I have discovered over the last few months, during my reintroduction to scale modelling, that techniques and materials have come a long way (or gotten more complicated, depending on your point of view.)
My old standby from the good old days is prime, base coat, clear, decals, wash, drybrush. It works out pretty well, but I feel like I could get just a little more.
There are so many different kinds of paints for base colors, filters, weathering, rust, shading, etc., etc. There also so many different brands as well.
I know a lot of it is personal preference, especially as far as brands go, but there is so much out there it can become confusing. I have come close to diving in and trying some different things, but then back out when I read something else about a different brand or technique. One of the drawbacks of the internet and the plethora of info therein, I guess.
I don't really mind trying new stuff, but it seems that everything seems kind of expensive (at least to me) and I can't afford to experiment with a bunch of different things only to find I don't like it, or it doesn't work the way I want.
So, what I am looking for are opinions here. What works good for you? Maybe some pointers on getting my feet wet, so to speak.

The forum is full of answers, to your query. I know that there is one pinned to the "painting" forum.
Personally, I assemble. Wait a few hours, for the glue to cure. Wash with soapy water. Once dry, prime with appropriate color. Most people overlook this, don't prime and spray a base of white. While you can achieve color variation, more easily, you lack authenticity. So, I prime with the same color as the vehicle is/was. I, then, pre-shade using lighter and darker variations of the primer. Once cured[this depends on what type of paint you use to prime it (lacquer, enamel, acrylic)], I lay down a base coat. For sake of short breath, assume all paints and cement must cure before you move on. I post shade, at this point. Lay down the desired camo. Give it a gloss coat. Apply decals. Give it a second gloss coat. Apply a coat of flat. Apply appropriate filter(I find grey filters work well for NATO and similar camo; light tan for warm tri-tonal camo and blue for grey). Give it a wash. Apply pigments. Another flat coat. Apply weathering colors. I have not yet truly ventured into color modulation. Hopefully, somebody else can inform you of this. And, that is about it. I may have left out a step or two, but this is the best synopsis I can give you. I hope it addresses you question and satisfies you as to a method in which to proceed.

I still count myself as a 'newbie' after 2 years under my belt now. Yes there is ALOT out there to try, so many techniques, for me I take one technique at a time and try it out, its the best way to learn I've found. For me my 'plan' is build (sub assembly if needed), i prime in black, i learnt that when i did it in white, i always had a little spot i miss and it would show out more than anything, then my base coat, camo if needed, gloss, wash to bring shadow into it, gloss, decals, dull coat (matt gloss), filter, then dry brush. Only all that is done i move onto weathering, mud build up around the wheels/tracks then add the more dusty and rain marks. Of course i am still learning and this is just a rough idea how i do it, please do ask, no question is too silly or small, this is a great site with endless amount of help at your finger tips, my advice is this though, how ever you do it, make sure it stays fun, don't get to hung up on what is 'right', we all have different ways of doing it, there is no 100% right way of doing any model i believe.

Bronzey