Answer by  
                                                                                          GilFinn (2065)
                                                            
                          
                          
                                                          I've found that painting the parts before gluing/assembly to work best for me.  I use spray paint for large pieces, and brush the smaller. After painting, it's important to clean the edges so that you get a good fit. After assembly, you can then do whatever touch ups you need with a brush, then apply decals last.