Originally Posted by Bunkerbarge

To be honest you're almost halfway there when you say think in advance!! You can't do better or be advised any better than that.

Take each assembly and think about how best to paint it to be able to achieve the best finish in the easiest way. Making it easy helps you to get the best finish anyway! I would tend to look for sub assemblies such as maybe the forward accomodation block including the bridge as one and the aft section as another. Assemble these sections, paint and then put on one side. I would make a handle from sprue to attach to the bottom to halp hold the assemblies. This can be broken off just prior to attaching to the deck.

I would complete the main deck and hull as a unit and maybe the first upper deck level, depending on the ship configuration. Then glue the sub assemblies to this as they are completed.

I can't emphasise enough though the basic requirement to think it through. Many times I have glues a few bits together then become annoyed with myself for not seeing the better way of doing it.