar. Then comes everything else if it strikes my fancy and my wallet says OK. I enter contests once in a while and have won a few but I always come out ahead because I have met new friends and learned a lot from them. I also restore models for a WWII museum.
Well, have a few sips of your favorite beverage, sit back, relax and build away. OH, almost forgot, post pics of your builds or post WIP's (Works In Progress). That really makes the members happy.
Jim 
Stay Safe.
Main WIP:
On the Bench: Artesania Latina (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II
I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.