back again

Hi!

I want to start modeling again but want to do it right. When i was a kid i built all kinds of military models but never built them with any skill. i want to build display quality models for my home.  I served on the uss saipan lha2 and want to someday build this model. i noticed some versions built by modelers dont seem to get the flight deck painted to the right hue. It was called non-stick, like a liquid asphalt which you never wanted to fall on and get some serious road rash. When newly painted it was a dark black like street asphalt. i have some nice photos on the flight deck with ch46s, ch52s, and cobras on board in my photo album.
So i thought that this could help me with my research and help me with painting them.  As a novice, i want a nice ship model to build but wont be out of my league.  Also, it seems that there is a lot to learn, like photo etching, rigging seems to be challenging, also i never modified a kit with styrene and other material. how do i learn these skills?Any good beginners books out there?  Is rigging as hard as it seems? it does seem to add a realistic detail to any model. i tried it about 10 years ago on the revel arizona using stretched sprue. i also added the pennetts which in retrospect seems childish in the method i used. i hung them from bow to foward tripod. Well anyways, i open for any suggestions from you old hands. Thanks for any feedback.