Denver,
I use mainly size '0' paint brushes, spotters and liner varieties...I have a few Vallejo brushes that I got at hobby shops and I also always buy some at craft stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc...sable brushes are the best in my opinion but they cost more. Hard to judge how long this figure took to paint as I did it in spurts over a week's time....maybe 5-6 hours for horse and rider?? Way too long to paint up my entire collection before I die, that's for sure!! I have been painting for a couple decades and have learned quite a bit, but I recently discovered some of Michigan Toy soldiers Youtube videos done by Dave Lundquist of Britian's. I already practiced some of his painting techniques but I also picked up some good tips. There are all kinds of other painters on there who have uploaded videos, you can sift through them and find some good tips.