Hi Jeff.
I'm building that kit and am currently waiting my delivery of parts 16 to 19. It's my first wooden kit, too so I won't be of much help when it comes to tips, I'm afraid. I am a member of a site dedicated to the building of this kit at
http://www.buildthebismarck.co.uk/ . You'll get all the tips you'll need on that specific build from there.
As for the Titanic, I'm pretty sure there was an Amati build of that as I've seen mention of it on the above site.