Welcome to the herd!

I'll offer this tip, too.  I'd avoid brush-painting, at least for the broad areas of color, like wing and fuselage surfaces.  I recommend using spray cans--we also call them rattle cans--and use those large surfaces.  I would only brush details by hand.  It's good experience, you may also try your hand at masking, and the techniques you would learn are similar to those used in airbrushing.

It can be tricky when brushing by hand to eliminate brush marks.