My first model was of cardboard and took me a week to make it. My first plastic kit was of 1/72 scale and took four days without painting because both enamels and acrilics weren't available in that time here in Poland. My first paints were Humbrol enemaels and I still use them. Of course I use acrilics these days as well but those oil enamels are basic ones.
Why I use enamels.... because their time of drying is quite long what is very useful for brushing.