I'll be 62 next month, so I'm in the same boat as you. My return to the hobby has come in fits and starts (long story). Suffice it to say, I'm relearning a lot of things now.
Now, to your question:
- I fully agree with what everyone has said in this thread, and then some.
- I have chosen 1/72nd, but that's because my budget in terms of display space and wallet fits that scale.
- 1/72nd IS fiddly! I cannot suggest strongly enough that you invest in a good light source and a magnifier. Lot's of choices for those two things out there. (And this is for no matter which scale path you choose to follow.)
- IF you want to do 1/72nd, it was suggested to me to start off with the Eduard Fokker Dr.I. I did, and the scribes and sages were right! It builds easily enough, very little rigging involved, etc.
- There are a lot of choices in 1/72nd scale kits out there, but they're fiddly. Some choice out there in 1/48th, but not as much. Choose your poison.
- I'm working on a couple of Eduard 1/72nd Nieuport 17's right now, wonderful kit, and whatever problems I'm having with are of my own making.
HTH! YMMV,
Warren