My approach to this sort of problem probably is different to some other people's, so take the following for what little it's worth.
You probably could get a fine result with virtually any kind of modern hobby paint by using an airbrush. It might take a couple of coats, but modern paints are remarkably good at covering up even strongly contrasting base colors. I personally, though, have always thought the finish created by an airbrush is out of place on a sailing ship. (Stand by for arguments.) I've got an airbrush, but I rarely if ever use it for that type of model.
My guess is that, with my own favorite brand, Polly-Scale, you probably could get a nice brushed finish with some patience. I think my approach, though, would be to start out by shooting the parts with a flat, light grey enamel out of an aerosal can (e.g., Testor's) as a primer, letting it dry thoroughly, and then using Polly-Scale for the brushed finish coat. That approach gives you the best of two worlds.
For the actual brushing job I'd use a flat, synthetic-hair brush, of the greatest possible width. I found out long ago that the best place to buy brushes for ship modeling is not a hobby shop but an art supply store. Companies like Grumbacher and Windsor and Newton make superb brushes in a tremendous variety of shapes and sizes, generally at lower prices than the ones in the hobby shops. I particularly like the synthetic ones - either the white or gold type.
Hope this helps.
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