With respect to painting here is what I do.
The approach always depends on the ship type and paint scheme. Generally this is what I do. I build up the hull and main decks and the main superstructure area. I add upper superstructure assemblies after they have been assembled and painted.
Everything always gets primed. I paint the lower hull red first and then the upper hull color. Then I add the boot strip. I then mask the hull sides and then paint all the vertical superstructure sides and round deck protrusions the applicable color(s). Then I mask these areas and then paint the deck. I then mask around all square and rectangular shapes protruding from the deck and paint them. This approach gives me nice sharp line between colors.
All the masking is then removed. I airbrush throughout and I use Testors enamel paints. I also mix my own colors. The double cruiser article I did last year showed the above techniques as well as the Arizona article.
I hope this helps.
Mike Ashey