when to assemble sub assemblies

[peak patio]

Hi friends, I am working on painting up "the lion" and have decided to use sub assemblies due to his cape.

I am not sure, however, when I should put the pieces back together.

My gut is saying the procedure should be base paint -> assemble -> wash and highlight so I get the proper flow on my wash and highlight locations but I am interested to see what the hive mind thinks

Thanks

[flat sun]

I normally reassemble if I'm either applying a wash or Highlighting so I can apply lighting on the entirety of it and avoid any mismatch, sometimes this isn't needed thought but with a cape I'd say so - did the same thing with mortarians cloak

[signal shadow]

I usually sub assemble if something is hard to reach. I will paint the hard to reach area and then reassemble next session

Like this was the last step before reassembling

You should check how much is actually visible tho like this was too much effort and too late reassemble