Doggy. Yes I think your first model will give you a basis on which way you go for future models etc. The first model is the greatest learning curve of of model making.
I think you have been talking to an "armchair expert". Model &
Model Air are not the same. The pigments in
Model Air are ground to a finer powder than Model & the acrylic is different.
Model air was developed for air brushing & Model is for hand brushing. If you weigh a bottle of each the model is about 3 times the weight of Model. Thinned, a lot, Model can be airbrushed but I find the results not as good both in quality & use in an
airbrush. But Model are really great for the small amount of hand brushing I do to the pieces which are not practical for air brushing.
Keep in touch on how you get on. Loads of help here. Do not hold back on photos we all started at the begining.
Laurie